I want to fix (bodge) a fence post aand I've got some ready mixed mortar
rhat must be a year or two old.

It looks perfectly good, but I understand that cement has a short shelf
life, even if kept warm amd dry; however mine looks perfect.

Just for interest, if it does deteriorate, could anyone explain the
mechanism - it would ease the pain of shelling out for a new bag!

Can anyone advise, please - I have tried googling, but the answers cover
such a wide range I'm not much wiser, and John Scmitt's FAQs don't seem to
answer this one.

mike

mike ring wrote:
I want to fix (bodge) a fence post aand I've got some ready mixed
mortar
rhat must be a year or two old.

It looks perfectly good, but I understand that cement has a short
shelf
life, even if kept warm amd dry; however mine looks perfect.

Just for interest, if it does deteriorate, could anyone explain the
mechanism - it would ease the pain of shelling out for a new bag!

Can anyone advise, please - I have tried googling, but the answers
cover
such a wide range I'm not much wiser, and John Scmitt's FAQs don't
seem to
answer this one.

mike

should be ok. Normally it sets into a rock when its had it.

NT

"mike ring" wrote in message
. 1.4...
I want to fix (bodge) a fence post aand I've got some ready mixed mortar
rhat must be a year or two old.

It looks perfectly good, but I understand that cement has a short shelf
life, even if kept warm amd dry; however mine looks perfect.

Just for interest, if it does deteriorate, could anyone explain the
mechanism - it would ease the pain of shelling out for a new bag!

It absorbs moisture from the air and forms hard lumps. If it hasn't done
this I still wouldn't recommend building a house with it but for a fence
post go ahead. The worst it can do is refuse to set.

wrote in news:1111777247.841760.134400
@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com:

I want to fix (bodge) a fence post aand I've got some ready mixed
mortar
rhat must be a year or two old.

It looks perfectly good, but I understand that cement has a short
shelf
life, even if kept warm amd dry; however mine looks perfect.


should be ok. Normally it sets into a rock when its had it.

NT

That's what I thought, but considering the age I tried fixing a bit of
pointing in my paving, and it doesn't seem to be going off.

I've checked the bag, and can't find a date on it, but 6 months is bandied
about as a life.

But if *that's* so, how can I be sure I'm buying fresh if there's no date?

And how long *should* it take to set hard - ish?

I can't bear to have it go wrong in front of the guy next door!

TIA

mike

"mike ring" wrote in message
. 1.4...
wrote in news:1111777247.841760.134400
@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com:

I want to fix (bodge) a fence post aand I've got some ready mixed
mortar
rhat must be a year or two old.

It looks perfectly good, but I understand that cement has a short
shelf
life, even if kept warm amd dry; however mine looks perfect.


should be ok. Normally it sets into a rock when its had it.

NT

That's what I thought, but considering the age I tried fixing a bit of
pointing in my paving, and it doesn't seem to be going off.

I've checked the bag, and can't find a date on it, but 6 months is bandied
about as a life.

But if *that's* so, how can I be sure I'm buying fresh if there's no date?

If there isnt a date on the bag, you cant tell how old it is. When it
arrives on site and fresh, its hot, now dont laugh, because I can asure you
its that hot even in the bag you cant touch it for much more than 5
seconds.

When concrete is poured on site. its recond to give it a day for every 1" or
25mm. to cure before stripping the shuttering off.

And how long *should* it take to set hard - ish?

I can't bear to have it go wrong in front of the guy next door!

TIA

mike

mike ring wrote:
I want to fix (bodge) a fence post aand I've got some ready mixed mortar
rhat must be a year or two old.

It looks perfectly good, but I understand that cement has a short shelf
life, even if kept warm amd dry; however mine looks perfect.

Aren't you thinking of plaster?

David

"Lobster" wrote in message
...
mike ring wrote:
I want to fix (bodge) a fence post aand I've got some ready mixed mortar
rhat must be a year or two old.

It looks perfectly good, but I understand that cement has a short shelf
life, even if kept warm amd dry; however mine looks perfect.

Aren't you thinking of plaster?

David
I dont think so. Plaster when its old sets as soon as youve mixed it and
steams

On Fri, 25 Mar 2005 21:34:16 GMT, "keith_765"
wrote:


"Lobster" wrote in message
...
mike ring wrote:
I want to fix (bodge) a fence post aand I've got some ready mixed mortar
rhat must be a year or two old.

It looks perfectly good, but I understand that cement has a short shelf
life, even if kept warm amd dry; however mine looks perfect.

Aren't you thinking of plaster?

David
I dont think so. Plaster when its old sets as soon as youve mixed it and
steams



I added some mortar plasticiser liquid, which I had lying around, to
some old cement in a mix which kept it alive a bit longer. The bag was
about 6months old and had been left open.

"Mike" wrote in :

Just for interest, if it does deteriorate, could anyone explain the
mechanism - it would ease the pain of shelling out for a new bag!

It absorbs moisture from the air and forms hard lumps. If it hasn't done
this I still wouldn't recommend building a house with it but for a fence
post go ahead. The worst it can do is refuse to set.

That's the problem - it does seem to refuse to set, but I wanted to find
out how long I need to wait.

It's been 24hrs and my test bit is still toffeeish, it wouldn't hold up a
post.

I guess that means it's knackered, but with an undated bag, and it looking
perfectly good, it's a bit hard for a muppet like me to tell.

mike

Lobster wrote in
:


It looks perfectly good, but I understand that cement has a short
shelf life, even if kept warm amd dry; however mine looks perfect.

Aren't you thinking of plaster?

No, Supamix dry mortar mix.

The bag says store in a dry place, which I have, but no mention at all of a
shelf life or use by date.

mike