How To Mix Concrete Without A Mixer?

Are you planning for home-based masonry work? You can DIY the process by using your hands and two-three sacks of concrete mix. Concrete mixing with machines is only required for a large construction job. But small jobs don’t need it. For mixing, you need a tray, plastic sheet, and gravel. You need paved or concrete space. You can also use a bucket. The concrete mixing is possible by using clean water and concrete mix. The primary purpose is to gain color and consistency. So how to mix concrete without a mixer?

Contents

How To Mix Concrete Without A Mixer Using TrayOr Sheet Method

To adopt a more straightforward method, and based on the availability of resources, you can use two methods. A sheet and tray method or bucket methods gets identified as the most reliable technique.

Total Time: 45 Minutes

Step 1

Concrete allows no delay in gathering items you need in mixing. Hence, very first, you must keep all the ingredients handy. Mix the sand and cement dry before applying water. You need to measure and pour sand or cement on the tray or sheet. Mind that proper proportion gets maintained. Use a spade to mix sand and cement uniformly. Repeat by turning the spade. Continue the process till uniform color is visible.

Step 2

The next step is mixing sand and cement well. Once satisfied with the pre-mixed products, create a deep crater. At the center of the pile to make space to pour clean water.

Step 3

Once the dry mixture is ready, it would need water to be poured. The correct proportion of water is needed. There are chances to add proportionally later. But you cannot retrieve once excess water goes in. After the water is poured, you require a tool to produce a chopping effect. You should ensure uniform mixing of dry and wet ingredients. Continue the process until a concrete structure is achieved. If you are hand mixing, 5% extra cement needs to be added than machine mixers.

Step 4

Avoid premature setting; carry the mixture to the job site quickly initiate work. It would be better to use smaller portions of concrete before using the whole. The concrete produced by sand, cement, and water should be puddle free.

If compared, the use of buckets is superior over other methods of hand mixing. That is because chances of dry concrete sticking to the bottom upon their use. You can use a bucket or a wheelbarrow upon your choice. Otherwise, all the process is similar.
Difference between with and without mixer forms of concrete making at the site

Benefits Of Using A Tilted Mixture

If you use the machine, the cement water ratio is well maintained
Mixing is done well using sand, water, cement, and metal in bulk
Required consistency and color can be achieved effectively
Because of a hopper in this machine, wastage of sand, cement, or metal can be reduced.
Human labor can be reduced.

How Mortar And Concrete Are Different?

Mortars contain only sand, cement, and water. The water-cement ratio in mortar is appreciable. Simultaneously, concrete contains gravel and coarse aggregates that provide strength. Mortars are used for sole building purposes. The bricks are glued together, as we can see for building structures. But concrete being stronger get used for other structural purposes.

Concrete is an essential building material chosen above the wood
For relaxing and rejuvenating, concrete walls and floors are best
For longer service life, concrete is quite efficient
Forming burrows by rodents and invasion of insects can be restricted using concrete
The concrete material increases in strength with time.

Things You Will Need For Concrete Mixing By Hand

Sand: The sand is an ingredient very vital for concrete formation. Despite its character being inert, the sand is an indispensable ingredient in the concrete mix. Essential functions that sand enables proper spread area for film bonding
Cement: The concrete gets judged good or bad depending upon its composition. The cement needs to get mixed in the correct ratio to effectively built concrete. Along with water, the cement forms a poreless bonding for concrete. The water-cement ratio should be lower.
Clean water: Water is a very sensitive component that is used in concrete making. The workability of concrete and cement hydration water addition is needed. An excess proportion of water can damage the strength and durability of concrete.
Gravel: The gravels are coarse aggregates found in concrete. It is usually made out of crushed stone. Natural source of gravel is pit, river, or sea bed. Finer gravels can be derived from larger gravels or quarry rock.
Wheelbarrow, bucket, tray, or tarpaulin sheet
The method of concrete making needs watertight, clean, and quiet space. The wheelbarrows and buckets are better. Because they restrict the sticking concrete mix at the bottom. Otherwise, all suit the hand concrete making process.
Spade or shovel: The tools needed to make the mixtures properly. Shovel and spades perform the activities of turning, mixing, and chopping simultaneously. Applying these texture, color, and consistency of concrete can be achieved.
Face mask: The face mask or “dust musk” is personal protective equipment. You need to wear to prevent dust particles. Performing the mixing activities of sand and cement, you encounter chances of dust in the air. You should avoid respiratory discomfort, and masks are needed.
Eyeglasses/goggles: The safety hazards are probable at any work location. At concrete, making there dust and debris can affect your eye, and visibility can get involved. As per the requirement stated by HSE, you should wear goggles to protect your eyes.
Gloves: When you are making concrete, plainly indulging your hand in the process can injure you. The process is hazardous and can affect your hand skin badly. The safety and alert system calls for wearing gloves to prevent a hand-related hazard.

Properties Of Concrete

The built-in mechanical strength- In general, the strength varies between 25-40MPa. The high-performance concrete possesses above 50Mpa strength. That is equivalent to 50 tonnes force when applied to a square with a ten cm edge.
How durability matters ?- Any environmental variations like frost, rain, etc.
The porosity and density features- The lesser the water and optimizing proportion of packing material enhance density. In short, we can claim denser the concrete, and you can expect better durability.
The property of fire resistivity is another feature we find in concrete. The contents like sand, gravel, and cement, yields fire-resistant properties.
The thermal and acoustic features of concrete are visible. Concrete resists environmental variations. It resists any heat formation, as well as prevents any sound from penetrating.
The impact resistance of concrete is visible. Test reports conclude that the use of Portland cement. The correct proportion of ingredients in mixing will increase the impact of resistance.
The resilient features of concrete prevent it from environmental influence. Moreover, they can help people save as they prevent earthquakes or vibrations. In cases of extreme weather conditions, concrete has proved efficiency.
Concrete is emission-free. It behaves like a completely inert substance when cured.
Once getting used, concrete provides 100% recyclable ability. They can be reused for other purposes. This way, you can avoid landfilling, hence control pollution.

FAQs

1. What is a slump? How it affects concrete?

Slump is formed if more water is added than required. The creation of a slump destroys the consistency of the concrete.

2. Which season is best for concrete making, HOT or COLD?

Concrete from cracking needs neither hot nor cold weather is suitable. Mild weather is the best time to make concrete.

3. How cheap is it to make concrete without a mixer?

It is the least expensive way to make concrete by mixing raw materials. Any home improvement store can be approached to buy the mix. Only water needs to be added.

4. Which size is best for gravels in concrete?

For regular use, gravel of 5.5 to 37.5mm diameters are used. The most common is 20mm, used vastly for construction.

5. What is meant by 1 2 3mix of concrete?

To maximize concrete strength, you need a material mix of 1:2:3:0.5 ratios. The ratio represents cement content. That is of 1 part of cement, sand content of 2 parts, gravel content of 3 parts, and 0.5 part of water.

6. Is it possible to make concrete with just sand and cement?

You will get mortar in case you mix only sand and cement along with water. Gravels would be needed for generating concrete.

7. How safe is concrete if rain invades?

If rain occurs while the concrete mix is fresh, i.e., 2-4hrs after mixing, the surface needs to be protected. Otherwise, if it happens after a 4-8hrs gap, there is nothing to worry about.

8. What do you need to make concrete stronger?

Sand must be collected from volcanic lava that contains a high level of silica. The cement of Portland variety makes the concrete stronger. Adding hydrated lime can help too. If you have done everything right, Your concrete will be very hard to cut.

9. How much water needs to be added to the concrete mix?

In general, it would be recommended to add two third portion of water to the cement mix. Always keep in mind that it makes a depression at the center of the raw concrete material. Pour the mix into a bucket to retain water.

10. Which type of sand is best for concrete?

The variety of sand use can affect the workability and strength of concrete. Reverse sand is a better choice for construction purposes.

Bottom Line

Want know how to mix concrete without a mixer? Deploy yourself to the effort. At home improvement shops, you can get a concrete mix, and you need to add water. But remember, water should be carefully added to avoid slop formation. The mixers are designed for more massive work while mixing concrete by hand is meant for smaller jobs. Going through useful guides like this, one can make your deliberation much easier. For the proper strength of concrete, the standard ratios need to be 1:2:3:0.5.