Best cattle slat

I have heard that McCord make a very clean slat.
We have slats from wm kiely. Good slat but not particularly clean

wrights of carrrickmacross are ment to be the highest standard slat around. there are dear but they could be a price comparision far you

Yeah, wrights would have a great rep. up this end of the country. Have them in a shed built in 1990 and in another shed built in 1999. power wash either shed's slats and they are still as new, indistinguishable from each other. They are at Swanns Cross, Monaghan.

Not connected to the company, btw.

I have Campion slats in. I couldn't judge the quality as I have had any other type but I have been told the quality and finish is better that most and have a good history of quality.

Just as an aside lads, I worked in a soils/geotech lab testing concrete for a while. I can honestly say that Banagher Concrete would be the best in the country for precast concrete quality.

kinners wrote: »

I've also done some quotes and also found huge variances with Slatt Prices from €8200 down to €6900 for slatts.
Banagher right in the middle on price @ €7600 , but only 7" tractor slatt whilst all the rest do a 9" tractor slatt ?

i fitted tractor slats a few years ago cant think of maker now , but strength of slat tonnage is more important than thickness, mine are 10 ton 7" slats . but was told, Bannagher have best slat for scraper for out side door? i don,t know

I often wonder why lads get caught up in slat quality. Yes there was an issue 40 years ago with single slats but in general slats nowadays are made to a much higher spec that twenty years ago not to mind 40 years ago. Will it make much difference if the slat lasts 40 years or 60 years.

Did 3 bay tank last year 14' 6'' slat, difference in slat price was 2700 to 4500. I went with the cheapest. Maybe I am wrong but the 1800 was the price of six Friesian weanling bulls. Slats were to grant standard. The fella making them was only producing slats other companies had kerbs, septic tanks, concrete blocks competing with there time.

Were the slats as good as the one's I put in the first shed no but 4 bays with a 16' 6'' slat cost me 10K or there abouts. I galvanise steel rsj's before I pay extra for slats. Tanks and structural steel priority. Any of the modern slat will last 40 years IMO.

farmerjj wrote: »

That would be a big considerion for me, why buy a inferior product(unless theres a serious price difference)

How do you know it an inferior product, will you buy painted or galvanised RSJ's. Will you bolt or weld to structural steel. You have to remember 700 euro here, 50 euro there, own labour to do some concrete work is difference between shed costing 25K and 40K.

einn32 wrote: »

Best to ring the company and ask for the last three customers. Go see the slats in action. Then price can be considered.

If they were moving and dancing around I would not be buying them:D

kinners wrote: »

Sandyman, What slat manufacturer did you use ?

spoke to salesman Sat looking for price for single manhole slat , it's Corbetts he sell for, he quoted me £800 better than another maker on phone back in 01.beat that again when measuring tank.top of walls weren't in line so packers had to used ,fecking contractor and college kids working for him:mad:

think he said around €500 euro ,covers 4' 6" for manhole slat,any view on price

aidanki wrote: »

not to go off topic but tell us more on concrete quality

i.e. what tips do you have for anyone doing DIY mixing ? don't know why but it always appears that readymix lasts longer than that mixed with a mixer

even making up a 5:1 mix

there is atable on pg 2 of this brochure showing mix by volume given against strength N concrete http://www.irishcement.ie/wp-content/themes/irishcement/pdf/501_DL_flyer_1_V23.pdf

Plenty of cement, and as little water as possible. Mix well, give it time.

blue5000 wrote: »

Another vote for Croom slats here, in about 4 years, only time sh1t built up was in frost. They were cheaper than seconds from Banagher at the time.

one thing id watch is design of manhole and warranty for same, ive got Corbets and think its strong as ive driven and side-braked tractor on it several times cover twist a bit but nothing serious, but neighbours manhole cracked it was fixed but he was promised new gang slat with manhole later ,later has come and gone and still no slat replaced he's half afraid to drive on it now,think its cork based company but not 100% sure

onyerbikepat wrote: »

I always try and get as much air out of the poured cement as possible. If you are using timbers on the side, tap them gently with a lump hammer to work the air up.
I always try and keep the cement wet on top for about a week after pouring. Curing is very important , from what I can gather.

+1 for that suggestion and id try covering with plastic as well regardless of whether readymix or self mixed.
i believe its important to allow mix to mix properly as you fill mixer with a little extra cement and water at start but sparingly towards end, had neighbour help me for a day and most of mixes appeared raw as he shovelled in as fast as possible, great man to work but bad mixer.
and another tip i got from builder , beer bellies bad shape in man, good shape in mixers, ie avoid straight barrel mixers,get kind of pot bellied mixer barrel.most important he said get good gravel mix,of sand and chip, but i can't advise on that.apart from avoiding what he called rabbit sand.

On the subject of readymix. I asked my lorry driver about the readymix. He was saying in the m3 there was only 175 litres of water which actually was full of chemicals which are to try and slow curing to improve longterm strength and 350 kg of cement. And you have to remember there are different strengths of cement available as well.
On the chemical issue this is the reason the readymix burns your skin so badly. Or at least my suppliers does. I burnt the knees off myself when I was tamping 2 yes ago. Was fine for an hour and next thing my knees started to feel like they were on fire. The lorry driver told me of a guy in his 50's that was knee deep in foundation with work boots on. He didn't heed drivers warning as he said he was used to concrete his lifetime. He ended up getting skin graphs on his legs.
So I guess long story short is home made concrete can never be as good as readymix due to the above

Kielys in Blarney, cork make a good slat