The procedure for mixing concrete in a concrete mixer. How to work with a concrete mixer - simple rules for work. The main components of the mixture

It is quite difficult to exaggerate the importance of concrete in modern construction. Use it on various stages arrangement of the building, starting with the creation of the foundation, ending with the final decorative work on the design of the landscape of the green zone near the house.

By their own physical properties concrete - fake diamond prepared from a specific set of components.

What is concrete made of?

All components are divided into four groups in accordance with the principle of operation of the component:

astringent base
mixing liquid
aggregate
additional substances.

Important! The materials of the last category are used mainly when laying concrete in difficult conditions or at the request of the manufacturer.

What are the main ingredients of the solution?

For creating concrete mix prepare:

Cement
Rubble.

Important! A wide range of dry concrete mixes is presented on the building materials market, which are enough to be diluted with water exactly according to the instructions. But, making concrete with your own hands, with the right components, is also not difficult.

During the selection process building mix be careful about the presence of specific additives. Some of them affect frost resistance, hardening rate, degree of plasticity of concrete.

Criteria for the selection of concrete components

Water

In production processes, for the preparation of concrete mix, water is used, the composition indicators of which comply with GOST standards. At self-manufacturing prepare drinking water.

Important! Check the quality of the water, it should be free of alkalis, sugar, oils, acids and other impurities.

Cement

Common name binder, which is based on marl, calcareous, clay rocks. Most often today, Portland cement is used in construction, with a high percentage of calcium silicates in the composition.

Cement classification:

Without additives, that is, their content in the composition does not exceed 5%. Marking "TO" or "CEM I".
With additives, the percentage of which varies within 35. Marking D + Indicator of the content of additives in percent, for example, "D15" or "CEM II".

When buying, pay attention to the following nuances:

admissible period of use of the mixture
storage conditions
make sure that the moisture level is correct, that is, that the cement is not damp
check the flowability of the substance (it should not be stale, compressed)
make sure each bag is labeled accordingly
the grade of cement should exceed the grade of the planned concrete (see below) by 2-3 times.

Important! Do not buy cement too early, enough for 1-2 weeks. If the terms and conditions of storage are not observed, it loses its quality, which will affect the strength characteristics of concrete.

The choice of sand has its own conditions and requires the right approach.

Pay attention to the following points:

Granule size. There are several types, the size range of which varies from 1.2 to 3.5 mm. Give preference to coarse sand.
Important! Please note that the smaller the granules, the greater the consumption of sand in the manufacture of the concrete mixture and the lower the strength of the finished hardened composition.
The purity of the substance. Use the cleanest material without impurities and dirt (plant particles, silt, clay, glass, soil, dust). Check for their presence by sifting or washing the sand.
Important! This criterion affects setting degree, consumption of cement for the preparation of concrete and water.
Flowability. The sand should be well dried, not wet, since the recipes indicate the amount of dry matter.

Important! In any state of sand, there is a certain percentage of absorbed moisture in it, which is usually taken into account when compiling the proportions of substances. In dry - this figure does not exceed 1%.

rubble

Pay attention to the following criteria:

Important! Please note that most often it is the quality of crushed stone that affects the strength of concrete.

Expanded clay

This material does not belong to the main components of concrete, but to create a lightweight solution (to reduce the load on the floors and frame of the structure), expanded clay is often used instead of crushed stone.

When choosing this material, pay attention to:

fraction size — from 3 to 5 mm
flowability of a substance
purity and uniformity.

Concrete marking

The classification of concrete is carried out according to:

class (B)
brand (M).

The brand of concrete indicates the compressive strength and load capacity. The indicators vary from 50 to 1000 kgf / cm2. That is, for example, M300 concrete can withstand up to 300 kg / cm2.
The mortar class indicates guaranteed strength in 95 cases out of 100. The range of indicators is from 3.5 to 80.

Plan the specific type of mixture based on the purpose.

The table below shows the acceptable grades and classes of concrete with strength indicators.

How to prepare a concrete solution?

You can prepare the mixture yourself in two ways:

manual
mechanical (using a concrete mixer).

The first will, of course, be more laborious, but, with a small amount of work, it is quite acceptable and economical.

Use a concrete mixer for large volumes or increased requirements for the strength characteristics of the concrete mixture.

Preparatory work

Preliminary work is necessary regardless of the further method of preparing the solution. They consist in the preparation of materials.
Sequencing:

Sift the sand.
Wash gravel.
Dry both substances.

Norms for the preparation of concrete

In order to get concrete of a certain brand and strength, follow the recipe.
Choose the most convenient principle for calculating the consumption of components:

kilograms
liters
percentage
number of parts.

Please take a look at the tables below for the various possible options proportions for the preparation of concrete.

Important! Please note that in each individual case, deviations from the norm are permissible, which are regulated by the quality of the materials.

Cooking conditions

When preparing concrete on your own, be sure to observe not only the technical aspects of the process, but also the conditions under which the solution is produced:

air temperature 15-20
humidity level within 90%.

Important! If pouring is carried out in conditions of severe aridity or low temperatures, use special additives that regulate the hardening process, thermal insulation materials and additional irrigation.

Manual method for making mortar

The procedure for preparing concrete:

Mechanical concrete preparation

Types of concrete mixers

There are two types of concrete mixers:

gravitational
coercive action.

In the first case, mixing occurs due to the rotation of the drum with fixed blades installed inside it. In the second, mixing is performed by blades rotating in a certain mode with a stationary bucket.

Each type has its own advantages:

compactness, light weight, low cost are inherent in gravitational devices
get a better mixing quality when using a forced-type concrete mixer.

Important! For self cooking concrete at home, a gravitational apparatus is quite enough. Please also note that with very large volume work most likely will need not one, but 2-3 concrete mixers.

How to prepare high-quality concrete?

In the process of preparing concrete in a concrete mixer an important factor is the component loading sequence. The quality of the prepared mixture directly depends on how correctly the technology is chosen.

There are many opinions on this matter. Below is a technology for a more rational approach to doing this work.

Cooking technology

Place the concrete mixer on a level surface.
If necessary, create additional underlays to increase the stability of the machine.
Lubricate the blades and walls of the concrete mixer with a mixture of water, cement and fine aggregate.
Important! This action will prevent the solution from sticking.
Turn on the machine.
Pour in half of the prepared water.
Pour crushed stone into the drum - half of the total volume.
Wait 2-3 minutes for mixing.
Add cement.
Important! When supplying cement after crushed stone, larger aggregate fractions prevent cement from sticking to the walls and blades. Plus, crushed stone helps to break up the resulting lumps.
Wait for some mixing time (about 3-5 minutes).
Add sand.
Leave to stir for 2-3 minutes.
Add the remaining gravel.
In the process of mixing, pour in the rest of the water, bringing the solution to the desired consistency.
Important! After adding all the components, rotation for more than 2-3 minutes is not recommended. This can lead to loss of plasticity, delamination and water evaporation.
Switch off the unit.
Important! Observe the following safety precautions during all work:
- do not stick your hands and shovel inside when rotating
- wear protective gloves
- do not lean close to the drum.
Pour a small portion of the prepared mixture into a wheelbarrow.
Check the quality of the concrete.
Important! One way to check the quality of the mortar is to make a few ribs with a shovel. If the concrete is of the right consistency, they will retain their shape. But, at the same time, the mixture should be fluid.
Unload into a container if the desired plasticity is achieved.
Pour the mixture back and mix again if the concrete is not ready, then unload into a container.
Wash the concrete mixer.

Important! Consider the allowable mixing volume of the particular apparatus you have chosen. The main criterion is a large aggregate, which, if excessive, interferes with making a full-fledged batch of the proper level. For example, for a concrete mixer with a capacity of 132 liters, the maximum amount of crushed stone in one preparation is 4 buckets.

Video of concrete mix preparation

Conclusion

Ready-mixed concrete can only be used for a limited period, so plan your actions and time to avoid long-term storage mass and premature drying of the solution. This will lead to a decrease in the initial quality, and, accordingly, will affect the strength during operation.

Not a single construction event can do without the use of mixtures and concrete for a long time. Even if the house is wooden, it still needs a foundation, and the surrounding area needs landscaping and the construction of engineering structures. Role cement mortars is very significant and the durability of the structure directly depends on the quality of their preparation.

That is why the question of how to properly mix concrete in a concrete mixer is so relevant today for private developers.

Components of concrete mixtures

To obtain high-quality concrete using a concrete mixer, first of all, it is necessary to observe the correct ones, which include:

cement, as a binder;
sand;
gravel or crushed stone;
water;
specialized additives.

Proportions of concrete mix.

Special additives include (substances that prevent the rapid freezing of the mixture when negative temperatures and accelerating the hardening process), dyes and others.

The ratio of the main components determines the brand of concrete, its physical and mechanical characteristics. Same way big influence the quality of the prepared mixture is affected by the amount of water, which should not exceed half the mass of the cement being added.

Gravity type concrete mixer.

Types of concrete mixers

For the preparation of concrete solutions, equipment manufacturers today offer gravity, forced and vibration types.

Gravity mixing devices are a rotating mixer mounted on a frame and having a drive that can be manual, electric or motor driven. internal combustion. The most common mechanisms are electrically driven.

When the mixer rotates, the components are picked up by the blades inside it, rise into upper part capacity and, under the influence gravitational forces are falling down. A few minutes of this rotation guarantees a well-mixed solution.

The volume of working capacity of gravity mixers for private construction varies from 60 to 250 liters, which allows you to choose the most suitable model for any type of work performed.

The relatively low cost of these mechanisms contributes to their widespread use both by individuals and in construction teams.

Forced-type concrete mixers are more complex in design and less common than gravity mixers. They are a fixed, horizontally located container, inside of which there is a rotating auger with blades. When the screw rotates, the embedded components are thoroughly mixed, allowing you to get quality material. The main disadvantages of such mixers include:

the presence of sealing elements on the screw;
more complex loading of components and unloading of the finished solution;
high cost due to more complex design.

Vibratory concrete mixers are used in the industrial preparation of concrete mixtures. These are large-volume vertical containers with top loading of materials and bottom unloading of the finished product. Simultaneously with the components, one or more mechanical vibrators are lowered inside this container, due to which the solution is mixed. In private construction, devices of this type are used extremely rarely.

General technology for mixing concrete mixtures

Before working with a concrete mixer, you should know that the technological process for preparing concrete and mortar consists of several stages, each of which can affect the quality of the resulting material:

proper installation of the concrete mixer;
preparation of the mixing mechanism for operation;
mixing;
unloading the resulting solution;
care of the mixer after the end of work.

Loading components into the concrete mixer.

The concrete mixer must be installed on a level ground in order to prevent it from tipping over during operation and excessive load on the moving mechanisms. The disconnecting device must be located on the mixer or in its immediate vicinity. Before working with a concrete mixer, it is necessary to provide a place for placing the constituent components and a container into which the unloading will be carried out. finished material.

To ensure that when loading dry sand and cement, they do not stick to the walls of the mixer, it is recommended to moisten the inner surface with liquid cement milk. The loading of the constituent components is carried out as their specific gravity decreases.

Half of the required volume of sand is poured first, then gravel and, finally, cement. Water is added gradually and last turn. Any special additives are pre-dissolved in water and added along with it.

Stirring continues until the mass becomes completely homogeneous. It should be remembered that too long mixing of the solution can lead to a decrease in the plasticity of concrete. Do not allow the loading of components in an amount exceeding the nominal volume of the mixer, as this sharply reduces the quality of mixing.

The unloading of the finished material should be carried out only in an intermediate special container, with its subsequent transfer to a wheelbarrow, buckets or stretchers. Unloading the mixture from the mixer with a shovel is unacceptable.

After finishing work, it is necessary to draw water into the mixer and turn on the concrete mixer in order to rinse the internal volume well. It is also necessary to wash the unloading container and other tools involved in the process.

control edges.

If this is not done, then the next time the remaining particles of the set solution will not affect the quality of the prepared mixture. The concrete mixer with an electric drive after work must be de-energized and completely disconnected from the electrical network.

Finally

High-quality preparation of concrete and mortars in a concrete mixer is based on the correct ratio of the components of the mixture and proper care behind the operating mechanism. Therefore, even before starting work, you should accurately determine the brand required material and strictly follow the technology of its preparation. The rest is simple. Even a person with no experience in construction can prepare a concrete solution using a concrete mixer.

The preparation of concrete in a concrete mixer, if it is necessary to obtain significant volumes that are difficult to prepare manually in a trough, and it is impossible or inappropriate for any reason to order at specialized plants with delivery by truck mixers, the only reasonable solution. To obtain a high-quality concrete mix, it is necessary to read the instructions on how to use the concrete mixer and strictly observe the proportions of the components.

Varieties and principle of operation of concrete mixing plants

Concrete directly on construction site are prepared in mixers of two types:

Forced action. The mixing of the constituent components is carried out in fixed drums, with the help of metal blades fixed on the shaft. Such massive installations provide a high degree mixing to obtain a quality mixture. But in individual construction they are used by home craftsmen quite rarely for the following main reasons:
- the need to use only aggregates of small fractions;
- the high cost of equipment and spare units for repairs as a result of breakdowns;
- high consumption of electrical energy powerful engines;
- transportation requires special transport and lifting mechanisms for unloading and installation;
- the difficulty of issuing ready-made mixtures.
Gravity mixing plants. The pear-shaped container is mounted on a frame structure with the possibility of rotation and occupying various positions relative to the horizon. When the drum rotates, the components are captured by the blades fixed inside it and move along the circumference of the container, which is in an inclined position. Upon reaching top point, they fall down under the influence of their own weight and are again captured by the blades. This cycle is repeated many times. To load the components and unload the finished mixture in the tank, there is enough big hole. The concrete mixer is equipped with its own drive and has small dimensions and weight. Most models are equipped with wheels for ease of movement, which makes the installation mobile. The mixing of the components is less qualitative than in the first type of concrete mixers, but the required quality is fully ensured subject to the technology.

Such installations are convenient in transportation, mixing and unloading of the prepared mixture, they are characterized by reasonable prices for equipment and spare parts. Repairs are simple to perform and, in most cases, can be completed quickly.

All this is attractive to home craftsmen and causes the wide distribution of such mixers, and the first type is mainly used only by professionals.

Requirements for the materials used

For the preparation of concrete, the following materials are needed:

Portland cement brands from 300 tons to 500 tons, the higher the brand, the smaller the amount required to obtain the desired class. When buying material, it is important to consider the following nuances:
- production time, quality characteristics cement during storage during the year are reduced by 2 times;
- storage conditions, the material should be crumbly without lumps and not damp;
- bags should be marked with the date of manufacture, brand and percentage of additives or their absence;
- The purchase of M400 cements is recommended.
Crushed stone fractions ≤ 20 mm. A minimum number of elements of larger size is desirable, which impairs the mixing of the mixture and the convenience of laying in the case. The best product quality is provided by granite, less gravel and the lowest limestone types of crushed stone. Greatest strength provided by particles of a cubic shape, a smooth shape worsens the strength properties of solutions. The absence of dirt and dust is important, therefore it is recommended to clean the material by sifting through fine mesh screens and remove dust by washing.
To reduce the volumetric weight, expanded clay with a particle size of up to 5 mm is often used instead of crushed stone.
Sand is used quarry, not river. The first one is larger, but contains clay impurities, so the sand must be sifted or washed before use, the presence of pieces of clay ≥ 3 cm, plant particles, silt, stony and glass inclusions, dust is unacceptable. The sand must be dry, moisture content ≤ 1%. P
Water that does not contain organic impurities, acids, oils and alkalis. It is recommended to use potable water without performing laboratory quality tests.
Special additives: plasticizing, antifreeze and a number of others.

When purchasing ready-made dry mixes that are widely represented on the market, you need to pay attention to the presence of additives in their composition, what they affect and strictly follow the recommendations for the amount of mixing water.

Proportions of concrete mixing in a concrete mixer

To obtain high-quality solutions, it is necessary to strictly observe the proportions of the mixed components. In the technical literature, the necessary ratios are indicated in kg, liters, in percentage or parts.

Values are given for materials in a dry state. At the construction site it is convenient to fill the components with measuring buckets, so it is recommended to weigh standard buckets with a capacity of 10 liters filled with the materials used. To do this, before mixing concrete in a concrete mixer, the number of whole buckets of each component required for one bookmark is determined.

So for mixing the most commonly used B20 concrete with M400 cement at home, on average, you will need:

two buckets of cement
8th crushed granite
4th quarry sand
and a bucket of water.

When using cement M500, with this ratio, class B25 will be obtained.

Plasticizing additives are poured in about 50 grams, for which you can use a regular glass. Instead of branded formulations, it is successfully used conventional means for dish washing. Antifreeze additives can be replaced with conventional table salt, but only when laying concrete mixtures in non-reinforced structures. Salt is taken in an amount of ≤ 5% by weight of the cement. Available for sale special preparations combining the properties of a plasticizer and a frost-resistant additive. For example, cryoplast or analogues, the required amount of additives is indicated in the attached instructions.

How to mix concrete in a concrete mixer

Scope of work:

Installing the concrete mixer on a flat horizontal surface with reliable fastening of the legs and wheels so that the dynamic loads arising in the working process cannot move or overturn it.
Selection suitable composition mixtures.
Preparation of materials with sifting sand and washing gravel from contamination. drying components.
To reduce the sticking of the mixture to the walls of the tank and the blades, a little water with cement and sand is poured in and the drum is scrolled for some time to stick the composition to the walls. Therefore, in the first batch, the amount of sand and cement increases by 10%. In subsequent batches, the set values are maintained.
Turning on the unit and loading the constituent materials. The components are loaded in order of decreasing density, first crushed stone, then sand, cement and water with additives. After a full load, mixing is performed from 2 to 3 minutes. More time can lead to the separation of components and reduce the productivity of work. The concrete mixture should acquire a uniform composition, visibility of fat content and uniformity of color. When mixing, do not change the slope of the pear, lean close to it and put tools or hands into it.
Checking the plasticity of concrete, for which the pear tilts slightly and a small amount of the finished mixture is poured into a stretcher or wheelbarrow. Several ribs are made in the mixture with a shovel. An indicator of normal plasticity is the preservation of its shape by the ribs for some time.
Unloading concrete into a bucket with the drum tilted as it rotates.
Switching off the unit.
Cleaning the tank with water rinsing into which a bucket of gravel is added.

An important question: how to clean the concrete mixer from the hardened concrete? If for some reason this happened, you can use the following methods:

mechanically with a shovel, special scrapers, grinders with a metal brush. For effectiveness, a little water is added. Large influxes are cut down with a chisel, fragile small surfaces are cleaned off with an emery cloth;
hydraulic methods with the creation of a powerful water pressure using special devices (Kercher or fire hose);
special chemicals that dissolve hardened concrete: Lugato, Barracuda, Himfrez, Bio Decap Beton Guard, Divinol Mischerschutz Spezial. The preparations are diluted with water according to the attached instructions, poured into the drum and mixed for 15 minutes. You can use the old proven method - use a 10% hydrochloric acid solution, but you need to be careful to avoid getting the solution on the skin.

After cleaning, the container is thoroughly rinsed with water.

How many cubes of concrete can be mixed with a concrete mixer in a day? It depends on the capacity of the concrete mixer and the distance to move the concrete. For a mixer up to 200 tons, this is an average of about 5 m3. The calculation is simple - the concrete must be laid in the structure in no more than 1 hour after unloading from the concrete mixer.

If you are thinking of building Vacation home, bathhouse, gazebo, pave paths paving slabs or just to make a global repair of a large room, you cannot do without a good building mix, and that means without a concrete mixer. To date, this is the only specialized equipment designed for cooking a large number building material. Its main advantage is an increase in the speed of the work process and a significant reduction in labor costs.

Almost all masters who are faced with the need to prepare a solution of a given concentration for the first time, the question arises: “how to make sure that the result is really of high quality?”.

Despite the fact that this question is relatively simple, it requires an unambiguous answer. Since the inaccuracies made in the process of work can turn against you and lead to the fact that a very time-consuming process that took a lot of time will be subject to a complete rework. To avoid such situations, we will help you understand all the subtleties and nuances, proper cooking concrete mix.

How to mix concrete in a concrete mixer: proportions and components.

The first difficulty faced by novice builders working with a stirrer is not knowing the correct proportions of the starting materials. Since there is no single regulation, it is recommended to use general rules for the creation of concrete of different grades.

It should be noted that the formulation of the solution is unchanged, it consists of 4 main components: cement, crushed stone (gravel), sand and water. If necessary, special additives are introduced into the composition to give it some unique properties.

To separate the material into types, based on its strength (density), alphanumeric designations are used. Initially, we see the letter "M", followed by a number that indicates the degree of resistance of concrete to compression by the time it is completely dry (a period of time of approximately 28 - 30 days). For example, a mortar grade M350 means that it will have a resistance (compressive strength) of 350 kg/ms2. The higher the numerical value, the denser the mixture and the better its mechanical properties. Therefore, initially you need to understand for what purposes, which brand should be used.

Consider the most popular of them:

M100 and M150 - used to create the foundation for the foundation.
. M200 - M300 - used for pouring the foundation, making retaining walls, blocks, floor slabs, flooring and screeds.
. M350 - considered one of the mostpopular types mixtures for creating monolithic foundations, road decks and load-bearing structures.
. M400 - M450 - are used mainly for the construction hydraulic structures.
. M500 and M550 are designed for the construction of complex facilities that are subject to high requirements(dams, metro, storage facilities, etc.).

Proportions of concrete in buckets

Even experienced builder, who has been working with concrete for a long time, will not be able to give an accurate answer to the question: “What amount of material in weight equivalent must be used in order to eventually obtain a solution of the required consistency?” Everything is too relative, since the components have different moisture content, fraction size and constituent volume.

When working in living conditions, as a measuring unit it is best to use an ordinary bucket with a volume of 10 - 12 liters. Its use will allow you to quickly navigate the amount of material that is needed for a certain scale of work. However, measure the ingredients in plastic container convenient if you plan to do a small amount of work, or when the construction of the foundation is carried out in stages.

First of all, it is worth noting that all the ingredients included in the mixture of building dough have different bulk density. For example, the weight of cement in a full bucket will be about 13 - 15 kg, sand - 19 - 20 kg, crushed stone 15 - 17 kg.

In order to produce 1 cube of concrete, it is recommended to adhere to the following proportions - 9 (crushed stone or gravel), 5 (sand), 2 (cement). In the case of using a ready-made dry building component consisting of sand and gravel, the ratio will look like this: 5:1. Where 5 is ASG, 1 is cement. As for water, its volume should correspond to half the volume of cement 0.5:1.

The strength and density of the building mixture depends entirely on the quality of the cement used. Based on the composition and properties, there are several types this material: M300, M 400, M 500 and M600. Of them the most popular brands are"M 400" and "M500".

To prepare concrete of the required consistency, we recommend that you follow the proportions of the components from the table.

Proportions of cement brand M400 + sand + crushed stone

Concrete brand "M"	Mass composition C: P: W (kg)	Bulk composition for 10 liters of cement P: W (l)	Amount of concrete from 10 liters of cement (l)
100	1: 4.6: 7.0	41: 61	78
150	1: 3.6: 5.6	32: 50	64
200	1: 2.7: 4.9	25: 42	54
250	1: 2.3: 3.8	19: 34	43
300	1: 2.0: 3.5	11: 24	41
400	1: 1.3: 2.5	10: 22	31

Proportions of cement brand M500 + sand + gravel

Concrete brand "M"	Mass composition C: P: G (kg)	Bulk composition for 10 liters of cement P: W (l)	Amount of concrete from 10 liters of cement (l)
100	1: 5.8: 8.1	53: 71	90
150	1: 4.5: 6.7	40: 58	73
200	1: 3.5: 5.5	32: 49	62
250	1: 2.6: 4.4	24: 39	50
300	1: 2.4: 4.4	22: 37	47
400	1: 1.7: 3.3	14: 28	36

How much concrete can be prepared in a concrete mixer for 1 load and for what period of time?

This is the most popular question , which is asked by buyerswhen choosing a concrete mixer. As a rule, this is 2/3 of the total volume of the drum.

For example, a technique with a pear with a capacity of 160 liters in one go can cook up to 110 - 120 liters of the finished component. At fully loaded for an 8-hour working day, it can produce up to 3 m3 of mixture, which is quite enough for a working team of 2 - 4 people.

How to mix concrete in a concrete mixer. Basic rules and recommendations

To construction material turned out to be durable and of the highest quality, you must follow a few simple rules:

1. Make sure the machine is on a level, level surface. When loading it, you need to pay attention to the quantity and weight of the ingredients - avoid overloadto prevent breakage.

2. You cannot start equipment with already loaded components. Turn it on with an empty drum and make sure that the tilt of the bulb is in the 45° position.

3. The composition must be produced immediately before starting work with it and in the amount that will be consumed in 2 hours.

When adding ingredients, you must follow the strict sequence of actions:

First, pour water and pour the required amount of cement. Use only clean, non-abrasive fluid.

Pour out the sand and wait 2 - 3 minutes to mix all the contents into a single mass. You can add water if necessary. It is best to use sea or river sand with the minimum amount clay impurities.

Add crushed stone (gravel). Pay attention to the shape of the stones, they should not be smooth. For the foundation, crushed stone with a fraction of 5 to 20 mm is suitable.

The total cooking time should not exceed 10 minutes, as it may begin to dry out. The created solution should be used immediately after preparation.

Using the information described in the article, you can independently prepare high-quality building material in a concrete mixer. It is only important to observe correct proportions and also to be sure of good quality of all components. In the process of kneading, it is recommended to add water in small portions, then you will get the composition of the desired density and uniformity.

Concrete is not an easy mixture of key components, so to speak "by eye". A really high-quality solution is prepared according to a special recipe, in which the ratio of all components is strictly observed. But how to be there are no scales at hand, but only an ordinary shovel, and a universal household bucket? The answer is simple, you need to use the proportions of concrete in buckets that have long been verified empirically for a conventional mobile concrete mixer.

What you need to know about the main components?

The quality of the prepared concrete, and as a result, the durability and strength of the subsequent product from it, is directly affected not only by the proportions of the components, but also by their quality and proper modification.

Cement

What concrete cannot be without is cement. It depends on him how quickly the pledged product will gain strength and how durable it will be. Of the variety of binders presented - Portland cement of a certain brand - the best choice. It provides better adhesion of materials.

The brand of cement is an identification characteristic by which you can determine for which work it is worth using it. It is designated simply - "M" and is measured in kg / cm 3, showing the strength of the cement.

In order not to miscalculate either in terms of quality or economics, you need to know which cement is best suited for certain jobs:

Masonry. If under construction bearing wall, then it is best to use cement M400 - M500, for other structures a solution prepared on cement M300 will be sufficient. When erecting a small building, for example, a barn or gazebo, you can use a binder with the M200 brand;
Foundation. For arranging the foundation of small or non-residential buildings, for example, a garage (without an attic) or summer kitchen use cement brand M200. When building more solid residential buildings, cement M 400 or M500 is preferable;
Blind area. For such work, a binder of the M50 and M150 brands would be a good option. For the repair of any surfaces, the strength of the cement does not play a special role. What can not be said about pouring floors. For the screed, a specific brand is selected depending on the performance characteristics of the floor;
Plaster. The excellent quality of any cement-based plaster will be good if you use the M300 and M400 binder grades.

Do not buy cement with a large margin. After a month, it begins to lose its brand strength, after two it will be -10%, after six months -50%, and after a year it is better to throw out the cement, since it will still be unusable.

When using different brands of cement for the same brand of concrete, keep in mind that the higher its brand, the lower the content in the solution. The proportions of the other components will change accordingly.

Sand

Sand is an essential component for the preparation of concrete mix. It is best to use clean river or quartz sand fineness 1.2 - 3.5 mm. If lumps of clay come across in the total mass, then this is the first sign of a low-grade aggregate, because clay pretty much “eats” strength concrete mortar. In some cases, the use of crushed gravel is acceptable.

rubble

Crushed stone is a coarse aggregate that gives concrete high compressive strength. The criterion by which it is selected for private construction is fineness - 1-2 cm. Larger fractions are intended for factory work. Also pay attention to the cleanliness of the gravel and the presence of clay inclusions.

Water

In individual construction, the quality of the water used is not critical. You can use any, as long as it is clean, does not contain oil and other chemical impurities.

Concrete Mix Proportions

The concrete mix recipe for any brand is calculated in kilograms, but if it is not possible to weigh each component in order to prepare the solution, then you can maintain the correct ratio by measuring the ingredients in buckets. Since everyone has universal tool has a different displacement, then consider the recipe in relative parts to the proportion of cement. The calculation is given for plastic mixtures that require subsequent vibrating or careful manual laying.

Designation: C - part of the cement; P - part of the sand; U - part of the gravel; W / C - the quantitative ratio of water to cement. Having this indicator, you can easily calculate the amount of water, for example, 1 part of cement is equal to 10 kg, and W / C \u003d 0.5, then you need 10 kg of cement * 0.5 \u003d 5 liters of water per part. Increasing is not recommended, it can lead to poor quality concrete. But if the aggregates are wet, then it is worth reducing the amount of water, gradually adding it to the desired consistency.

Another nuance, if it is required to manufacture concrete for the foundation, or other purposes with special properties, for example, with increased strength, then superplasticizers are suitable for giving them. The instructions that come with the supplement will tell you the correct dosage. Its calculation is based on the amount of cement used in one batch.

Preparing the concrete mixer for work

Before proceeding directly to concrete work we will conduct a short briefing for those who are tormented by the question: “how to use a concrete mixer?”. The answer is simple: there is no trick to it. First you need to carefully study the attached instructions. But if, after studying it, an open question remains for you about how to work with a concrete mixer, then go over the Internet and watch a video review of how to knead the mortar in your model.

The main rule is that after each batch, especially after the last one, always carefully clean it from the remnants of concrete. The hardened stone will affect the convenience of work, the quality of the batches and the performance of the concrete mixer.

To make the preparation of concrete in a concrete mixer as convenient as possible, place the concrete mixer based on three criteria:

Ensuring an unhindered supply of electricity;
Location in close proximity to ongoing work;
Arrange so that it is most convenient to download materials.

If your plans include pouring the foundation with a concrete mixer with your own hands, then you can position it so that the finished solution immediately pours into the formwork. To avoid losses when supplying the solution, you can make a metal damper, as shown in the photo.

So that the prepared batch of heavy concrete in a concrete mixer is different good quality, you need not only to know how to knead it correctly, but also to correctly position the mixing drum. The more horizontally it is adjusted, the better the components will mix and the better the mixed concrete will turn out. The correct location is well shown in the attached video.

Do-it-yourself concrete preparation

Few people know how to properly mix the concrete so that all the components are mixed as much as possible, the solution turns out to be the required consistency and to avoid sticking a large amount of the resulting composition.

To solve these serious issues at once, you need to know how to knead and load the concrete mixer and follow it strictly.

Before you prepare concrete, you need to prepare the materials in advance by calculating the proportions in buckets so as not to be distracted in the process.

Step 1. Fill in water. But not the full amount, but about an eighth.

Step 2. We fill up most of the gravel and turn on the concrete mixer. The first of the materials is loaded precisely with a large aggregate so that it breaks the mortar in the concrete mixer, preventing the formation of lumps.

Step 3. Add all the cement. How long to knead the concrete at this stage? It is enough that the solution is homogeneous.

Step 4. The turn of sand has come. We fall asleep the entire prepared volume, while we do not stop mixing concrete in a concrete mixer. It is very important at this stage to achieve a uniform consistency without lumps of sand.

Step 5. To complete the preparation of the solution, you need to add the rest of the rubble. When everything is well mixed, pour two parts of the prepared volume of water and bring the composition to a homogeneous mass.

Step 6. To unload the resulting concrete, carefully turn the working concrete mixer down so that the mixture pours into the prepared bucket.

Step 7 Do not forget to clean the used unit with water and a trowel, even if you still plan to prepare concrete in a concrete mixer today.

In conclusion, to learn more about how to properly mix concrete in a concrete mixer, check out the prepared video.