Advice on Block work corners for extension

SpecialK · 1 Nov 2020

That's a good idea, I will try that when I start mixing more mortar. Currently I'm only on a bucket load each time!
I'm going to extend the mixer cable as running an extension lead is annoying and a worry when it rains a little...

kingandy2nd said:
@SpecialK one of the most helpful things stu crompton said was about not bothering with the stand for his mixer.

I’ve got the same one as you, although older as it’s blue, and was lugging it on and off the stand and tipping the mortar into a wheel barrow (and missing).

Since then I just have it on the floor and shovel a full bucket load of mortar out of the mixer at a time which is enough for a spot board.

kingandy2nd · 1 Nov 2020

SpecialK said:
That's a good idea, I will try that when I start mixing more mortar. Currently I'm only on a bucket load each time!
I'm going to extend the mixer cable as running an extension lead is annoying and a worry when it rains a little...

I just have a bag for life over my extension cable

xdrive · 1 Nov 2020

You guys are lucky. I don't have a mixer.

SpecialK · 1 Nov 2020

Guess it will keep you fit! My parents bought this one for me.... Used it to mix up 1.3m3 of concrete for the last bit of the foundation, seems to work OK. It was about £250 from B&Q. Hopefully I can sell it after its all complete (in 5 years time!).

You have done amazingly well mixing all that mortar by hand...

xdrive said:
You guys are lucky. I don't have a mixer.

23vc · 1 Nov 2020

Mixer on stand is far better than on the ground, have the barrow next to it and tip your mix into gorilla tubs in the barrow (average half cement bag mix gives about 3 tub fulls) Then you can clean it much easier than if it’s on the ground and tip the dirty water into another tub.
Upturned bucket with a brick on it for the extension lead.

Ps - stop the mixer before you pour it and help it out with the shovel so no spillage if that helps

23vc · 1 Nov 2020

Xdrive you’ve gotta get a mixer, I can’t contemplate the thought of building the whole thing without one. Better quality of mix too. Not massive money and second hand available on eBay which is where I got mine in 2011 and it hasn’t missed a beat

SpecialK · 1 Nov 2020

Can anyone comment on what a suitable sub base is for my concrete slab? For 150mm I would need 9 tons of MOT 1. Is there anything else I can use?

xdrive · 1 Nov 2020

23vc said:
Xdrive you’ve gotta get a mixer, I can’t contemplate the thought of building the whole thing without one. Better quality of mix too. Not massive money and second hand available on eBay which is where I got mine in 2011 and it hasn’t missed a beat

I use 2 buckets of sand and half bucket of cement at a time. I add this to water in flexitub. Quick mix with shovel. Then mix with paddle on drill.

Comes out perfect everytime.

kingandy2nd · 1 Nov 2020

23vc said:
Xdrive you’ve gotta get a mixer, I can’t contemplate the thought of building the whole thing without one. Better quality of mix too. Not massive money and second hand available on eBay which is where I got mine in 2011 and it hasn’t missed a beat

Totally agree, mixer makes much easier. As 23vc says, used ones can be picked up for reasonable money and hold their value too.

SpecialK said:
Can anyone comment on what a suitable sub base is for my concrete slab? For 150mm I would need 9 tons of MOT 1. Is there anything else I can use?

9 ton isn’t too bad, I had to hoof nearly 15 tons in a wheel barrow. My only tip would be to find a local grab truck / aggregate seller that will sell in loose MOT 1, as that will be near half the price of your builders merchant jumbo bags.

23vc · 1 Nov 2020

xdrive said:
I use 2 buckets of sand and half bucket of cement at a time. I add this to water in flexitub. Quick mix with shovel. Then mix with paddle on drill.

Comes out perfect everytime.

be careful as the paddle mixer can over plasticise it, it’s a different mix action to a slow moving drum. I noticed recently that small areas I’d done with the paddle were noticeable softer a few days later than a normal mix. Whether that’s an actual long term problem I don’t know but why take the risk. You’re taking on a massive task and you seem to be doing well, do yourself justice and get a mixer. Don’t try and do the whole thing with a paddle mixer.

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Advice on Block work corners for extension

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