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Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2005 2:34 pm
by arny
I have not used a cement mixer before and do not know anyone with cement mixer experience. What are the correct procedures for using the mixer during a mixing day? What needs to happen from pouring the mix to reloading the mixer ready for the next batch to ensure that the machine is kept in tip top condition?
Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2005 6:06 pm
by carlbeardsmore
First, Have the mixer running.
If you are making a mortar, put a bit of water in before anything else.
Then say if you are doing a 5:1 mix, shovel 1 cement then 5 sand. Do not do 15 sand then 3 cement. It will not mix as good as each part a bit at a time.
Then add water and plastiser until the mix is as stiff or wet as you want.
When it is mixed, put a barrow under the mixer, while it is still turning, tip the mixer up and put the mix into the barrow.
If you are not going to do another mix for a few hours, wash the mixer out with water.
If you forget to do this, then either knock the sides of the drum with a hammer or if it is really bad, a small fire inside the drum will make the drum expand and all the old mortar will drop off.
Hope this is what you wanted? If not ask again so any gaps can be filled .
Cheers Carl
Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2005 2:50 pm
by arny
Carl
Thanks that is exactly the information that I want. Just one question - how long should the mixer be running between adding all the ingredients and pouring out into the barrow?
Also, although this information must be very basic to many who use this site, I do feel that it needs to be included in the 'tools' section. Do you know how is this can be achieved?
Thanks again,
Arny
Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2005 10:01 pm
by carlbeardsmore
You do not want to mix it for longer than necessary.
You will see when the sand and cement have mixed with no patches or streaks of cement in the sand
Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 2:02 pm
by Tony McC
Everything Carl said is spot on - allow 2-3 mins for a typical 'batch' of mortar or concrete to mix thoroughly. It becomes an uniform colour and consistency - when that happen, it's ready. 
How to mix mortar/concrete is another item on my list of pages to build as and when I get the time. However, I'm so busy answering Q's by email and phone that I never seem to have the time to build new pages anymore. I keep promising new pages in so many weeks, and then all my time is taken up answering the 1,000+ emails that come in each week.
If folk stopped asking questions for a while, I'd have more time to add new pages! :p
Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2005 5:49 pm
by arny
Carl
Thanks again. I've managed to obtain a mixer and will start this weekend!
Tony
This site is excellent. Thankyou.