Making concrete from crusher run?

[4570Man]

Has anyone tried doing this? I don’t really want to get small gravel and sand. I have plenty of crusher run already. I was thinking about mixing the crusher run with Portland cement. I don’t need it to look good and peak strength isn’t really a priority. If I got even 1000 psi from the mix I would be happy. I plan to load the crusher run and cement into a mixer and mix it not brush the cement dust on top of the gravel.

 

[zzvyb6]

It's done all the time here at the local concrete plant. I had my concrete driveway replaced and the contractor took the pieces to the plant and I got some of it back mixed into the new batch after washing. Not as strong as stone.

 

[garry1p]

I was considering that to cut down on the dust for a sidewalk.

I figured I would have to add a little sand to the mix it would save me a lot of work.

 

[dodge man]

If it has fines in it that’s not normally used to make concrete. Would it work? Try it and let us know.

 

[Streetcar]

What are you using the concrete for. Dust is. Not usual ingredient in concrete

 

[2manyrocks]

Some guy gave my dad a formula for mixing concrete that ultimately failed. I got the privilege of busting it up with a sledge. I don’t recommend experimenting when it comes to concrete. Stick to proven materials and methods.

 

[scootr]

3 sand 2 stone 1 concrete
I imagine the crushed fines could replace the sand

 

[Hay Dude]

Watch out for steel wire mesh and your tires

 

[4570Man]

Watch out for steel wire mesh and your tires

This is crushed limestone not recycled concrete.

 

[CalG]

Might work for pavers etc. But the dust is going to kill any strength.

Unless you can wash it!

 

[mikester]

Works good enough for fence posts

 

[DJ54]

I tried that 25-30 years ago because I was pinched for time. Within a few years, it was spalling pretty bad. I even threw in extra portland cement for good measure.

It will pay off in the end to use correct materials.

 

[Hay Dude]

I tried that 25-30 years ago because I was pinched for time. Within a few years, it was spalling pretty bad. I even threw in extra portland cement for good measure.

It will pay off in the end to use correct materials.

Always.
Trying to make concrete out of recycled concrete is not going to give the same result as properly mixed concrete.

 

[paulsharvey]

Sounds like soil cement that you are trying to make, do some research on that, should be around 600 psi when made right. It's best done mixed in place, maybe with a tiller, soaked, graded, and compacted. How would you compact/roll once mixed, hydrated, and graded.

 

[EddieWalker]

You need sand to fill the small voids between the crushed concrete. Fines wont be enough. Portland Cement is just the glue that holds concrete together, it's doesn't have any strength on it's own, so it needs something to bond to. Rock or gravel makes up the bulk of it, but sand is needed to make it 100%.

 

[2manyrocks]

There's so much labor involved in mixing, pouring and finishing concrete that I'd stick to known proven ingredients unless the intention is to pour it around fence posts and you want to be able to break it up when it is time to replace the posts.

 

[4570Man]

I was going to use the concrete mix to fill the cells in a block wall. The mix doesn’t need to be very strong for that job. It’s basically helping tie the blocks together. It’s not going to be visible so I don’t care how it looks. The main reason I’m debating trying it is my skid steer mixer can scoop out of a pile to load it but if I got the correct gravel and sand in a trailer I would have to shovel it in the mixer. Sand is also $40 a scoop at the landscaping yard so much more expensive than the crusher run.

 

[Hay Dude]

I was going to use the concrete mix to fill the cells in a block wall. The mix doesn’t need to be very strong for that job. It’s basically helping tie the blocks together. It’s not going to be visible so I don’t care how it looks. The main reason I’m debating trying it is my skid steer mixer can scoop out of a pile to load it but if I got the correct gravel and sand in a trailer I would have to shovel it in the mixer. Sand is also $40 a scoop at the landscaping yard so much more expensive than the crusher run.

Vertical rebar.

 

[4570Man]

Vertical rebar.

I usually put one strand per cell when I do it.

 

[paulsharvey]

45-70, for your specific use, and the relatively low volume, I would just pick up a pallet of quikcrete and just do a normal mix.