Seemed Like Such A Simple Project

[Bird]

Yep, Mike, I agree if I'm mixing it in a wheelbarrow, but then it always seemed that the water would not soak down into it well until you stirred it, including scraping the bottom to get the dry stuff up into the water, so if you put the water in first, seems that the dry stuff is heavy enough to fall on to the bottom and get wet in the process. But like I said, I don't know; just wondering. And of course, it may make no difference either way.

 

[MikePA]

I've also heard of people just dumping a bag of concrete mix in around a fence post and not adding any water, assuming that it will absorb moisture from the ground.

 

[Inspector507]

In a wheel barrow, tub, bucket or whatever I always did it dry mix first then added water to suit me.

 

[Harv]

Tony -

I have seen that "test cap" thingy you mention, but I didn't see one in the store when I was shopping. It would definitely be less vulnerable than having it stick up the way I have it now, but if the top of the sleeve were even with ground level, I would still be concerned about junk falling in while I was putting the pole in or out.

No matter how I do it, I'll always find something to worry about. /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

Bird -

<font color=blue>I wonder whether either way actually works better</font color=blue>

I can tell you that when I added the water, it took a loooooong time for it to fully sink in. Maybe an hour or so. I also wonder if these instructions are unique to the fast-setting stuff.

 

[DavidInNH]

I wonder if adding the mix first and then the water helps avoid those ugly grey splashes on the posts?

The first time I mixed in the hole was while helping my neighbor install a fence in '78 or so. He was a contractor and I was just providing labor. We added the mix first, then water and then I got to use a piece of rebar to mix it in the hole. I wish I would have seen Harv's directions...

-david

 

[Soundguy]

There are applications called soil cement, and cement is introduced to soil, then mixed , with water added. Works ( worked ) well. Not sure if anyone still uses it though.

Soundguy

 

[MossRoad]

<font color=blue>So for the first time that I can remember, I actually followed the instructions! </font color=blue>

Now I've totally lost all respect for you /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[Golfgar4]

Great job Harv! /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

How come you didn't take a close up picture of your initials in the concrete?? /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

 

[Harv]

<font color=blue>How come you didn't take a close up picture of your initials</font color=blue>

Dang! I knew I forgot something! Maybe I'd better start over... /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

 

[hosejockey2002]

And all these years like you I've been busting my butt mixing concrete in a wheelbarrow- but than again maybe what I really need is one of them 3-point PTO mixers!/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif