How to Mix Concrete in the Field

2. Materials Checklist
Gravel
Sand
Water
Cement
Buckets
Shovels
Tampers
Biceps

1. Gather materials – it is important to have your materials as 3. Clear a spot that is large and free of debris and/or chickens.
close to the site as possible.

4.Prepare the pour site. It is important to moisten 5. To make the concrete alternate combining two 5-gallon buckets of sand
the ground before pouring. with five 5-gallon buckets of gravel.

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 6. Using shovels, mix the sand and the gravel. A good method to ensure thorough 7. Add cement. One (94lb)
blending is to start on one side of the pile and, with a friend, transfer the entire pile a bag.
few feet to the side. Make sure to “throw” each shovel-full so it cascades on to the pile.
Repeat the process in the reverse direction thus transferring the merged ingredients to
the original location. Muy bien.

9. Mix the cement thoroughly by transferring the pile as

8. Spread the cement carefully until pile resembles Mt. Kilimanjaro. described in step five. You’re almost done! Not really.

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 11. Pour between 4 and 5
gallons of water. Adding too
much water significantly
weakens the concrete. Careful.
Also be aware that water will be
lost due to seepage into the
ground. It is best to add too little
and sprinkle water on later
during the mixing process.

10. Open up the well-mixed pile creating a crater in the center.

Volcano!

12. We affectionately called this the “jelly donut” stage because of its crusty
exterior and magically soft interior. To create your own jelly donut carefully
fold the sides of the mound of sand, gravel, and cement on to the water
pooled on top.
13. If done correctly the jelly donut will not leak. Use your
shovels to mix the water inside with the sand, gravel and
cement using the transferring method outlined in step five.
Take a coffee break. Send someone for jelly donuts.

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 14. Continue mixing the concrete until it is the right
consistency. Between cat-barf and granola. Yum. 15. Pour the concrete. Watch your feet.

16. Tamping is very important. Each rise of 3 inches or more must be tamped. Use a heavy 17. This is called the tamp-dance. It is also effective.
metal bar to jostle the large gravel particles. The second type of tamping necessary to
ensure a well compacted product uses a blunt object like this piece of wood.

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 18. To finish the pour, mix a batch of just sand, water and
cement. This is called mortar and should be spread on top.

19. Adorn your mortar however you please. “Thanks Engineers

Without Borders, University of North.”

20. Cover your concrete to protect it

from sun and/or wild chickens. It is
important to return to the site and
water the concrete at least twice a
day.

21. Please refrain from

starting forest fires in the
vicinity of your freshly
poured concrete. - A
message from Ronis.

GREAT JOB!

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