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Can we talk about how my plumber buddy changed my whole approach to mixing mortar
He said, 'If you're fighting the mix after 5 minutes, you started wrong,' and now I always add half the water first, let it sit for 2, then add the rest, which has saved my arms on big parging jobs.
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jennys721mo ago
Glad that tip helped your arms, but letting it sit is for the lime to slake in mortar, not modern cement mixes. For bagged cement mix, you really want all your water in at once to get a full, even chemical reaction going. That waiting step can actually weaken the bond if you're using portland cement. It works for old school lime mortar, but not for most stuff in bags today.
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patricialee1mo ago
Used to think letting cement mix sit was always better. Watched a mason work on my neighbor's patio last year and asked him about it. He explained exactly what you just said about the chemical reaction needing all the water at once. Changed how I mix small batches for repairs now.
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bettys511mo ago
Actually I've found a quick rest helps it mix smoother.
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