[TowerTalk] Concrete; mix on site; SUMMARY

[Richard & Martha Wilder]

I said I would post a summary about mixing concrete on site. 
None of the replies hit my main question -- how to rate the sand 
and gravel that I have.  My original post and responses are
edited to reduce size.  The responses follow my comments.

My original post was titled "Concrete; how to mix on site"
which should have been "Concrete; selection of sand &
gravel."  My post said I planned on hauling in Portland Cement 
and making a yard of concrete next to the hole with sand and 
gravel left over from other construction projects.  
I asked for replies via k3di@arrl.net.

All of the replies provided helpful information.  A couple
replies were a full page explaining why I should buy Ready
Mix.  After some additional thought I expect I'll spend more
time, more money, and have a lessor result by use on site 
material. I expect that between research on the web and a the
Nimitz Library at the Naval Academy, I'll spend some 50 - 100
hours.  The on site mix will require several workers all day
instead of a one hour dump.  And the rental of a mixer won't
be cheap.  But, I have proceeded this far and now realize
that the reason I want to mix on site is none of the above. 
The reason is that it's a challenge to learn a new skill. 
I'll either post the results on TOWERTALK or have my widow
post them.

The following is a summary of the replies.  
All EDITED with no mercy.

73, Dick Wilder, K3DI   k3di@arrl.net
 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 

From: Bill <Kn4n@aol.com>
1 Part Type 1 or II cement (II sets 3 days, type 1  7 days
2 parts sand (any will do)
3 parts gravel (4's or 5's will do, but any size will work)
Any amount of water but not too soupy.

From: Dan KN6DI <hankarn@pacbell.net>
It seems to me by being frugal/cheap you are courting
disaster. Hire somebody to do it right.

From: "Kevin Adam Webz By Design" <n9iww2@gte.net>
Dry mix 9 shovels of sand and pea gravel or #73 stone mixed. 
Wet mix with 3 shovels of cement.

From: Tower2sell@aol.com
>From the been there done that file...  Total cost was more
than ready mix and my back paid for it.

From: Steve <K7LXC@aol.com>
I'd run the mixer nearer the driveway, where the materials
are and then rent one of those gas-driven wheelbarrows.  I
also wouldn't come up with my own recipe for the concrete
without a LOT of thought and knowledge.

From: Warren KH6WM <wmunro@lava.net>
My neighbor (a concrete guy) urged me to NOT mix remotely;
using a garden house saves hauling many pounds of water.  Also
mixing at the pour reduces undesirable settling out of the
aggregate during any transport.  This is discussed in the
concrete literature.

  ----------------------------------------
  Dick's lifetime address is k3di@arrl.net



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