On 11/2/2013 8:03 AM, Patrick Greenlee wrote:
Concrete cures, not dries. As stated in prev posts minimal water in a
stiff mix is harder to work but cures to a stronger final strength.
Left to their own discretion often times concrete contractors and
their workers will call for more water to make a soupy mix. This makes
their job much much easier but your concrete much weaker in its final
form.
I should add, that 20 some years ago, maybe closer to 30, I was visiting
a friend and ham Just North Of Carolton(sp?) KY who was building a "big"
home. Basement walls and all foundation were poured concrete. The
concrete was at "Optimum" moisture according to the contractor and
required vibrators just to get it down the chute and vibrators to settle
it in the forms. Those basement walls were so smooth they could have
been painted and you would never have known they were concrete. IIRC
there wasn't a concrete block in the place. It was about 3500 sq foot
on each floor, except for the third which was a little smaller (maybe
2000)and it had a full basement with two full size bowling lanes
complete with auto pin setting and ball returns. He got those from an
alley, going out of business. The house is on the river side of the
road running North about 3 miles N of town. Back yard is a good 300 to
400 yards to the Ohio River with stirs, zig zaging down the face of the
100' plus cliff to the water. Would have been a fantastic place for the
ultimate DX or contest station.
At any rate, that was the first time I had ever heard there is a right
amount of water in the mix for best strength and finish.
Dale is long gone. He was over 80 back then. They had kids, grand kids
and many, many great grand kids. So they had a lot of visitors. I
think he lasted well into his 90s.
73
Roger. (K8RI)
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