9/3/2015

HowtoMixConcretebyHand|Howcast

HowtoMixConcretebyHand

Whetheryouwanttopaveyourpatioorgivesomeonecementshoes,here'showtomix
concretelikeanexpert.

Instructions

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HowtoMixConcretebyHand|Howcast

Youwillneed
Portlandcement
Sand
Gravel
Water
Ahose
Awheelbarrowormixingtrough
Ashovelorhoe
AStyrofoamorpapercup
Bagsofpremixeddryconcreteingredients
Abucket
Agasolineorelectricpowermixer
Sugar

Step1 MakethedrymixtureBasicconcreteismadebyaddingwatertoamixtureofgravel,

sand,andakindofcementcalledportlandcement.Tomakethedrymix,combineonepartportland
cement,twopartssand,andfourpartsgravel(alsocalledcoarseaggregate)inawheelbarrowor
trough.Forsmallerjobs,youcanpurchasebagsofpremixeddryingredients.

Startwithamoderateamountofdrymixitbecomesdifficulttomixlargequantitieswhenwater
isadded.

Step2 AddwaterTakeahoseandslowlyaddwatertothemix.Ifusingpremixedconcrete,

consultthedirectionsonthebagfortheamountofwaterneededthenmeasureitintoabucket,
andaddittothemix.

Toomuchwaterwillresultinweakconcrete,whiletoolittlewaterwillmaketheconcrete
unworkable.Itsbettertostartwithlesswater.Youcanalwaysaddmoreifneeded.

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HowtoMixConcretebyHand|Howcast

Step3 BeginmixingtheconcreteWithahoeorashovel,beginmixingtheconcrete.Make

surealltheingredientsareuniformlymixed.

Forlargeprojects,useagasolineorelectricpowermixer.Concretemixedbymachinewill
typicallybemoreconsistentandrequirealotlesselbowgrease!

Step4 ChecktheconsistencyAftermixingthoroughly,checktheconsistency.Punchthe

bottomoutofaStyrofoamorpapercupandfillitwithyourconcrete,asifyouweremakingasand
castle.Removethecupandwatchthepileslumpdownideallyitshouldsinktoabouthalfthe
heightofthecup.Addwatertothemixtoadjusttheconsistencyasneeded.
Step5 PourconcreteNowpouryourperfectlymixedconcretequickly,asitwillbegintodrywithin

15minutes.

Toincreasethesettingtimeofconcrete,addasmallamountofsugar(0.01%to0.05%the
weightofthecement).Sugaractsasaretarderandincreasesthesettingtimeonetofourhours.

ThePantheoninRome,builtaround125A.D.,stillholdstherecordforthelargestunreinforced
solidconcretedomeintheworld.

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