Always too much or too little. But yesterday it wuz jus'right....

[ToughButterCup]

It took 8 full years of building to mix exactly the correct amount of mortar for the job. 8 full years.

Normally, too much - what a waste. Often too little . Oh FFS.

 

Anyone know the trick of how to mix exactly the correct amount of mortar for any give job?

[saveasteading]

  On 03/04/2025 at 08:03, ToughButterCup said:

for any give job?

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Do you mean the conversion of the dry materials compared to the mixed volume?

[SteamyTea]

Width of brick x length of brick x mortar thickness + height of brick x width of brick x mortar thickness = volume of mortar per brick.

 

Density of wet mortar x volume of mortar = mass

 

 

[saveasteading]

If I could find my wbb ( wee black book) then I would have it. M2 of brick or block per m3 mortar, then into bags and tonnes.

What someone told me pre-internet, with my own factor against it.

 

It must be on the Interweb surely.

[ToughButterCup]

I'm laying a path at the moment, and because the stone varies in size and depth, it's rare for me to mix exactly the correct amount of mortar.

 

Years ago @TerryE gave me some excellent advice about using up excess concrete. Make a 'concrete flush-pond' he suggested . Levelled off , the excess concrete flushed from the concrete pump made an excellent temporary work area. It was excellent because it gave us a small stable base  outside (3 by 3). We were particularly grateful to be able to cut insulation accurately on a table saw in the open air for example. 

 

So I was wondering if anyone had a similarly bright idea about how to put left-over barrows full of mortar to good use.

 

I've made some tie downs :  plastic mayonnaise tubs filled with mortar with a dog-tether ( spiral anchor) set in it... useful as a counter weight too. I've also out of sheer badness filled a 2 liter water bottle with mortar, and when set, stripped the plastic off it, painted it and the watched the grandchildren reaction when told to...go and fetch that bottle....

 

Ideas anyone?

 

[saveasteading]

  On 07/04/2025 at 06:54, ToughButterCup said:

Ideas anyone?

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I think you have it.

The first objective is to not make a mess that needs clearing later.

Next is to make something useful. Concrete blocks for rough use/ weights.

Hardstanding at site entrance...but the level needs to be right.

Lastly. Consider it as hardcore not concrete, so the very wet slurry is best for this....but hold the water back to avoid mess.

 

As a young Site Engineer I proposed having shutter boxes for left over concrete. The powers above explained that it would be abused as an excuse for over ordering. We got a big telling off for being mire than 1/2m3 over. 

The spare was spread and became hardcore.

And an undersupply ( being short) was unthinkable. This on typically 20m3 of structural work.

 

[Pocster]

Mixing cement is a magic art . As you say sometimes it’s spot on other times it’s like you’ve never mixed it before .

Cement mixing basically represents life in general …

[saveasteading]

  On 07/04/2025 at 10:46, Pocster said:

like you’ve never mixed it before

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That's the biggest danger with small quantities measured by shovel. A shovel of damp sand is much more than of gravel.

[Pocster]

  On 07/04/2025 at 11:08, saveasteading said:

That's the biggest danger with small quantities measured by shovel. A shovel of damp sand is much more than of gravel.

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Absolutely!

If it’s a damp day or hot - all make a big difference!

When I started my build I bought an electric mixer - much easier to be consistent. I became a pro . Back to the bucket mixing ( doing some today actually ) it will be Lady Luck I’ll be looking for 

[saveasteading]

  On 07/04/2025 at 11:23, Pocster said:

Back to the bucket mixing ( doing some today actually ) 

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So do tell. What is your recipe? Does cement go in as half a bag, as brickies seem to prefer?

[Pocster]

My recipe !!! 
in a mixer it’s half a bag of cement and a bag of sand ( or 2 halves of different sand ) . At least that kind of ratio . Water to suit .

Tbh I just judge it on eye and stick a trowel in the mixer to guage it ( no pun intended ) .

 

Bucket wise though . Erm a good glug of cement a double glug of sand and see what happens .

 

Mine always turns out hard and so does my cement 

[ToughButterCup]

I've a teenager who turns up on a Saturday : picks his nose incessantly  and tells me while attempting to mix mortar  -  straight-faced   - that

 

"This shovel doesn't work ...  "

So I tell him we need  2 buckets of sharp sand, and 2 of 10mm pipe bedding , and another single bucket with cement.

 

" But you've not got enough buckets for all that "

Imagine the innocent pleasure to be gained from watching him pick his nose again after putting his fingers in the cement ...

 

"Soft  stuff  this cement innit ...... "

 

I've never seen a teenager do a war-dance before. Twat. Followed by  me shoving his head in a bucket of cold water. 

According to him, my shovel works now.

[SteamyTea]

  On 07/04/2025 at 06:54, ToughButterCup said:

was wondering if anyone had a similarly bright idea about how to put left-over barrows full of mortar to good

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You have to ask.

 

 

Should be able to catch a newt or three.

[saveasteading]

That would be another reason for not allowing any use of leftovers.

 

Seriously though. when the pour is complete there is usually a lot of important work to do. Gnome, or block, manufacture should  not be priority.

 

Also, seriously, there is usually something that can benefit from a few shovels of concrete and not take much time, so plan ahead.