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What am I doing wrong?

TheShizz

http://tinypic.com/player.php?v=iznyfs%3E&s=8#.UzRjA6h_vW5

This is my latest attempt to make mortar but it's just not working for me.

I'm on the verge of having a nervous breakdown because this is my third day trying to produce the clay-type mortar necessary for building jobs.

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whupdedo

TheShizz wrote: »

I've dreamt about this day. Is that or is it not some quality mortar? Well, it's not perfect, because it isn't right for the wall just yet, but I'm damn close.

To answer my own question of "what am I doing wrong?" - the answer is the sand. For the life of me I can't understand why a) the pre-mix mortar bag was comprised of sharp sand and cement and b) why the bloke in the builders providers suggested sharp, plastering sand when I bought both separate.

As a few people have mentioned, the key is builders sand. I knew as soon as I wet the mix that I was on the right track. The world is my oyster now.

Too infinity and beyond

TheShizz

Not quite mate. I was expecting the wall to more or less re-build itself as soon as I was able to make this type of mortar but, despite finding thick, gooey mix needed for the job, I can't find the consistency now.

I've tried shoveling one trowel's worth of cement to three AND four parts sand in different mixes but it hasn't worked out for me, which is a shame. It's a good thing what the mortar is supposed to be like - i.e not fall off the trowel when you turn it upside down - otherwise I would've re-built the wall with sh*t mortar. I've used plastisciser, too.

I'm going to stick at this and hope I get the right consistency through trial and error, but any helpful tips would be appreciated.

albert kidd

mortar will fall off the when you turn it upside down TheShizz.

you'll know once you have it mixed right.. youll know as it will spread easy off the trowel.

TheShizz

Can we get confirmation on this? If so, I've had the right mortar for the last two days but have wasted it. I was under the impression that it wasn't right unless it stays on the trowel when you turn it upside down, or the brick most importantly.

I'm not sure though mate because the batches I wasted are sitting in a basin in my garden, and it's pretty solid, but when you rub it some crumbs come off. It's not completely solid. Would that suggest it's not quite right?

whupdedo

TheShizz wrote: »

Can we get confirmation on this? If so, I've had the right mortar for the last two days but have wasted it. I was under the impression that it wasn't right unless it stays on the trowel when you turn it upside down, or the brick most importantly.

I'm not sure though mate because the batches I wasted are sitting in a basin in my garden, and it's pretty solid, but when you rub it some crumbs come off. It's not completely solid. Would that suggest it's not quite right?

Mortor won't stick to the trowel when it's turned upside down, and it will crumble for a few days after mixing, you could still rake it out of the joints quite easily with a nail a few days after laying, it won't fully set for maybe a week or more in the right or wrong conditions

TheShizz

In other words, I could've done the wall with the ****e that I had mixed up?

whupdedo

TheShizz wrote: »

In other words, I could've done the wall with the ****e that I had mixed up?

You probably could, it wouldn't need to stick to the trowel to be good tack

albert kidd

TheShizz wrote: »

In other words, I could've done the wall with the ****e that I had mixed up?

probably:D

before you do the wall..did the mortar have a dye through it?

TheShizz

Nope, just sand, cement and a bit of plasterciser.

I'll put the wall up on Tuesday so and see how she sets over the course of a few days.

albert kidd

TheShizz wrote: »

Nope, just sand, cement and a bit of plasterciser.

I'll put the wall up on Tuesday so and see how she sets over the course of a few days.

most brickwork will look terrible with just plain mortar unless it has a dye mixed through it..the dye will compliment the brick colour and take away the horrible look plain mortar gives when it dries out.

TheShizz

I know what you mean, you know. There's a bloke who lives about eight doors down who had to re-build his wall when loads of bricks fell off and, although he was successful, the joints are a kind of orange/beige color, and the rest of the joints are grey so it doesn't look great.

However, am I wrong in saying that I can throw these bricks up and re-point at a later date when I get my hands on the dye?

albert kidd

TheShizz wrote: »

I know what you mean, you know. There's a bloke who lives about eight doors down who had to re-build his wall when loads of bricks fell off and, although he was successful, the joints are a kind of orange/beige color, and the rest of the joints are grey so it doesn't look great.

However, am I wrong in saying that I can throw these bricks up and re-point at a later date when I get my hands on the dye?

no Shizz..do it all in the one go..mix you mortar and dye togther..if not you'll be pig sick once youve spent the time building your wall and pointing it and the see that the mortar colour takes away from all the time you spent..the dye isnt expensive and any decent builders merchants will have it in stock.

TheShizz

Okay mate I appreciate your advice. I'll pick up a bottle of it before I start the work.

albert kidd

TheShizz wrote: »

Okay mate I appreciate your advice. I'll pick up a bottle of it before I start the work.

just make sure to measure out the same amount of dye when making each mix(your probably aware of that anyhow)..you wont need a big amount of dye per mix.

good luck with it.

jimbev

how you getting on with the wall is it finished yet

wildlifeboy

I just read this thread and i dont know if you are trolling or not. seriously??? mixing mortar is piss easy. i cant for the life of me tell how youre getting it wrong

TheShizz

It's widely known on this thread that I was using the wrong sand mate. If you had really read the thread you might've known this?

Anyways, yes the wall is more or less finished Jimbev. The only thing I have left to do is a course of soldier bricks - this is what they're called, right?

The wall does not look perfect, but it is sturdy so I achieved what I set out to do, and acquired some valuable experience along the way. I'll need a spirit level for next time, though, because it's extremely hard - if not impossible - for an amateur to do a proper job without one.

Live and learn.

Dtp1979

TheShizz wrote: »

It's widely known on this thread that I was using the wrong sand mate. If you had really read the thread you might've known this?

Anyways, yes the wall is more or less finished Jimbev. The only thing I have left to do is a course of soldier bricks - this is what they're called, right?

The wall does not look perfect, but it is sturdy so I achieved what I set out to do, and acquired some valuable experience along the way. I'll need a spirit level for next time, though, because it's extremely hard - if not impossible - for an amateur to do a proper job without one.

Live and learn.

Any pics?

tommy2bad

TheShizz wrote: »

It's widely known on this thread that I was using the wrong sand mate. If you had really read the thread you might've known this?

Anyways, yes the wall is more or less finished Jimbev. The only thing I have left to do is a course of soldier bricks - this is what they're called, right?

The wall does not look perfect, but it is sturdy so I achieved what I set out to do, and acquired some valuable experience along the way. I'll need a spirit level for next time, though, because it's extremely hard - if not impossible - for an amateur to do a proper job without one.

Live and learn.

Ahh jazus, built a wall without a level, Did you use the old water in a pipe trick to at least get the first and last brick in line level?.
Seriously, a spirit level and string are the two basics of building, you could throw the cement on with your hands if it came to it but getting it level by eye is near impossible.
Enjoy the wall, you'll know you built it your self and that's a reward in itself.

TheShizz

The left shot is from after I chiseled out the old mortar, while the one on the right is how it looked before I placed the final brick in.

TheShizz

tommy2bad wrote: »

Ahh jazus, built a wall without a level, Did you use the old water in a pipe trick to at least get the first and last brick in line level?.
Seriously, a spirit level and string are the two basics of building, you could throw the cement on with your hands if it came to it but getting it level by eye is near impossible.
Enjoy the wall, you'll know you built it your self and that's a reward in itself.

True enough.

It's a curved wall, however, and I'm not sure how string works on walls with a radius.