Why can't I make cement?

neilmcl

venison said:

always add a good squirt of fairy liquid, my builder FIL taught me that one.

Why use washing up liquid when a proper cement plasticiser is just s cheap, and it really isn't as good an alternative as people might like to think. Very little point also for a small batch of cement for pointing tasks.

ic

If all else fails, you can buy ready-mix mortar in buckets and bags.  Its carries a premium price for the convenience, but you can't mess up the measures.  Depends how big an area you're doing.

FreeBear

MidlandsGlory said:

Thanks everyone, I will give it another go next weekend,  this is the sand I am using, says its for cement but what do I know!
https://www.buildland.co.uk/product/building-sand-poly-bag-each/

That is "soft sand" - Not what you want... Get a bag or two of sharp sand - https://www.buildland.co.uk/product/sharp-sand-poly-bag-each/

Sharp sand is a mix of particles of differing sizes, and the grains will be of an angular & rough shape. Soft sand is generally all the same size particles and of a rounded shape. When cement is mixed in, it binds to angular grains of sand much better, and the different size particles "lock" together.

Mickey666

venison said:

always add a good squirt of fairy liquid, my builder FIL taught me that one.

Did he also have a hitching rail for his horse?

https://tarmac-bluecircle.co.uk/all-washed-up/

MidlandsGlory

FreeBear said:

MidlandsGlory said:

Thanks everyone, I will give it another go next weekend,  this is the sand I am using, says its for cement but what do I know!
https://www.buildland.co.uk/product/building-sand-poly-bag-each/

That is "soft sand" - Not what you want... Get a bag or two of sharp sand - https://www.buildland.co.uk/product/sharp-sand-poly-bag-each/

Sharp sand is a mix of particles of differing sizes, and the grains will be of an angular & rough shape. Soft sand is generally all the same size particles and of a rounded shape. When cement is mixed in, it binds to angular grains of sand much better, and the different size particles "lock" together.

Thank you, that is great advice. Really useful.

Paula_Smith

The first time I made cement it didn't work - then I realised that the bag of cement was not cement it was more sand - obviously the wrong stuff had got put in the wrong bag, but not knowing anything I took it at face value.

stuart45

You must have got a bag of ready mixed mortar, instead of pure cement.