[TowerTalk] Mixing your own concrete?

[Tower (K8RI)]

> The spec. for the foundation for the tower I intend to put up (AN Wireless 
> 60' Light Duty) at this location (80mph winds) calls for close to 10 cu. 
> yds. of 4000lb concrete.

The mix itself will weight roughly 7000# or a bit more per yard.  That is a 
lot of work!

>
> How many bags of premixed concrete is that? (They are sold by weight 
> rather than by finished volume). Is the stuff in bags up to that strength, 
> and is it possible to mix that quantity quickly enough (even

Not likely.  I don't know for sure, but I doubt you can purchase pre-mixed 
concrete in the quality needed.  That stuff is normally for small jobs and 
it is expensive when compared to large quantitie of commercial concrete.

> with an electric- or gasoline-powered mixer) to avoid having the 
> first-poured stuff set already before the last lot is mixed and placed? 
> I've worked in testing laboratories for construction projects, and I know 
> how important it is for concrete to be poured within a certain period of 
> time, or for the structure to be designed for discontinuous pouring.

You are pouring a block.  As long as conditions are not hot and you work as 
a team *and* you have all materials handy (sand, gravel, and concrete) you 
can most likely do the job, but I think you will be pushing it.

It's been a long time since I mixed my own and even then it was for 
sidewalks and garage floors.
I no longer remember how many shovel fulls of each are required.

Roger Halstead (K8RI, EN73 & ARRL Life Member)
N833R, World's Oldest Debonair (S# CD-2)
www.rogerhalstead.com

>
> Alan NV8A
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