Mortar is too ... Well... Sticky

[WabbitPoo]

Did some bricklaying today (first time for ages) and I just could not get a decent mortar. I was using a 3:1 mix with a splash of plasticiser in the water. The mortar was really sticky, and it wouldn't slide off the trowel or indeed out of the mixer. Horrid stuff.

Sand was yellow building sand from TP and cement was OPC.

What causes a sticky mix? Too much water perhaps?

 

[stuart45]

3/1 is quite a strong mix for normal work.

 

[^woody^]

It was probably crap poorly washed sand

Lime and/or some sharp (plastering sand) may help, rather than plasterciser - which could increase its stickiness

 

[WabbitPoo]

3/1 is quite a strong mix for normal work.

Not for Class Bs

 

[^woody^]

It is for class b's in anything except below ground and not under high vertical loaad

 

[WabbitPoo]

precisely

 

[peterperfection]

Did some bricklaying today (first time for ages) and I just could not get a decent mortar. I was using a 3:1 mix with a splash of plasticiser in the water. The mortar was really sticky, and it wouldn't slide off the trowel or indeed out of the mixer. Horrid stuff.

Sand was yellow building sand from TP and cement was OPC.

What causes a sticky mix? Too much water perhaps?

Not been mixed long enough . Not enough aerating-re plasticiser.Dirty water, etc. Old cement too.
Remember- ''sticky'' means ''flat''.
3/1 is also too strong a mix for brickwork.
Remember- the Mortar MUST be weaker than the masonry.
Some class Bs these days are cwap.(no names but- here's a clue veenerhamburgerburger).

 

[limerockconstruction]

Pit sand on its own can be quite sticky - try 50/50 with some holm