Concrete mixing ratios and quantities

[oxfordshirestalker]

Hi all,

I've got some concrete to pour at some point over the next couple of weeks. I'm borrowing a mates cement mixer for it (standard belle minimix). Due to access, I've got to wheelbarrow it about 50m from where I can mix it/where the bulk bags have been delivered to. As a result, I don't want to over fill the mixer/barrow.

Rather than mixed ballast, I've got sharp sand and gravel. I want to mix it on a 1:3:6 ratio of cement:sand:gravel.

Given the above ratio and using a shovel to gauge, how many shovel fulls will I fit in? Would I fit half a bag of cement, 6 of sand and 12 of gravel in per mix and be able to wheel it, or is that too much for both me and the mixer?

Any advice gratefully received!
Thanks

 

[Lickashot]

I would suggest you put a potential mix in the barrow dry and see what you can manage first. Are you sure that's enough cement for the job at hand?

 

[lochty]

We used to reckon 12 normal shovel fuls was enough, unless you were going down hill.

 

[oxfordshirestalker]

I would suggest you put a potential mix in the barrow dry and see what you can manage first. Are you sure that's enough cement for the job at hand?

That sounds like a good idea - enough cement in terms of the ratio? Maybe 1:2:4 would be better

 

[B&W FOX]

Semi wet sharp sand will stick like **** to a blanket in a mixer drum, and you WILL spend plenty of time trying to knock it out with out damaging the drum
Not sure why you don't just use 1 sand to 6 ballast, or 5 ballast if you want it a bit stronger.
Should get 12/13 shovel loads in a mixer

 

[rafael fach]

as Oxfordshire stalker 9to1 would be a little on the weak side for most things 6to 1 would be suitable unless your running vehicles on it

 

[Uncle f]

Save the agg. Get it mixed on your drive and barrow in. I pay £99 a cubic metre mixed on site. So much less agg and cheaper in the long run if you remove your time in mixing it etc.

They will Mix it however you want shed base, footings, foamed for shining up.
My chaps do a min mix of 1 m3. If you have more than 5m3 it’s cheaper still

 

[Tim.243]

I would suggest you put a potential mix in the barrow dry and see what you can manage first. Are you sure that's enough cement for the job at hand?

Hi all,

I've got some concrete to pour at some point over the next couple of weeks. I'm borrowing a mates cement mixer for it (standard belle minimix). Due to access, I've got to wheelbarrow it about 50m from where I can mix it/where the bulk bags have been delivered to. As a result, I don't want to over fill the mixer/barrow.

Rather than mixed ballast, I've got sharp sand and gravel. I want to mix it on a 1:3:6 ratio of cement:sand:gravel.

Given the above ratio and using a shovel to gauge, how many shovel fulls will I fit in? Would I fit half a bag of cement, 6 of sand and 12 of gravel in per mix and be able to wheel it, or is that too much for both me and the mixer?

Any advice gratefully received!
Thanks

With cement in small bags these days the first 2 shovel fulls are heaped which is what you want but then the volume drops off as you come to the smaller amount in the bag. You can get an old wood saw and cut the bag in half and tip it in the mixer....the trick as us old barsterds know is not to hang on to the bag to tight and let it roll in the edge of the mixer....
If it is 240v mixer keep the lead well wrapped up.....

Tim.243

 

[Kjf]

Save the agg. Get it mixed on your drive and barrow in. I pay £99 a cubic metre mixed on site. So much less agg and cheaper in the long run if you remove your time in mixing it etc.

They will Mix it however you want shed base, footings, foamed for shining up.
My chaps do a min mix of 1 m3. If you have more than 5m3 it’s cheaper still

This^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Kjf

 

[gonzo]

Last time I calculated the costs, buying materials and mixing yourself vs a minimix lorry. Came out about the same.
You are going to be barrowing the materials in, so why not barrow in mixed wet concrete from a lorry.

 

[Norfolk Horn]

Do at Tim says and use half a bag at a time.
Water first let it wash mixer bowl.
Slowly add cement until you have a good slurry.
4 Sand add slowly at the front of the mixer.
1 Stone
Then repeat sand and stone.
Dont overload your mixer and allow several minutes to mix properly
Always load the mixer towards the front on the paddles and give it time to do its job
That should give you a nice manageable barrow load.
Wet the barrow tip the first one in it.
Before taken it to tip put water, cement and some stone in and it will start the mix and clean the bowl.
If you gauge the first amount of water used you will get a consistent mix.
You could also gauge in buckets etc all your dry components then you will get a very consistent mix. Remember the half bag of cement equals 2 in ratio by volume
Doing this way takes a bit longer but you will get very good concrete.
Hope this help
NH

 

[Tim.243]

Do at Tim says and use half a bag at a time.
Water first let it wash mixer bowl.
Slowly add cement until you have a good slurry.
4 Sand add slowly at the front of the mixer.
1 Stone
Then repeat sand and stone.
Dont overload your mixer and allow several minutes to mix properly
Always load the mixer towards the front on the paddles and give it time to do its job
That should give you a nice manageable barrow load.
Wet the barrow tip the first one in it.
Before taken it to tip put water, cement and some stone in and it will start the mix and clean the bowl.
If you gauge the first amount of water used you will get a consistent mix.
You could also gauge in buckets etc all your dry components then you will get a very consistent mix. Remember the half bag of cement equals 2 in ratio by volume
Doing this way takes a bit longer but you will get very good concrete.
Hope this help
NH

Also, not sure how your shuttering is? but if it is a bit suspect then knock up a few gauges of stiffer gear and dub out the edges as any wet gear will find a way through and will sink and P I SS you off lol

Tim

 

[Norfolk Horn]

Also, not sure how your shuttering is? but if it is a bit suspect then knock up a few gauges of stiffer gear and dub out the edges as any wet gear will find a way through and will sink and P I SS you off lol

Tim

You old git you Tim anyone would think you had done a bit

 

[Lickashot]

That sounds like a good idea - enough cement in terms of the ratio? Maybe 1:2:4 would be better

Hi,
Good advice above already. Regarding mix quantities, does depend what the job is. I have mixed quite a bit of mortar but not much cement so others are better placed to help you out with that. Also my brickwork is so slow I have never needed a mixer, the foundations for my extension were put in by the pros who obviously did use one. Few pros on here who can help further if you are more specific. Good luck!

 

[Tim.243]

You old git you Tim anyone would think you had done a bit

If I wanted to spend time with my Dad at weekends then I had to push the barrow and fill up the mixer...bless him

No clip boards or managers badges in this family lol

Tim.243

 

[greenshoots]

i have just finished putting posts used a mix of 1/2/3, 1 cement, 2 sand 3 hardcore mixed by hand for all 4 posts

greenshoots

 

[SAUER20222250]

If you are doing permanent build like an extention or conservatory do not batch it yourself but get a QSRMC approved company. Problems can arise upon sale of your property. If its a dog kennel a 25N mix is enough.100mm deep.

 

[paul o']

4 x 25kg bags to 1/2 bag of dust = one full barrow most weeks i get to build a ramp or steps for access , but when i had the last shed base at my own home done i formed it up and i got the mix as you go guys in ,the base was 11ft x 21ft x 1ft Deep they had it done in three hours it looked hard work over my cold glass of beer ? as i'v got older i'v decided to work smarter

 

[Tim.243]

You old git you Tim anyone would think you had done a bit

Me @ 15 many years ago.

 

[Norfolk Horn]

Me @ 15 many years ago.

View attachment 165444

That's got to be recent as your sporting a lockdown hair style