A hero on this group has lent me a minimix 150, i'm just wondering how
much you can/should shove in one.
*Should* I think is 90k, so given the mix below (1/2 cement 3 sand) plus
water that's probably a little over, it's tempting to chuck more in
though as it appears there's room.

And while on the topic when sorting a mix, is a 4:1 ratio based on
weight or volume? Because a bag of cement appears to have 50% more
volume than the same weight bag of sand.
So a 1:4 mix (per the shovel) would be 1/2 a bag of cement to 3 bags of
sand?

On 26/03/2021 12:16, R D S wrote:
And while on the topic when sorting a mix, is a 4:1 ratio based on
weight or volume? Because a bag of cement appears to have 50% more
volume than the same weight bag of sand.
So a 1:4 mix (per the shovel) would be 1/2 a bag of cement to 3 bags of
sand?

I'm reading (now) that for render a 1:4 mix is too strong anyway.
And then i've done 1 bag of cement to 4 bags of sand which puts me at
1:2.6, is that going to crack up?

Classic - do a job then research it later!

On 26/03/2021 12:28, R D S wrote:
On 26/03/2021 12:16, R D S wrote:
And while on the topic when sorting a mix, is a 4:1 ratio based on
weight or volume? Because a bag of cement appears to have 50% more
volume than the same weight bag of sand.
So a 1:4 mix (per the shovel) would be 1/2 a bag of cement to 3 bags
of sand?

I'm reading (now) that for render a 1:4 mix is too strong anyway.
And then i've done 1 bag of cement to 4 bags of sand which puts me at
1:2.6, is that going to crack up?

Classic - do a job then research it later!

I've tended to count shovels when mixing so volume. Someone with more
experience may be along shortly.

On 26/03/2021 12:28, R D S wrote:
On 26/03/2021 12:16, R D S wrote:
And while on the topic when sorting a mix, is a 4:1 ratio based on
weight or volume? Because a bag of cement appears to have 50% more
volume than the same weight bag of sand.
So a 1:4 mix (per the shovel) would be 1/2 a bag of cement to 3 bags
of sand?

I'm reading (now) that for render a 1:4 mix is too strong anyway.
And then i've done 1 bag of cement to 4 bags of sand which puts me at
1:2.6, is that going to crack up?

the reverse.

solid cement is water impermeable and sets hard as a rock. The more sand
you add the more likely once over about 2:1 there is to have porosity -
air gaps - in the final product.

Render - like most other cement based products - is 'as cheap as we can
get away with' . 4:1 is weak but won't actually fall off...and when
doing mortar for brickworks, there isn't much point of it being less
porous or stronger than the bricks are.

Only when you start adding in ballast - stone - to make a strong
waterproof slab do you want to ensure that all the gaps between the
stones are full of sand and all the gaps between the sand are filled
with cement...

Classic - do a job then research it later!


--
Renewable energy: Expensive solutions that don't work to a problem that
doesn't exist instituted by self legalising protection rackets that
don't protect, masquerading as public servants who don't serve the public.

On 26/03/2021 13:48, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 26/03/2021 12:28, R D S wrote:
On 26/03/2021 12:16, R D S wrote:
And while on the topic when sorting a mix, is a 4:1 ratio based on
weight or volume? Because a bag of cement appears to have 50% more
volume than the same weight bag of sand.
So a 1:4 mix (per the shovel) would be 1/2 a bag of cement to 3 bags
of sand?

I'm reading (now) that for render a 1:4 mix is too strong anyway.
And then i've done 1 bag of cement to 4 bags of sand which puts me at
1:2.6, is that going to crack up?

the reverse.

solid cement is water impermeable and sets hard as a rock. The more sand
you add the more likely once over about 2:1 there is to have porosity -
air gaps - in the final product.

Render - like most other cement based products -Â* is 'as cheap as we can
get away with' . 4:1 is weak but won't actually fall off...and when
doing mortar for brickworks, there isn't much point of it being less
porous or stronger than the bricks are.


Sand/cement basecoat for plastering is even weaker.

On 26/03/2021 12:16, R D S wrote:
A hero on this group has lent me a minimix 150, i'm just wondering how
much you can/should shove in one.
*Should* I think is 90k, so given the mix below (1/2 cement 3 sand) plus
water that's probably a little over, it's tempting to chuck more in
though as it appears there's room.

And while on the topic when sorting a mix, is a 4:1 ratio based on
weight or volume? Because a bag of cement appears to have 50% more
volume than the same weight bag of sand.
So a 1:4 mix (per the shovel) would be 1/2 a bag of cement to 3 bags of
sand?

ISTR that it used to do a 5:1 mix without a problem when it was new. And
I am talking your 25Kg bags.

Of course it has been abused over the years.

I never tested it before I dropped it off at yours.

--
Adam

On 26/03/2021 18:47, ARW wrote:

Of course it has been abused over the years.


To be fair it looks in better nick than most of the stuff on ebay and
the like.

I never tested it before I dropped it off at yours.

It's usable (if not abusable) so mega grateful.