materials needed for making (lego type) concrete blocks

[lord mud of the flyes]

38 minutes ago, markc said:

Free standing gate? Rolling gate would be much easier than a swing gate in this case.

as above, a 205l barrel filled with concrete will be around 500kgs, that doesn’t give you much unless it’s a light gate, quite narrow or end of gate runs on a support wheel.

I dont understand what you mean; can you draw a diagram please

[lord mud of the flyes]

43 minutes ago, JohnMo said:

The steel of the barrel. Just throwing ideas out there, you have your plan I'll leave to get it done.

you are not surgesting that the wall of the barrel is going to be strong enough are you?

[saveasteading]

 2 x half gates will be more stable

 

Quick sum. All approximate.  45 gallons, 200 litres.

Concrete is 2200kg/m3.  so 440kg.

 

A big bag of ballast is 800kg. 

So with cement and water one bag will do 2 barrels, approx. If not quite, then chuck in some rubble.

Presumably you will cut the tops off the drums. 

 

 

 

[Onoff]

ChatGPT says:

 

[lord mud of the flyes]

15 hours ago, saveasteading said:

 2 x half gates will be more stable

 

Quick sum. All approximate.  45 gallons, 200 litres.

Concrete is 2200kg/m3.  so 440kg.

 

A big bag of ballast is 800kg. 

So with cement and water one bag will do 2 barrels, approx. If not quite, then chuck in some rubble.

Presumably you will cut the tops off the drums. 

 

 

 

So if i mix a 800kg bag of ballast with a bag of concreate and water; you think it will set? and hold the gate hinges?

[Onoff]

7 hours ago, lord mud of the flyes said:

So if i mix a 800kg bag of ballast with a bag of concreate and water; you think it will set? and hold the gate hinges?

 

It won't set particularly well and be a very weak mix if you're talking about a standard bag of concrete. For an 800kg bag of ballast you'd need x5 20kg bags for an 8:1 concrete mix or x10 20 20kg bags for a 4:1 mix.

 

You might achieve a circa 500kg barrel weight with a well vibrated mix, probably a bit under. 

[saveasteading]

7 hours ago, lord mud of the flyes said:

you think it will set? and

No and no.

 You don't need us here to tell you all these basic things. The Internet will tell you the cement to ballast mix, or look at rhe cement bag, or ask at the merchants when buying 8 bags for starters.

Report back on completion please.

You didn't say why you couldn't dig a hole for a post.

What will the gate be an opening in? Fence/ between buildings?

[torre]

Posts set in the ground will be so much simpler and safer. Your drum will tip.

 

If you really can't do that then for something temporary maybe drop a bulk bag of something cheap on each side and build a timber frame tight around it to support your gate.

 

No need to mix concrete and you can reuse the MOT/sand etc later.

 

 

[lord mud of the flyes]

On 18/11/2025 at 07:25, saveasteading said:

On 18/11/2025 at 07:25, saveasteading said:

No and no.

 You don't need us here to tell you all these basic things.

 

Because it was you that said one bag of cement will do an 80KG ballas bag that is why

[lord mud of the flyes]

On 18/11/2025 at 06:50, Onoff said:

 

It won't set particularly well and be a very weak mix if you're talking about a standard bag of concrete. For an 800kg bag of ballast you'd need x5 20kg bags for an 8:1 concrete mix or x10 20 20kg bags for a 4:1 mix.

 

You might achieve a circa 500kg barrel weight with a well vibrated mix, probably a bit under. 

So with the cement to ballest; what mix do I go for 8:1 or 4:1

[lord mud of the flyes]

On 18/11/2025 at 09:46, torre said:

Posts set in the ground will be so much simpler and safer. Your drum will tip.

 

If you really can't do that then for something temporary maybe drop a bulk bag of something cheap on each side and build a timber frame tight around it to support your gate.

 

No need to mix concrete and you can reuse the MOT/sand etc later.

 

 

Digging not allowed!

surly the weight of the motor should be enough to hold the gate

[markc]

6 minutes ago, lord mud of the flyes said:

Digging not allowed!

surly the weight of the motor should be enough to hold the gate

Motor? 

[Onoff]

3 hours ago, lord mud of the flyes said:

Because it was you that said one bag of cement will do an 80KG ballas bag that is why

 

No he didn't say that at all. No offence but you come to this with seemingly zero concept of what is to most a basic understanding of how you mix concrete and the ratios. You're being given good advice. I'd suggest you listen / take it. You risk people ignoring you. 

 

 "2 x half gates will be more stable

 

Quick sum. All approximate.  45 gallons, 200 litres.

Concrete is 2200kg/m3.  so 440kg.

 

A big bag of ballast is 800kg. 

So with cement and water one bag will do 2 barrels, approx. If not quite, then chuck in some rubble.

Presumably you will cut the tops off the drums".

 

 

[saveasteading]

Thanks @Onoff.

 

As you had surmised, I was about to duck out of this. 

I was wondering if bots were infiltrating BH with click bait.

Hence I asked the simple question of why digging was not an option. No answer suggests something untoward.

 

And Out.

[lord mud of the flyes]

On 18/11/2025 at 06:50, Onoff said:

 

It won't set particularly well and be a very weak mix if you're talking about a standard bag of concrete. For an 800kg bag of ballast you'd need x5 20kg bags for an 8:1 concrete mix or x10 20 20kg bags for a 4:1 mix.

 

You might achieve a circa 500kg barrel weight with a well vibrated mix, probably a bit under. 

h

10 hours ago, Onoff said:

 

No he didn't say that at all. No offence but you come to this with seemingly zero concept of what is to most a basic understanding of how you mix concrete and the ratios. You're being given good advice. I'd suggest you listen / take it. You risk people ignoring you. 

 

 "2 x half gates will be more stable

 

Quick sum. All approximate.  45 gallons, 200 litres.

Concrete is 2200kg/m3.  so 440kg.

 

A big bag of ballast is 800kg. 

So with cement and water one bag will do 2 barrels, approx. If not quite, then chuck in some rubble.

Presumably you will cut the tops off the drums".

 

 

So one moment you say 1 bag of cement is to weak then later you say that 1 bag is enough. and say it is because i dont understand how to make a mix and coz of that everyone will now ignore me now!

[lord mud of the flyes]

6 hours ago, saveasteading said:

Thanks @Onoff.

 

As you had surmised, I was about to duck out of this. 

I was wondering if bots were infiltrating BH with click bait.

Hence I asked the simple question of why digging was not an option. No answer suggests something untoward.

 

And Out.

No digging because of gas and electric pipe underneith where I am putting the gate

Why out? Is it because you are controdicting your self and getting it wrong like the other said member has done?

[Roundtuit]

9 hours ago, lord mud of the flyes said:

h

So one moment you say 1 bag of cement is to weak then later you say that 1 bag is enough. and say it is because i dont understand how to make a mix and coz of that everyone will now ignore me now!

I think you're getting confused between one bag of cement and one bag of ballast.  Have a re-read and come back if it's still not clear, but fundamentally, I think the consensus is that using barrels full of concrete as free-standing gateposts isn't a great idea.

[lord mud of the flyes]

12 hours ago, Roundtuit said:

I think you're getting confused between one bag of cement and one bag of ballast. 

 

I dont get but i think we are wasting our time with one, so might  have to ask somewhere ells

 

12 hours ago, Roundtuit said:

 I think the consensus is that using barrels full of concrete as free-standing gateposts isn't a great idea.

Why?

[dpmiller]

because as has been mentioned a number of times above they could tip over injuring or causing damage. Think of the risk to the GCNs!