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I finally argued with an old foreman about mortar mixing
I was on a crew in Daytona 2 years ago and this foreman insisted we mix mortar by hand with a hoe in a wheelbarrow. I told him our mixer was right there and could do it in 5 minutes instead of 25. He looked at me and said 'the mixer makes it too wet and weak every time.' I stood my ground and timed it out - his hand mix came out drier but had way better grab on the blocks. Has anyone else found that hand mixing actually gives you more control over the consistency?
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the_elliot1mo ago
Funny you mention that, I had a similar thing happen on a job in Orlando. That mixer can get you in trouble if you don't watch it, but I found that if you add the water slowly and give it a few extra spins it comes out just right. Really comes down to knowing your tools and the weather that day. I still think hand mixing gives you a better feel for the batch though, especially on a hot day when it dries out fast. You just can't beat that immediate feedback.
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