hey fellas..how long does it generaly take for it set up...i must not be using enough water...after 2 days it just crumbles apart...im pouring it in square white 28qt tubs...any tips from the pro here....thanks
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hey fellas..how long does it generaly take for it set up...i must not be using enough water...after 2 days it just crumbles apart...im pouring it in square white 28qt tubs...any tips from the pro here....thanks
after 48 hours just crumbles? I left a bag out in the rain at that alone made it harden up...So what consistency are you mixing it AND how cold is it where you have left the condo to cure?
seemed soupy to me...it was bout 50 deg last nite...70 today...
I just mix mine till I don't see any more dry crete. Then I'll add just a little bit more water to loosen it up a little more but not too much. Must let it cure for two days to be sure.CF
I don't even mix it .I put the bamboo in the bucket ,them add sackrete (dry)till the bucket is 3/4 full .Them I add water to the top. Let it set for a little while the water soaks in. then fill bucket back up to the top again with water . The sackrete will set up . All that mixing is like work.
Hope this is helpfull.
Nomad
I agree with Crappiefarmer, add just enough water until you don't see any more dry concrete then add just a little bit more. I mix mine in a wheelbarrow then transfer it to my tubs or buckets.
I believe,from past experiences, that you can add too much water while mixing. I like it to be well mixed but a little hard to stir around, not soupy.
Another thing to watch out for is that you don't place your PVC or bamboo in a fashion that would make your concrete have weak areas in it. I have had a few PVC beds that I made in shallow dish pans break apart on me when I tried to move them.
I have had quickrete do this when I mixed it and it froze. Now I add larger rock to mine also, not much maybe a shovel full or so, they use so small of rock when making the mix, the larger rock help hold it better.Quote:
Originally Posted by pappacrappie
The longer you leave them in the mold the better. Trying to take them out too soon is a mistake.It takes a longer time to set when you have cool temps. 2 days in cold weather in IMO is not long enough. You can look at the concrete and tell if its too green. Like Slabbandit stated leave enough space that it will be strong.I also will drill a hole in the bottom of my PVC pipe to give the concrete something to grip on. I've pulled the pipe out of green concrete try to get them out of the mold.
drill a hole in bottom of pvc and put a nail or heavy steel wire this will hold it together if cracks i take a piece of wire and put a stand up in top of the cret. and lower it in lake with rope
AWww, you guys are trying to make rocket science out of a simple chore.
Just stick your material in a 5 gallon bucket and pour DRY "quickrete" in around the material until the bucket is about 1/2 full, then fill with water and let it sit for a few days. Drop bucket and all in the lake. No mixing,shoveling, or measuring involved.:rolleyes: I'm lazy and I guess it shows in how I build my condos, but the crappie aint paticular about where they live.:D
thanks fellas...what i poured lastnite is setting up fine...its still green but in a few days i will be able to pop it out..i drill 1in holes around the base of the 4in pipe..it ought to stay if it sets up...dont think the other 3 bags had enough portland in it..seemed mostly sand and gravel..i do thank you all for your help...after i do a few hundred i recon i'll have it figured out...
Add 1% Calcium Chloride and it is equivelant of raising your setting temperature 10 degrees. 2% would make 50 degree weather set up concrete like 70 degree weather (much quicker). (Sugar will do the opposite for very hot days where you want to delay the concrete from setting up). You used to be able to get Calcium Chloride from Lowe's..... it was sold as ice remover for roads and driveways.......
Or just let them dry an extra day or two......
I uses to pour parking bumpers at my old job, and 2 days should be more than enough time with temps getting in the 50's and 60's.
One thing to think about is to not let the dew fall on the concrete while it is going through its heat or it could cause probs. In thicker concrete like in buckets it won't matter, but in thin concrete it might.
Me too Nomad................I am with you........Quote:
Originally Posted by Nomad
i have never heard of that problem either- even when not using it in buckets and such- after the hurricane,the pro's put up new fence for me and they didnt usa any water at all when they set the posts- i was like what the ........
he said there was enough moisture in the soil to make it set up- been that way 3 years now,still solid as a rock. ever see where a guy will line both sides of his drive way if theres a deep ditch ? they just stack them like sand bags and they set up in a few days-
Same problem!I think I got some bad concrete or something.I have asked a lot of people about it and no one seems to have a clue.I mixed one up the spring of last year with a 12' high hollie.It is still tied up to the side of the barn and the concrete still hasn't set up.Thats a whole year and atleast 100 rain storms.When I poke at the top with a stick it is hard on top and then just below the surface it turns to sandy substance just like out of the bag.I have 20 bags of this stuff and would like to know how to make it work.I was told it does not get old , as long as it stays dry.Quote:
Originally Posted by pappacrappie
ok this may sound stupid and not trying to offend : what are the chance you just plain and simple bought the wrong stuff - say just the sand mix with no morter ? same company sells it........just a thought - re-read the bag
I think Racin 35 is on to something
Good point Racn35, I did that at Lowes. They had several bags that were busted and they put them in bigger plain brown bags and marked them Quickcrete. I bought the hole lot for one dollar a bag. Took the stuff home and one of the bags was morter mix. So now I am stuck with that bag. It still was bargain, I got twelve bags for for one dollar each and used it all but that one bag.
I actualy got a bad bag a few weeks ago also.I bought 3 bags , same place , same time, mixed the same. 2 bags set over night . One bag has yet to set. I dumped it out the next night beside my yard. I can go out there now and it still crumbles. They just had a bad batch go through.
Hey TCountry....HOTTY TODDY
throw a shovel full of Mortar mix in with each bucket, (mix it dry) Your crete will be twice as strong.Quote:
Originally Posted by Crappie Xtream
The stuff I got says "for setting posts and poles" on the bag.It has pea gravel mixed in with it , looks like the right stuff.Bought it at metromont concrete plant.
that will do just fine E
Being new to this whole crappie condo building affair and the fact I'm lazy as one can get. I'm just gonna use the stuff in the red bags that you just add water and walk away. I used this on my dog pen and it worked like a charm.