Thread: Ol' guy DIY concrete throughput?

Hi All;
Thanks for your input - just thought you'd like to see the progress so far.

Each pour turns out to be a two day process. Day one I put down the forms and day two mix and pour, and etc. On the "pour day" it's a continuous one-man process - one bucket of cement, while mixing do some more screeding, one bucket of "handymand mix", more water and more screeding while that mixes, and so on.

I'm making the mix a bit wet as it's easier to handle in the forms - about the same wetness as what comes out of a ready-mix truck.

Using the above process I'm able to work all morning and pour 6 squares (1Mx1Mx75mm). In the afternoon of a pour day, I finish off each square by edging it and putting on a brush finish.

I'm about 1/3 done - all in a week so at this rate, another 3 weeks should get all 80 squares done.

I'm not finding it too hard now. After the first few pours, I was really knackered - muscles so sore that I could hardly walk but my body is hardened up now. Besides I've learned a few tricks to help take the weight off the job. Like putting a bench close to the mixer where I can rest a full bucket of sand before having to lift it over the lip of the cement mixer.

Any, a few pictures and thanks again...

Norm

Great to see your progress Norm.

If you don't mind me asking, when you say you're making the mix a bit wet, approximately how much water are you using? about the same size bucket as you're using for the cement or a bit less?

Also great to hear that your body has hardened up.
when this job is done you'll have to find another to keep yourself in shape

Hi Ian;
Water ratio - hard to say.

I'm using a 10L plastic bucket. I'm using a 1 cement to 4 buckets of "Handyman mix", which I've been told is 50/50 of sand and gravel.

I add water by hose in between each dump of the 10L bucket. Enough to keep mixture from klumping but not so much that it runs like water.

The final bucket of "Handyman mix" turns it back into a klumping mix. I then add water slowly so that it ceases to klump and starts to flow off the mixer blades. Too much water and it pours off the blades, not enough and it sticks. Such a fine line....

I tried the .6 water to cement ratio (6 litres) and all it did was make big 150mm concrete balls - impossible to spread into the forms.

Anyway, that's about the best I can do to answer your question.

As for part two "hardening up", I've always got a new project on the go.. Trouble is, each new project seem to tax an entirely different set of muscles.

Norm

Sitting on the side and watching this unfold is an education in it self. Great job Norm.

Takes me back a few years on a friday arvo in the workshop talking about the coming weekend. One of the fellas tells us how he is going to put down 20 meters of concrete on Saturday .... on his own. Plenty of laughter and off we go.

Monday morning "Harry" arrives bright as a button .. How did you go??..... Yep all fine and done by 10am. Yep right, you and what army??.... No ... just me by myself.

Sure ?? Well, My Mum is really pleased with the 20m of new concrete garden edging.

Garden edging ?? Yes it looks great !

Thank you Norm
have you tried changing the order in which you add the material to the mixer?
something like 2 buckes of the handiman mix, then the cement, then 2 more of the mix before you add the water?

I ask because the mix you're making sounds very weak and I'd hate all your slabs to carck and move all over the shop a few months after you finish.

Great work fly1835. Little by little it gets done.

Originally Posted by vk3ru

Sure ?? Well, My Mum is really pleased with the 20m of new concrete garden edging.

Garden edging ?? Yes it looks great !

Looks good Norm little by little, bit like the saying"softly, softly, catchy monkey".

All good things come to those who wait.

G'day Norm,

just thought I'd check in and see how you got on with your project.

How about a photo of the finished area?

Regards,

Geoff.

Hi Geoff;

Yes, it's all done! Thanks for asking...

Some numbers: It was 80 sq mt. I was able to pour 4 sq mt per day. So it took me 20 days. The estimate to get it done was $6000. The materials cost me $2000. So I paid myself $4000 or $200 per day. Not bad wages, eh?

I move all the contents of my shed out onto the slab after it (the slab) had curred for 15 - 20 days so I could give it (the shed) a good clean-out.

I'm now at the stage where the shed is clean and I'm slowly moving "stuff" back in.

I've decided to put everything in the shed on wheels and picked up locking caster off of eBay. 24 wheels, 3 inch dia, 65kg load, for $220.

I've just completed a wheeled plywood/lumber/scrap carrier and wheeled carriers for sander, grinder, drill press, and band saw. I saw an interesting picture where one bench tool was bolted (upside down) to another bench tool. The tools rotated about a central pivot point. The desired Tool was rotated to the bench top and, of course, the other tool was hidden beneath the bench top. I liked it!

Anyway, here is some pictures showing both the shed and the slab...

Norm

Hi Norm.
In Brisbane we have a mob called concrete taxi. They come and mix on site and won't rush you. They will be on site till you barrow it in. Hope this helps.
Paul.

Hmmm, I like the little winged project you have going there.

Originally Posted by Boringgeoff

G'day Norm,

just thought I'd check in and see how you got on with your project.

How about a photo of the finished area?

Regards,

Geoff.

Funny you should ask, I was thinking the exact same thing on my way to work this morning

Hi Norm

well done with those slabs.
how did you get the colour? is it paving paint or did you add oxide to the mix?

so how fit is the "old guy" now?

Originally Posted by ian

how did you get the colour? is it paving paint or did you add oxide to the mix?

Paving Paint - Saddlebag brown - closest I could get to Mareeba Mud color..

Fit? Why I'm leaping tall buildings, faster than a speeding bullet! or is that just my ol man's meds kicking in?

Norm