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.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

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.

Think four 13' long sections of 3' wide sidewalk, laid side-by-side, David, the first of which was put down yesterday. I think I've heard the joint between them called a cold joint, as I don't intend to use any sort of expansion joint between. Just the 14 pieces of rebar spaced on 1' intervals running the 11' distance of the completed pad. Yes, the last section will only be 2' wide, or maybe I'll splurge on some extra bags and make it 3' wide as well?

While I'm asking questions, would it be too soon to remove the one side of the form through which those rebars go, and pour another section today? Or would it be better not to risk damaging that first section?

 

[Looking4new]

Good morning, temp is 33°F and going to 48. Wind N 11 mph. Mainly cloudy.

I'm off to North Bay this morning, fresh veggies are in the list.


Have a safe day all, stay healthy

 

[daugen]

Nice sunny day here, high in upper 60's, but as with others in this area, high winds and red flag warnings

really want to go to Lowes and pick up some dark grey paint to paint just repaired well house, but can I call it essential?
No...
However, I do need eggs, so perhaps I can justify a brief trip.
Sure will wear my mask though. I changed out the inner filter, an N95 rated carbon filter yesterday.

I haven't looked at the flower garden in a few days, hope everything is popping up when I check on it today.

Toppop, hope you are doing ok today.

 

[wngsprd]

38 going to 67...clear and calm so far. Yesterday the high winds ran me inside. I watched pine trees seem to explode with clouds of pollen.

Eric, beautiful pond and landscape.

Stay safe.

 

[toppop52]

Gee Randy, you could have bought both you and Ellen apple watches and kept them longer than 2 weeks.

They didn’t offer that option.

 

[toppop52]

Lewis and Clarke enjoyed bear, but especially beaver tail ... :shocked::shocked::drink:

Doesn’t everyone?

 

[Thomas]

36F wind chimes will be playing tune 40's rain most of the day.

"better see those May flowers after all this rain!"
:thumbsup:

Outside chores done E muffin time. :licking:
Plans for today...No outside work because of over night blanket snow,might start building ladder for the cucumber vines.

Enjoy the day all.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

really want to go to Lowes and pick up some dark grey paint to paint just repaired well house, but can I call it essential?
No...
However, I do need eggs, so perhaps I can justify a brief trip.

I've been putting off a trip to town since the 20th of March, and have a long list of things to get when I go next. One of the things on that list is more concrete, and I consider it essential, as it is supporting the solar power installation. So I'd say go, but make sure what you get is worth the risk.

FWIW, I'm reading more and more stuff saying that even an N95 mask won't stop CV, but it will keep you from infecting others if you are an asymptomatic infectee. But officials out here are also calling for N95 donations from anyone that has 'em. I keep a half dozen or so for working in the shop, and if I go out in public with one on, it'll be a well used, dirty one. Don't want anyone to get the idea that I'm hoarding.

And in the FWIW department, the New England Patriots used their team jet to fetch over a million N95 masks for medical personnel in their home town yesterday.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Good Morning!!!! 48F @ 5:00AM. Abundant sunshine. High 69F. Winds light and variable.
Rain due in tomorrow, lasting through Monday. Time for more inside jobs...

If there's such a thing as reincarnation, a fella could do a lot worse than to come back as a dog and end up at one of your homes...

Thanks for the tip, Eric, but that would mean making a special trip to the store. Maybe next time?

Any water in that wishing well, Thomas?

Schools here won't open again until the fall, and staff are scrambling to put together distance learning programs as a substitute. I feel sorry for this year's crop of graduates, missing out on the ceremonies like that.

TGIF gang!:drink:

 

[Thomas]

RedNeckGeek
Any water in that wishing well, Thomas?
-----------------------
Not a drop,last year had good size paper wasp nest. :shocked: