Concrete

[jcd]

Hi,

I am going to be making some bamboo bucket condos soon for a habitat project at a lake in my area....Is there a formula or some sort of general rule for how much water you need to add to the concrete...I haven't really messed with concrete that much..

I will be using 60lb bags of concrete and putting in the 5 gallon buckets...

Jeremy
Thanks
Bye

[CrappieTexan]

Here is one that I just put in the lake.... it had half a sack of Sack-Crete and sank with no problem....I also tie a 1 or 1 1/2 gal jug on the middle stalk close to the top to asure it stays upright.... even if some jig fisherman hangs and pulls it over a little it should come back upright when the jig comes loose.....
Let me know how it goes..... crappie love'em....
Good fishing...........

[flycaster]

Hi,

I am going to be making some bamboo bucket condos soon for a habitat project at a lake in my area....Is there a formula or some sort of general rule for how much water you need to add to the concrete...I haven't really messed with concrete that much..

I will be using 60lb bags of concrete and putting in the 5 gallon buckets...

Jeremy
Thanks
Bye

Jeremy:
If I am correct, there should be some instructions on the back of the bag.
I would start out adding about one (1) quart of water and mixing, continue to add water by the CUP, and mixing until it gets thick about like peanut butter. If you get to much water it will be very soupy and take longer to cure.

[jcd]

Hi Flycaster,

Thanks for the information...I always forget about the directions.....I tried to make some bamboo bucket type condos last year...But, the concrete was really crumbly...So, I guess I added to much water...But, yeah I will go with the directions this time for sure....Do you have to add sand to most concrete?...I am going to be using the quick crete..

Jeremy
Thanks
Bye

[Crappie Xtreme]

Hey Jeremy, the only thing you could do wrong is not add enough water and leave some dry concrete in after you put in the water without stirring it good enough. Flycaster is right about it being soupy and it is hard to get it perfect. The way I do it is pour the bag into a wheel barrel and add water as I stir it with a hoe very well to make sure I get it all wet. I think a little soupy is a lot better than not wet enough. But not to soupy. I have some curring right now that we poured last Wednesday and I'm sure they are fine. We just want to make sure they are completly dry before we drop them in so they don't break apart. I had some that we dropped last Wednesday that were hard as a rock after sitting for about a week and half. And they were made back when the weather was cold, I think that is what took a little longer. If I were you I would not wait just a few days before taking them to the lake give your self plenty of time to let the concrete get good and hard.

You do not have to add sand to the pre mixed bags of quick crete but you can add some more concrete if needed. They sell it in bags also just like the quick crete but with just concrete no rocks. My father inlaw is a carpenter and he gives me the advise that I need to try and do it right.

Crappie X.

[jcd]

Hi Crappie Xtream,

Thanks for the advice....We are going to do a habitat project on Lake Lou Yeager in Litchfield Il....I have gotten permission to make the bamboo buckets at the maintance area located near the lake...This will make it a lot easier on me...I don't have to haul them on a trailer....Making a list of all the items I will need to make them..


I will try to make them on a Saturday or Sunday...Probably drop them that next Wed or Thurs....

Check your pm whenever you get time..

Jeremy
Thanks
Bye

[broharrell]

For sure use a wheelbarrow to mix the cement. It's much easier than trying to mix in a 5 gallon bucket. Also use cement called morter. It has no gravel in it. Much easier to mix than the other. I've tried both.

[3's]

I used the Quickcrete that had a bunch of gravel in it and really didn't care for it. Had to get really suopy to get poured right. I found some that is just sand and morter that I am going to try later today. I need someting that will flow easily to the bottom of my new style condo for the local pond:D I'll post pics of the outcome later:p

[papasage]

i just fill the bucket and add water . knock holes in the bottom so you will know it has water all through. if you have some one to help add wateras you add the sackcreek.it will be in the bucket so it shouldn`t be any probablem if it crumbles.
as far as flotation the bamboo has air pockets between the joints . that is why it takes so much weight to hold it down

[Matt Smith]

Hi,

I am going to be making some bamboo bucket condos soon for a habitat project at a lake in my area....Is there a formula or some sort of general rule for how much water you need to add to the concrete...I haven't really messed with concrete that much..

I will be using 60lb bags of concrete and putting in the 5 gallon buckets...

Jeremy
Thanks
Bye

You need just a little more than 2 quarts per 60 pound bag. 2.25 quarts is what's recommended, but 2.5 quarts will make the concrete easier to work.