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The bag mix trap. Used to think it was a good call.
For years I told new guys to grab those pre-mixed concrete bags for post holes. Seemed simple, no mess. Did a big job last month, a long driveway fence with a ton of posts. The heat was brutal. By the third bag, my back was killing me from hauling them. Cost added up fast, way more than mixing my own. The worst part? The set time was all over the place. Some posts felt solid, others were shaky. Never again. Now I roll with a small mixer in the truck and bulk bags. Saves money, saves my body, and the posts don't move. It's just better work.
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mitchell.iris28d ago
Remember mixing a tiny patio slab by hand as a kid (what a terrible idea). My arms were jelly for two days and we still had weak spots. Some lessons you only need to learn once.
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karen_perry3824d ago
Oh man, that brings back memories. I read somewhere that getting the water ratio wrong is the biggest mistake with hand mixing, it's so easy to mess up. Like if it's too wet it gets weak, and too dry is impossible to work with. No wonder you had those weak spots, it sounds like a total pain. That's definitely a one and done kind of job for me too.
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simona7727d ago
Oof, that sounds brutal, @mitchell.iris. Mixing concrete by hand is no joke. What made you guys decide to do it manually instead of renting a mixer or something? I've heard that getting the mix right is super tricky without proper tools. Did you ever try fixing those weak spots later, or was it just a write-off? Sometimes those hard lessons stick with you forever.
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