Yes, the cement absorbs the moisture in the air. When you used it the cement
was already "cured" so it couldn't bond the sand. Comon it's what $4.00. Get
a fresh bag.


"Mike" wrote in message
...
I have a 60 lb bag of mortar that I bought for a small project.
I used a few scoops, and stored the opened bag in my garage
for a year or 2. The bag feels somewhat hardened (not rock hard)
I needed to patch some drill holes in my cement block basementt wall.
I took a few scoops from the bag, It was't too difficult to get it out.
Then I mixed up a batch (not too much water & not too little)
I moistened the cement block (to slow the mortar cure a little)
all seemed to go ok, but a day later the mortar is dry looking,
but I can rub it off with my finger (it just crumbles away with ease)
If I spray water on it (from a water spray bottle with a pump trigger)
It washes out with ease.Can a bag of unused mortar go bad ?
Or is it beacuse it is still winter, and I am working in a heated
basement that is very dry ?

Thanks for your comments - advice