Good morning!!!!

[RedNeckGeek]

OK, here's a question for you concrete wizards out there:

How do you punch the aggregate below the surface? Aside from making the mistake of following the water amounts on the side of the bag today, my pour went pretty well. But there was no way floating was gonna smooth out that first pour, it was way too dry, and training the garden hose on it only made things worse. I think I got the mix right toward the end, but still, patting it down with a float takes a LOT of time, and even then, the edges up next to the forms were still really dry and didn't take the cornier tool very well.

Help!

 

[rswyan]

OK, here's a question for you concrete wizards out there:

How do you punch the aggregate below the surface? Aside from making the mistake of following the water amounts on the side of the bag today, my pour went pretty well. But there was no way floating was gonna smooth out that first pour, it was way too dry, and training the garden hose on it only made things worse. I think I got the mix right toward the end, but still, patting it down with a float takes a LOT of time, and even then, the edges up next to the forms were still really dry and didn't take the cornier tool very well.

Help!

Not a wizard but using a concrete vibrator should help to settle the aggregate as well as getting out the air bubbles.

https://www.amazon.com/Concrete-Vib...wer-hand-tools&ie=UTF8&qid=1585888121&sr=1-16

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Not much of an April Fool's joke:

As of April 1, 2020, there are a total of 9,191 positive cases and 203 deaths in California.
Ages of all confirmed positive cases:
��️Age 0-17: 101 cases
��️Age 18-49: 4,604 cases
��️Age 50-64: 2,429 cases
��️Age 65 and older: 2,007 cases

Unknown/Missing: 50 cases

Gender of all confirmed positive cases:

Female: 4,254 cases

Male: 4,806 cases

Unknown: 131 cases

Approximately 92,500 tests had been conducted. This includes the latest numbers California has received from commercial and private labs.

At least 31,038 results have been received and another 59,100 are pending as of March 31st.
Error


Read that last line again. Twice the number of tests administered have yet to report he results. Things could be much worse than the statistics show...

 

[sodamo]

With all this craziness going on, I actually wish I could live a dog's life... If even for a day.
View attachment 648843

I have his cousin

 

[sodamo]

OK, here's a question for you concrete wizards out there:

How do you punch the aggregate below the surface? Aside from making the mistake of following the water amounts on the side of the bag today, my pour went pretty well. But there was no way floating was gonna smooth out that first pour, it was way too dry, and training the garden hose on it only made things worse. I think I got the mix right toward the end, but still, patting it down with a float takes a LOT of time, and even then, the edges up next to the forms were still really dry and didn't take the cornier tool very well.

Help!

So if I understand, you were making multiple batches. If so and the early ones were too stiff I would spread thinner and allow for the proper batches to be the top layer providing you don’t have a cold joint, which I suspect not.

 

[sodamo]

Well, the blocks were fun. Actually went better than anticipated. If I counted correctly, 63 of the 8x8x16 (about 30lb each) and 3 half blocks. Still need to stabilize with some pins - thinking some old fence posts cut in half and set about 4ft intervals and finish filling with soil. Thinking nice place to plant things.

 

[RoyJackson]

2020-04-03, 0336

37 right now...high in the low 50's and showers today...better see those May flowers after all this rain!

Picked up a couple grip extensions for the magazines of the little .380 I'd written about a week or so back. Basically, they replace the mag floor plate and take about a minute or two to do the job. Much better grip on the gun now!

 

[Eric Salop]

Good morning, only an occasional short shower expected here, certainly not enough to spoil the day.

Yesterday was much the same, the weather forecaster talked about temperatures and somewhat chilling wind being "disappointing" for the time of year. Not for me, it was perfect for being out with a chainsaw, with not a single insect in sight. The pond at the bottom of the hill was mostly protected from the northerly wind, it's smooth surface free to mimic the sky above, then the breeze would swirl and lightly ruffle the surface in several places at once, as if it wanted to erase the reflections.



Thanks to all for lathe advice and warnings.

RNG, one of the advantages of mixing concrete yourself instead of readymix is that you can cheat a little. If you want an easy surface to smooth, you can try tamping the concrete down with a board to half inch or so below final level, then, before it sets, top off and float the surface using a mix with no aggregate, just 3:1 sharp sand and cement.

Sodamo, the blocks could be a good place to grow herbs, especially those like mint that otherwise can spread too far if unconstrained.

 

[Buppies]

44 high of 64 very windy today red flag warning

Prayers for all

 

[riptides]

46 outside this AM. Heading to mid 60's. As buppies said high wind warnings. Yesterday the wife drove the tractor while we cleaned out more fence lines. Dropped her first tree with it. She found low gear and high throttle.
Have another nice burn pile going. Lol.

Hope all have a good day
Be safe.