Replies

1. 
   Henley | Dec 09, 2008 03:00am | #1

   I'd hand mix it.

2. 
   jayzog | Dec 09, 2008 03:16am | #2

   So about 125 blocks. I'd just use sackrete mortor, maybe add a little portland to it. Only about 5 bags to mix, not to difficult.

1. 
   MBaybut | Dec 09, 2008 05:14am | #10

   Hey,
   I just went to a mortar calculator and it's telling me 12 60lb bags???
   http://www.csgnetwork.com/mortarqtycalc.html
   Mike

3. 
   peteshlagor | Dec 09, 2008 03:58am | #3

   That's wimmen's work.  Have your wife mix it for you.

    

1. 
   joeh | Dec 09, 2008 04:28am | #4

   That's wimmen's work

   I bought my wife a mixer when we first started building.

   Not her favorite gift, but she learned how to do it. She does enjoy telling people it's "her mixer".

   Joe H

1. 
   Henley | Dec 09, 2008 04:52am | #5

   "I need a women with a chainsaw"!

1. 
   joeh | Dec 09, 2008 06:25am | #13

    

   "I need a women with a chainsaw"!

   I think Jim Blodgett posted something years back about getting his woman a new saw so she could cut the firewood.

   Mine got me a little Stihl last Christmas so my sorry elbow would be happier.

   Here she is with her mixer, don't know what's she's thinking.

   View Image

   Joe H

    

   
1. 
   gfretwell | Dec 10, 2008 06:54pm | #22

   My wife is handy with a mixer too.
   http://esteroriverheights.com/electrical/judy_mixing_mud.jpg

2. 
   rasconc | Dec 09, 2008 04:55am | #6

   I did a tradeout for an old mixer, DW and I did an overlay on a neighbor's porch ( same family I did the tradeout with)  and she thought it was a hoot.  I had one of the large wheelbarrows (also part of the trade) and the tub did not want to dip low enough to dump.  Old Dumb ??? stuck a shovel in to help, it got caught in one of the vanes and proceeded to upend the sucker.

   Mud everywhere but we were laughing our whatevers off.  It tipped over and cracked the big pulley spokes so I endewd up sandwiching it in plywood.  Redneck engineering at it's worst/bestFor those who have fought for it Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know.

3. 
   Hudson Valley Carpenter | Dec 09, 2008 05:04am | #7

   I bought my wife a mixer when we first started building.

   I actually thought that sentence was going to end, "when we first got married."  ROFL. 

   To the original question: If you're going to work by yourself and you're slow at laying block, I'd suggest that you get a small plastic mixing box and a garden hoe at HD (box in the floor tile tool area).  That's what I use to mix thinset for tile work.   You can mix up to one 50 lb bag of sacrete mortar mix with those implements. 

   That's plenty of mud for a slow, single handed job, maybe more than you can use at a time.  In any case, using the premix you can mix up just as much as you want without trying to measure shovels full.

1. 
   Ted W. | Dec 09, 2008 08:42am | #16

   A tip: When you get that plastic trough and mixing hoe, grind the corners of the blade round to match the rounded inside corners of the trough. It's about a 1" radius.See my work at TedsCarpentry.comBuy Cheap Tools! BuildersTools.net

   If you haven't already done so, please update your profile. Since many issues are dependant on the region in which you work, we often look at your profile to see where you are writing from.

4. 
   davidmeiland | Dec 09, 2008 06:14am | #12

   >>I bought my wife a mixer when we first started building

   You did WHAT??

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Twivg7GkYts

1. 
   rasconc | Dec 09, 2008 07:30am | #14

   That is awesome, my son's FIL sent it to me,  one of the comments from one of the guys was  "folding laundry, you got no idea, ain't like that".For those who have fought for it Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know.

5. 
   Norman | Dec 11, 2008 01:00am | #26

   After the mixer, did she get a concrete vibrator?

2. 
   Hackinatit | Dec 09, 2008 02:40pm | #20

   I've said the phrase "Mortar Maid... more mortar, please!" many times.A La Carte Government funding... the real democracy.

4. 
   brownbagg | Dec 09, 2008 05:07am | #8

   go by a hoe with the holes in it, and the large plastic bin that lowes sell. mix half a bag at a time.
5. 
   KFC | Dec 09, 2008 05:11am | #9

   ditto what HVC said.  it will take you a while to get up to speed laying those things.  hand mixing in a plastic tray will keep you from wasting too much mortar.

   resist the urge to water it down (more than a spritz or two) when it starts setting up on you in the tray.  throw it out and mix some more.  mortar's cheap.

   k

6. 
   arrowshooter | Dec 09, 2008 05:16am | #11

   Carefully measure the amount of water it takes to get the first bag mixed like you want it.

   Then for the next bag put that amount of water in the pan then mix.

   Having the right amount of water to begin with makes mixing much easier than mixing and adding,mixing and adding.

   Never say anything bad about a person untill you have walked a mile in his shoes, by then you will be a mile away from him and you will have his shoes.

    

7. 
   davidhawks | Dec 09, 2008 07:37am | #15

   Just hire this gal.

   View Image

   The best reward for a job well done is the opportunity to do another.

1. 
   observer | Dec 09, 2008 09:45am | #17

   Good thing that gal isn't around at the moment.Can you say sliced, diced and deep-fried.

2. 
   deadmanmike | Dec 09, 2008 10:52am | #18

   I think I'm in love. Just imagine the personal imprints she could leave in the 'crete.

   BTW, I wonder if OSHA would approve of her footwear...or lack thereof.

    

1. 
   DaveRicheson | Dec 09, 2008 02:04pm | #19

   Looks like she is building another "brick house"

2. 
   MikeHennessy | Dec 09, 2008 03:17pm | #21

   "BTW, I wonder if OSHA would approve of her footwear...or lack thereof."

   OK. You get points for looking at her feet. ;-)

   Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA

3. 
   bobbys | Dec 10, 2008 07:58pm | #23

   Thats a very purty goil and she looks strong but how many bundles of roofin can she carry up the ladder???

1. 
   frammer52 | Dec 10, 2008 11:31pm | #24

   Does it really matter?  I want to hire her and I haven't had an employee in 15 years!!!!!!!!!!

2. 
   davidhawks | Dec 11, 2008 12:43am | #25

   You DO know who that is don't you?The best reward for a job well done is the opportunity to do another.

1. 
   bobbys | Dec 11, 2008 01:38am | #27

   Sure i do its the singer from the Dixie chicks.

1. 
   davidhawks | Dec 11, 2008 01:52am | #28

   Yea, OK.The best reward for a job well done is the opportunity to do another.

2. 
   bobbys | Dec 11, 2008 02:37am | #29

   sally struthers;].http://www.sign-here.com/gifs/images/cf6145.JPG

3. 
   davidhawks | Dec 11, 2008 04:02am | #30

   Sure like to know what her left hand is doing!!!The best reward for a job well done is the opportunity to do another.

4. 
   jamiep | Dec 11, 2008 05:57am | #31

   you are absolutely disgusting, and should be ashamed and embarassed.

5. 
   KFC | Dec 11, 2008 06:30am | #32

   If he was really disgusting, he'd be wondering what her right hand was doing...

   k

6. 
   bobbys | Dec 11, 2008 09:11am | #34

   Now, now Lads keep it nice.

7. 
   davidhawks | Dec 11, 2008 12:46pm | #35

   <Now, now Lads keep it nice.>

   Coming from you, that really doesn't have much impact.

   Hawks--walking on the blue side.The best reward for a job well done is the opportunity to do another.

8. 
   davidhawks | Dec 11, 2008 12:52pm | #36

   My apologies to you.

   Not for the post, but for the fact that you took offense to it.The best reward for a job well done is the opportunity to do another.

9. 
   deadmanmike | Dec 11, 2008 08:23am | #33

   I was gonna say maybe hiding a twinkie, but that doesn't sound right either...

10. 
    gfretwell | Dec 11, 2008 06:00pm | #37

    From what I have seen of Sally the only place she hides twinkies is in her mouth.
    It is clear why little 3d world kids follow her around. She knows where the food is.

    Edited 12/11/2008 10:01 am ET by gfretwell