Using a cement mixer

[ianhutchinson]

hi

This may seem a daft question but what is the correct / best way to use a cement mixer, first add the cement and sand or first add a quantity of water.

Thanks

Ian

 

[breezer]

sand and cement first

 

[BE - SAFE -OUT -THERE]

Add water first Always. then any additives > Feb->waterproofer then cement/sand, all depends what job your doing. regardless to what any one tells you NEVER add soap to your mix. and always remember to keep your mixer clean

 

[Softus]

Never add water first. Never.

 

[noseall]

we use a cement mixer daily.


only a fool would add the water last.


the water and additives need to 'beat up' first.


you then add the sand and cement to the frothy water.


never let the mix dry out, by adding too much powder (sand/cement). if the pug looks to be drying up add more water, then add more powder.


this tried and tested method is repeated up and down building sites in this country. ask a thousand brickies labourers..........

 

[Softus]

only a fool would add the water last.

Can you describe the effect of adding the the water last?

the water and additives need to 'beat up' first.

you then add the sand and cement to the frothy water.

Can you describe the effect of it not being allowed to be frothy before you add any sand or aggregate?

ask a thousand brickies labourers.

What I'd like to ask a thousand brickies and labourers is why they leave such a god-awful mess behind them that even a bunch of ****** would turn their heads away.

 

[noseall]

by adding the water last, you end up having to tilt the drum forward in order to eventually get the pug mixed. this requires time and a bloke to do it.

if a labourer is seen to be adding powder to a dry drum , he will be flogged off the site. it is simply the wrong way 'mix' compo'.


if the dispersal of feb or any other additive is not mixed adequately into the mix, it tends to be less fatty. the first mix of the day is usually the worst. it gets fattier as the day goes on.


i can only agree on the mess thing, but that will occur with either method, even more so, if a big dry clump of sand and cement splashes down into the water.

 

[suffolklad]

my new mixer i bought 3 years ago said in instrustions add part of water first stops cement sticking to back of drum it does work

 

[tawelfryn]

Water and Feb first, not too much if sand is wet, In a normal belle coffee pot mixer, you can get 2 builders buckets of sand in, followed by 1 cement, followed by 2 more sand. 4.1 mix. By putting cement in between the 2 sands, it helps mix more evenly and quicker. Add water if required throughout the mixing process.
Do bucket gauging of mix, its more accurate, than just shovelling in

 

[Thermo]

water first always. the mixer will bring it forward as it mixes through. add the water last and it stays at the front, resulting in more water being added as the labourer tries to break his arm by hurling a spade into the back of the mixer to get the dry stuff off of the back of the drum.(no recomended) Also takes a lot longer. Put any additives in last and they wont mix through the mix evenly.

simple way to avoid a mess is to put a tarpaulin down covered by a couple of sheets of osb. End of the day take them up, nice clean area, happy client and neighbours.

my guys scrub it clean at the end of each day. still like new and used almost every day.

 

[amwc]

definately water first

the effort it takes to sort the mix out if you put the dry stuff in first you may as well not have the mixer
you also get a smoother mix if you add some water first

 

[Nige F]

In a poll of 1k labourers.......90% were Poles

 

[Softus]

Er, yes. "I Polish. I no understand you and your tax laws."

Handy for all British labourers.

 

[NS215]

water and feb first every time without doubt, unless sand is soaking then feb sand first then cement and add water if applicable
don't understand why anyone would mix dry then add water
answers on a forum!!!!!!

 

[Monsoon]

water and feb first every time without doubt, unless sand is soaking then feb sand first then cement and add water if applicable
don't understand why anyone would mix dry then add water
answers on a forum!!!!!!

I'm gonna be screeding over the weekend

Should I dry mix 1st then add the water?

I understand the screed should be much drier than a concrete/mortar mix ... hence adding the water last to give me a bit more control over the end product?