How To Mix Concrete By Hand

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Whether you want to pave your patio or give someone cement shoes, here's how to mix concrete like an expert.

To complete this How-To you will need:

Portland cement
Sand
Gravel
Water
A hose
A wheelbarrow or mixing trough
A shovel or hoe
A Styrofoam or paper cup
Bags of premixed dry concrete ingredients
A bucket
A gasoline or electric power mixer
Sugar

Step 1: Make the dry mixture

Basic concrete is made by adding water to a mixture of gravel, sand, and a kind of cement called portland cement. To make the dry mix, combine one part portland cement, two parts sand, and four parts gravel (also called coarse aggregate) in a wheelbarrow or trough. For smaller jobs, you can purchase bags of premixed dry ingredients.

Tip: Start with a moderate amount of dry mix; it becomes difficult to mix large quantities when water is added.

Step 2: Add water

Take a hose and slowly add water to the mix. If using premixed concrete, consult the directions on the bag for the amount of water needed — then measure it into a bucket, and add it to the mix.

Tip: Too much water will result in weak concrete, while too little water will make the concrete unworkable. It's better to start with less water. You can always add more if needed.

Step 3: Begin mixing the concrete

With a hoe or a shovel, begin mixing the concrete. Make sure all the ingredients are uniformly mixed.

Tip: For large projects, use a gasoline or electric power mixer. Concrete mixed by machine will typically be more consistent — and require a lot less elbow grease!

Step 4: Check the consistency

After mixing thoroughly, check the consistency. Punch the bottom out of a Styrofoam or paper cup and fill it with your concrete, as if you were making a sand castle. Remove the cup and watch the pile slump down — ideally it should sink to about half the height of the cup. Add water to the mix to adjust the consistency as needed.

Step 5: Pour concrete

Now pour your perfectly mixed concrete quickly, as it will begin to dry within 15 minutes.

Tip: To increase the setting time of concrete, add a small amount of sugar (0.01% to 0.05% the weight of the cement). Sugar acts as a retarder and increases the setting time one to four hours.

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Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• HomeFamily
• house
• home
• exterior
• pave
• paving
• concrete
• cement
• mix
• mixing
• hand

[BurnDuck]

I've got my shoval, now where is my hoe... hmm...

[oldcreppy]

I was sarcastic if you didn't knew. And by the way, you don't even know me and you certainly don't know what I study and work in. But your dad is a engineer, so it says it all. Your the most intelligent kid out here without a doubt (I'm beeing sarcastic in case you didn't knew)

[scottishlad2k10]

@caliwood909 concrete....... cement and sharpsand (shingle) 4 shingle to 1 cement depending what you are doing.

[scottishlad2k10]

why the hell would you need sugar?

[SilverWrinkly]

The video and written instructions are confusing.

The video starts with a mix being hosed?

Neither the video nor the text puts enough emphasis on starting with clean (no bits of plant material or plastic) dry ingredients and then mixing them dry until a uniform grey colour with no balls of sand or cement showing.

Only then should the water be added.

[STREAKER123]

I've got my hoe here. Time to mix some cement!

[thatsnazzyappleguy]

what i heard was: you will need blah blah blah A HOE blah blah blah blah blah blah...

[salfexile]

@BurnDuck your hoe has gone out looking for a rake!

[xXdaveXsuperstarXx]

The only part of those ingredients I need is a hoe.

[Icubaybee]

very good

[caliwood909]

do i have to add sand? or can i just use the gravel and concrete mix ? im making a 6 x 12 patio extention .. advice would be greatly appreciated.. thank you for this vid btw...

[jaspr1999]

Thank you for posting this! This will come in very handy with some projects around my home.