Concrete countertops: How cement particles are like socks.

In this video, Jeff Girard explains how superplasticizer makes a high quality, low water to cement ratio concrete countertop mix workable, without adding any water. This video provides more detail than our other, shorter superplasticizer demo video. Jeff uses a 0.32 water to cement ratio and BASF's Melflux 2651 at a dosage of 0.38% of the cement. He also explains how cement particles are like socks. Watch the video to see why!

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• concrete countertop training
• concrete countertop
• concrete countertop institute
• jeff girard
• mix design
• superplasticizer
• water reducer
• high range water reducer
• concrete countertop videos
• concrete counter top videos
• concrete counter videos
• cement countertop videos
• cement counter top videos
• cement counter videos

[ConcreteCtopInst]

@kpkalenaze: No, no water was added. Try it yourself. The exact superplasticizer and dosage used is in the video. It really works!

[ConcreteCtopInst]

@adrianhopper: My mix design software lets you batch out your concrete depending upon the job size. It's available on my website under Self-Studies, then the button "For Mix Formulas, Casting Table Plans and more, click here". That category also has a 1-hour webinar called "How Concrete Works" that explains more about superplasticizers.

There are 2 blog articles about mixers on my website. Click on Blog on the top right, then select Mixers under Posts by Category on the right.

[ConcreteCtopInst]

@adrianhopper: The size of your mixer doesn't dictate the mix design. It just determines how much concrete you can make at one time.

A 140 L mixer will not make 140 L of concrete. The style of mixer, its power and the stiffness of the mix will dictate how many kg of concrete you'll be able to make in the mixer. Since you didn't specify the style of mixer, I don't know how much it can make.

[ConcreteCtopInst]

@adrianhopper: There is no magic gloss-admixture. It's all in the concrete and in the mold. A glossy concrete surface is shiny and smooth because the surface it reflects (literally) is shiny and smooth.

A glossy cast surface is the product of two things: 1). a highly fluid concrete that creates a tight surface that captures the surface detail of the mold and 2). a perfectly glossy surface upon which that fluid concrete is cast.

[ConcreteCtopInst]

@adrianhopper: While the mix in the video is highly fluid, it is not self compacting concrete. This mix was not designed to be self compacting, and you can tell that because I have to shake the orange tray to get the concrete to level out. Self compacting concrete (SCC) wouldn't need any vibration to flow out and fill the pan all on its own.

[MrFcolon]

were to get superplasticizers? Very good imformation

[ConcreteCtopInst]

@MrFcolon You can get superplasticizers generally anywhere water reducers are sold. Superplasticizer is just a term for a high-range water reducer. I recommend Fishstone Concrete Countertop Supply for concrete countertop specific superplasticizers though.

[kpkalenze]

I noticed that the video cuts out while your mixing the batch after you added the super-plastacizer. I can't help but think that it was because you added water. There's no way that the superplastacizer made it slump that much. It was practically bone dry the first time you mixed it. I'll give credit where credit is do... you did a very good job explaining how it all works.

[adrianhopper]

excellent video! expalined a lot! is this what you call self compacting conrete? is there anything you can add to the mix to make the cast come out of the mold with a glossy surface as if it has been polished already? i have a 140 litre mixer, could you reccomend a mix which would be suitable for this size mixer? many thanks, Adrian. adrianhopper@yahoo.co.uk

[MegaFlyman9]

Great job. Very informative.