Mixing concrete in the FEL Bucket

[ponytug]

"Cementing Relationships", Season 9, episode 3, in case you wanted to look it up...and yes, lots of goofs with the cement mix, and who would be laying it, not to mention as a MASH unit, it isn't supposed to have cement as a floor, since cement is hardly "mobile"..., but a M*A*S*H gem nonetheless.

All the best,

Peter

 

[tfuller]

Sounds like an excuse to buy a new tool!
https://www.(Temporarily blocked du...actor-PTO-Cement-Mixer-p/csmo-bm80-350-cm.htm

 

[ljjhouser]

I have an electric mixer - it will handle 3 - 80# bags at a time. I don't think mixing it in a loader bucket will make mixing any easier.

Rent a generator and electric mixer - dump that into the loader bucket and dump it into your forms. Home Depot here has rather large mixers for rent. Best Wishes.

 

[mikester]

I'd rent a cement mixer unless I really hated my tractor and needed an excuse to make a mess of it

 

[RalphVa]

I need to pour a pad (3.5' x 8' x 4" deep) and have bought enough 60lb bags of concrete. The forms are built, with wire and rebar. It is on a hilltop where I don't have electricity but will bring up a generator and a HF mortar mixer - which I have used effectively before to mix concrete in 5-gallon buckets. The job is too small for contracting out and a bit too much to contemplate mixing concrete bag by bag in buckets - and that would seem to be a bit slow as the first buckets would be setting up while I was mixing the other bags. So - my idea - to speed up the process is to bring up a few trash cans full of water and mix the concrete in the FEL bucket. Raised up 2' and tilted back it seems it will hold quite a bit and another advantage is that I can then dump it - batch by batch - right into the form. Anything I need to consider?

Have done it many times in at least 2 of the 4 tractors' FELs. Had water in the little stream where I was repairing the tractor crossing. Just scooped some out and mixed with the dry cement. Washed FEL out later but not too clean needed. Just mix with a hoe and can use the hoe to pick up some to apply with a trowel when you need to smooth it.

 

[Paddy]

I need to pour a pad (3.5' x 8' x 4" deep) and have bought enough 60lb bags of concrete. The forms are built, with wire and rebar. It is on a hilltop where I don't have electricity but will bring up a generator and a HF mortar mixer - which I have used effectively before to mix concrete in 5-gallon buckets. The job is too small for contracting out and a bit too much to contemplate mixing concrete bag by bag in buckets - and that would seem to be a bit slow as the first buckets would be setting up while I was mixing the other bags. So - my idea - to speed up the process is to bring up a few trash cans full of water and mix the concrete in the FEL bucket. Raised up 2' and tilted back it seems it will hold quite a bit and another advantage is that I can then dump it - batch by batch - right into the form. Anything I need to consider?

I have done it many times. The trick is to use an accurate amount of water from the start. You will find out quickly if the next batch need more/less water. Guessing or keep adding water is a lot of work.

 

[beowulf]

Okay, finished it, so my update:

Took the tooth bar off. Loaded up garbage cans with water- and smaller buckets to bail it with. The form already had rebar and wire. Coated the inside of the forms with cooking oil. Lined up the FEL along the form (3.5 x about 9' - and set to be about 5" thick). I put duct tape over the holes in the FEL - on the outside. We started with 5 bags in the FEL - added the water as needed and mixed it, and then when it was ready - dumped it into the form. Decided 4 bags at a time would be better so did that. Kept doing that until the form was full - screeded and banged the form sides a bit. Finished it off and then misted from time to time with spray bottles. It took under 2.5 hours from prep to clean up, and went really well. Cleaning out the FEL was not an issue. Just dumped the extra water in and scrapped and brushed it out.

So, the answer to the question about can you /should you mix concrete in a FEL is yes.

Helpers: SIL, wife and daughter. Pics attached.

 

[2manyrocks]

I wondered how your project would go. Looks good.

By comparison, I mixed 5 80lb bags of mortar with an electric drill in a 5 gallon bucket for a stone work project yesterday. Took 10 hours. I never, ever want to do that again. If I had just mixed and poured concrete, would have gone way faster than trying to hand fit each piece of stone.

Having a FEL sure makes a huge difference in dealing with materials. I had the mortar bags in my FEL and a 50 or 55 gallon drum of water (1/3 full) on a rear platform to take to the site.

 

[ljjhouser]

Project looks very nice. You had a lot of good help. Nice Job.

 

[oosik]

I have an electric mixer for concrete. Personally - I would be hesitant to use my FEL bucket. Unless you are prepared to SCRUB it spotless - future materials might hang up on any concrete residue.

I mix with the electric mixer - transport with my wheelbarrow.