getting old

RusselAZ · Nov 25, 2017

I ran a little concrete today, 30 80 lb bags. I had made a hopper and dump to put the concrete in the mixer and it worked OK but like always I learned some things it needs to work better. I found 2 bags at a time was about right. I made this little hopper so I wouldn't have to scoop the mix into the mixer. Have it mounted on the front of the bucket on my little Kabota. Another thing I found out is I'm to old for this even with this little labor saving device. Striking it off is hard work on a 16 X 8 little slab by oneself. Just a little thing here behind the house. For those who want to figure it out, yes it is thin but it's main purpose is to smooth out some solid rock. I can't tell you how many times I thought of Larry on the corner and why wasn't he HERE!

And I just realized the whole thing is on our security camera! I have to see if I can watch some of it.

JD Seller · Nov 25, 2017

I do NOT want a camera recording me as I TRY to work anymore. LOL I know I am not smooth at most things anymore. I do not need evidence of it. LOL

tomturkey · Nov 25, 2017

JD, Russell, I do not want a camera on me either. I catch myself standing and pondering, it may be my next move, or it maybe a completely different project that just jumped to the front of my mind. When our family was young, we/I had to do everthing we needed done, could not afford to hire anything done. Put a new roof on last year, hired it done, last time we placed concrete, hired some professionals by the hour. I helped but most of the heavy lifting was done by younger folk. Yes, getting old can be costly. lol gobble

Stephen Newell · Nov 26, 2017

My tractor will hold 8 bags and me so I put the bucket above the mixer and use a step ladder to climb up into the bucket to empty the bags into the mixer.

RM-MN · Nov 26, 2017

Just down the road a piece there is a company that has trucks that mix the concrete (to my specifications if I choose something special) that will bring the mixed concrete to my place and put it where I ask. All I have to do is spread it into the forms I have set up and trowel it off. Yes it costs more than the bags of cement but my back doesn't ache from handling bags and I get it mixed better and done in half an hour. Just something to keep in mind as you get older.

TomA in CA · Nov 26, 2017

I seek out the 60 lb bags.

When I was young all feed came in 100 lb sacks. Sometimes we would sack barley in the field and would get 115 lbs in a sack.

No more now, I will drive 20 miles further to get concrete in 60 lb bags.

PJH · Nov 26, 2017

Truck access might have been an issue in Russell's case.

James Howell · Nov 26, 2017

We buy 40lb. bags of cement at McCoy's.

These are much easier for Nancy to handle.

Tom OConnor · Nov 26, 2017

We built a whole grain system back in the seventies with a 3 point mixer on a little ford tractor. A few months later a neighbor asked if he could borrow my mixer and I told him only if he promised never to bring it back. Haven't seen it since.

DoubleR · Nov 26, 2017

I did 40 eighty pound bags making a pad around a steer stuffer feeder a month ago. I figured I needed 35 sixty pound bags to do the job. When I priced it out at Home Depot I found I could buy a full pallet of eighty pound bags for the same price so I made it a little bigger. When the guy loaded the pallet he asked who was going to lift the bags as I looked a little old to be doing so. I thought What the Heck. Like you I used the Kubota to lift the pallet up to the mixer and never really had to lift the total weight of a bag. As we get older our experience has taught us to work a little wiser. I have learned to improvise to keep doing the things I do.

rrlund · Nov 26, 2017

We've got a pair of short 2x10s nailed together in a T shape. We lay a bag over it and just cut the bag with a jack knife. The cement will stay solid in one piece in each half of the bag. That makes a nice easy to handle 40 pound bag that's wide open and easy to handle and dump in the mixer.

Either way,it's like an old neighbor always said,you can learn a lot form a lazy man. He'll always show you the easiest way to do something.

Goose · Nov 26, 2017

My mixer will take 3 bags of pre-mix per load. Last time I ran any concrete, I slid the bags off the trailer into the bucket on the loader on my H Farmall, then parked the loader over the mixer so all I had to do was cut the bags and let the material drop into the mixer.

I need to run some more on a couple of projects, and that's the way I'll do it again.

glennster · Nov 26, 2017

wow james!!!! you are so kind to nancy!!!!!

PJH · Nov 26, 2017

If you're using the pre-mix stuff, Lowes will sell you 50 lb bags. I needed about 1250 lbs for a little project, and it cost me an extra 90 cents total to get the smaller bags.

hermit · Nov 26, 2017

!!! James, I have an extra 5 gallon bucket and plenty of Lone Star so you can sit and watch in comfort!!

greenmech · Nov 26, 2017

What a way to get out of work! Ron Mn

blunosr · Nov 26, 2017

I figure that, if I can wait, it's a lot easier to get a local concrete guy to drop concrete into my forms when he has another job in the area. He'll even drop off 1 yd if that's all I need.

Troy

jeffcat · Nov 26, 2017

One funny thing about mixing "pre" mix bags of concrete. Just for giggles I followed the directions. The ratio of mix to water was WAY off. This was hydraulic cement to fix a sewer line to the tank. Well it was the consistency of gritty apple sause running down hill in summertime. I mixed the rest of 5he bag to around 1 inch slump. Worked it in around the pipe with my fingers and Ta Da! I always use that 3 2 1 mix and enough water so it will just flow around stuff. Experience always helps.

rlp in Co. · Nov 26, 2017

When I poured a basement floor by myself I asked the driver to take one end of the screed. I gave him $10 when we got it screeded off. I poured it in four sections so I could finish it by myself. He said "be sure to ask for me for the next day!" Best $40 I ever spent.

mlewis7810 · Nov 28, 2017

hi there tom seen a long time ago you talked about a 520 standard being built have you ever built one before

getting old

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