What Can You Add to a Concrete Mix to Make it Stronger?

[@ThePeej]

This is my new favourite KZbin channel. I ordered my first batch of silicon and some concrete THIS WEEK. I’ve been having concrete / sculptural / brutalist dreams since I was just a young lad… but now in my early 40s, and finally owning a home where I have enough garage / basement space to make a mess in, the dream has become a loud pounding drum of ambition I can’t ignore. These videos are so accessible and so informative, that I actually got a bit sad thinking… “oh, I bet Creating Concrete hasn’t uploaded anything in a decade… this is all too pure… like WHAT KZbin USED TO BE. Just creative people sharing their passion and knowledge…” then I came across this and IT WAS UPLOADED ELEVEN HOURS AGO. HUZZAH!!!

[@creatingconcrete]

I am very happy you are enjoying the content. I am enjoying making it. Hopefully I can grow this channel quite a lot which would give me more time / resources to dedicate to making bigger and better concrete projects!

[@ThePeej]

@@creatingconcrete Looking forward to two years from now when I hire you to come to Prince Edward County to help me re-pour our pool deck and custom concrete raised garden beds. Can't wait! Thanks again, dude.

[@Chickmamapalletfarm]

Totally agree with this comment. This is the best of the promise of what the internet was supposed to be! Humans sharing their skills ans knowledge to improve us all. Thanks 🙏

[@Lennart1995]

@@ThePeej I'm just curious, how have your concrete ambitions been going so far? I hope you picked it up!

[@ThePeej]

@@Lennart1995 thanks for asking! To get myself started I ordered a few small scale / low cost silicon moulds from Temu. I had some bagged mix leftover from installing a shower base in a bathroom reno. I built myself a home brewed DIY vibration table using an old hammer drill (stuck an alley key into the chuck so it would shake as it spun) zip tied to a wooden board. I bolted the board to an old tire. Table works AWESOME!! (The drill even has an adjustable speed locking trigger, so I didn’t have to sit & hold it.) It’s AMAZING how the vibration table made the concrete flow so nicely into the moulds. I got really excited & had an amazing time experimenting. I OVER-WATERED THE MIX. The resulting objects crumbled like half of all life in the Marvel cinematic universe after Thanos snapped his finger. They dissolved in my hands as I tried to extract them from the moulds 😅🤣 I learned a lot, and am excited to try a different mix this weekend!!!

[@barzucci]

Melment F10 by BASF is also very nice superplasticizer for concrete and gypsum. It is a kind of melamine resin and it gets your concrete to higher strength while reducing the water.

[@randallsemrau6911]

Man, I wish everyone had your verbal and physical communication skills.

[@nickhill4426]

Brilliant informative you answered so many questions I had

[@PartyproofNL]

Thank you for taking the time and effort making this videos. Always a joy watching them.

[@creatingconcrete]

thank you!

[@mackellyman5642]

In the end, it's all about consolidation...That's why you should use some vibration to consolidate the mix.

[@Lennart1995]

Your videos are my go-to source when it comes to learning about concrete mixtures and moulding, as a preparation to get into such projects myself. Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge and all the work you put into these videos!

[@thetestman3914]

Much love from morocco to yoy. Thank you for all this informations...that's so generous from you ❤❤

[@thejuanderful]

Have you looked into powdered glass? It can be quite cheap and according to the research powdered glass increases strength, and also reduces the need for cement by about 20%.

[@creatingconcrete]

interesting stuff - thank you!

[@maverick9300]

Glass is highly reactive due to its high silica content, leading to ASR when exposed to moisture. This reaction can cause deterioration and cracking in concrete. Use low alkali concrete or another additive to mitigate.

[@ridingnerdy6406]

I've found multiple sources that claim Rapid Set Flow Control will work as a plasticizer for portland cement products, despite what Rapid Set claims. The main advantage of that stuff is you can buy it at most hardware stores.

[@JanpolCodnita8704]

I see... I was looking a cement, sand, gravel ratio for a more stronger concrete for my Parking Lot slab, and Concrete Post other than the usual 1:2:4. I guess what I need are additives. Thanks for the info, subbed!

[@Chickmamapalletfarm]

Question: I have just started a paver stone project. This is my first concrete project ever (I don’t know how start small with things, I am a go big or go home kind of gal). In looking for a what to use strengthen my faux cobblestones, (from a mold) I have found I need to strengthen the mix. I found this Chanel and been binging your content. I absolutely love it! Question: Can I use the bonding agent (acrylic) and the plasticizer together? Or should one use just one or the other?

[@KingFox76]

Good explanation, thanks very much for the video.

[@Nettle314]

Great info! I couldn't understand the science of the superplasticizer tho - how and why does it give the same effect as more water? Cheers!

[@Nettle314]

Never mind, saw your "secret ingredient" video. Wet coulumb something - got you!;)

[@TheForeverchanges]

I'm making concrete pier blocks for two wood architectural posts. I want the vertical surfaces to be smooth. I thought sifting some of the large rock out could help. Any suggestions? Appreciate your videos. Thank you!

[@cchemmes2096]

Can you add both? I'm thinking add superplasticizer, let it work, & when you come back to mix, also add a small bit of acrylic at that stage? (I heard great info about acrylics on Golden Paint company website- their "Just Paint" publications. Their research found something they had not expected. You can dilute acrylics as low as 1 part acrylic to 20 parts water, & the acrylic will still display some remaining adhesion properties. So it makes sense that just a bit of acrylic could be beneficial. Yeah, that stuff is expensive. Acrylic bonds to acrylic. It helps to have an acrylic base. So I think if you really want to add strength with acrylic, it makes sense to add just a tiny amount, like you tell about in the video. If you want more strength, you can then add acrylics from the exterior, to dried, cured concrete projects, where you will likely get the most strength gain while using the least amount of acrylic. I'd expect having the integral acrylic will help the exterior acrylic bond better to the concrete, due to acrylic to acrylic bonding.

[@creatingconcrete]

I would think mixing it integral in the mix is the best option. Also, you can get acrylic for very cheap if you use old acrylic paints / mistints that people do not like the color of. Acrylic / latex paint lasts a loooooong time before it goes bad.

[@cchemmes2096]

Thanks for your wisdom. iHowever, my real question was about your thoughts on superplasticizer in the initial mix, followed by a bit of acrylic when you come back 15 minutes later, to stir it up, as you speak about in the video, to allow the superplasticizer time to work before adding acrylic. It seems maybe it would be good to allow the superplasticizer to work first, dispersing the cement, before adding the adhesive element of acrylic. I just wondered what you you thought of my idea. (You also have me wondering about acrylic added internally, vs both internally/ externally for extra strength. It seemed to help plaster to do both... but I appreciate your sense of things, as an expert. You definitely have led me to want to test this maybe with some small, longer, thin pieces of concrete mortar. Thanks again). So superplasticizer & acrylic? @@creatingconcrete

[@Rod7355]

Great video and informative information. What do you suggest at blending ratios on big concrete planters made with the mold?

[@Alladin-n5j]

What about finely crushed sea Shells 😃?

[@dollystar7462]

Great video on KZbin ❤❤❤❤

[@phillyformage4622]

super helpful

[@ChaosForLunch]

for Superplasticizer (High-Range Water Reducer) ... do you use Glenium ?

[@lnz3704]

Sir, please make a video about mixing concrete with water repellent powder. Is there any powder that do not harm environment ? Or present in nature

[@henryfehr6202]

Most ready mix suppliers only carry the liquid super P's. And after doing concrete for 25 years you don't leave it for 10 to 15 minutes. On a really hot day they have worn off by then. They are mixed on site for a reason and the concrete is used right after. I have been involved in bridge projects. A strong mix can have less cement then a weaker mix. Cement is the glue for the sand and the rocks and just like they taught in school if you put a thin layer of glue between paper the glue dries and you end up ripping the paper. A thick pile of glue does not get hard and just pulls apart. So the finer the sand aggregate the more cement is needed to coat it all and the courser aggregates need less cement. But the aggregate needs to be graded to fill all the little holes.

[@qfactor77]

Hi, I am trying to cast a window sill for exterior. I am not expert in concrete and I am scared to install a sill that will crack soon after. What's the ideal mix to use so it's smooth and weather resistant. I see you were involved in bridged, I was thinking that kind of smooth concrete you see in that kind of building. Any help much appreciated.

[@henryfehr6202]

@@qfactor77 that depends on your thickness. If the piece is going to be 2" thick then a wet cast ( concrete with rock) is going to work just fine. If the piece is only 3/4" thick the GFRC is the answer. As for a smooth surface the key is to use melamine and cast upside down. No finishing skills needed.

[@qfactor77]

@@henryfehr6202 It will be 3'' to 2'', 9'' wide and about 5ft long. I am wondering if I would need any additives. I am concerned about water/frost damage.

[@henryfehr6202]

@@qfactor77 that works out to .93 cubic feet. The main thing is a lower water to cement ratio. Add super plasticizer for more flow/workablity. Depending where you are home Depot has flow paks you can add.

[@qfactor77]

@@henryfehr6202 thanks a lot. I have been looking at plasticizers and thanks for confirming. I am gonna go for it. I have seen a video where they were using Rapid Set Flow Control that looks brilliant. It's not easy to get that in UK as here seems to only come in the liquid version like Flowaid SCC. Maybe I'll stick some thin rebar too. Many thanks again.

[@GrumpyAndCricket]

Great info!

[@JRH087]

use plasticiser and pva in the uk for rendering work

[@qfactor77]

Hi, I am considering pre-casting a window sill as I cannot find the right sizes on the market. Any suggestion on the mix that will come up smooth (just use sand and no gravel I guess) and weather resistant for exterior so it does not crack or crumble?

[@richardmclaugfhlin65]

What can you add to a sculpting mortar to increase the flexibility?

[@LW12345]

Does adding "Portland" strengthen the concrete? I've seen video's where they said to add a shovel full of portland to each bath of Quickkrete Mix to strengthen it.

[@richardmccann4815]

Yes, that always helps!

[@serafeimgakos6886]

I want to diy overlay 1/2 inches on my 1600 sq. ft garage concrete surface. A mix 1 part cement portland - 3 part sand - polypropylene fiber - the less necessary water and 10% of pva, is that the properly mix in order not to be cracked? Or may i have to add more pva, if yes how much percentage. Or i have to add Fibreglass mesh?

[@AbdulAziz-cj4hg]

Can you give me the final comparison and test

[@richardmccann4815]

What about leaving the plasticiser mix mixing? Or do you have to stop mixing and let the material sit to get the best effect?

[@antonzavarzin7208]

PVA and acrylic/latex give approximately the same strength, right?

[@richardmccann4815]

No, pva doesn't increase the strength as much as latex or acrylic. Pva makes the concrete more smooth and sculptable.

[@godzuki2099]

Can you add the plasticizer to the water 15 minutes before doing the full mix and mix the whole thing only once?

[@muhammadarham7442]

Is there any way to measure the strength of our concerete mix?

[@omahanprabla3058]

Chopped fiber glass greater than 3" is good, don't try to mix anything longer than 7" cause it's a nightmare. Powder fiberglass just doesn't make sense.

[@pelementmaker]

i got leftover rockwool/mineral wool, do you have any experience with adding that stuff to the mix?

[@subirnath4229]

Sir...use nano silica or collidal silica...get more C-S-H Gel, more strong concrete!...🙏

[@richardseifried7574]

Do you know how to make micro cement?

[@devbachu7072]

How long can this premix stay in a bag

[@maunglay8814]

What super plasticizer is better?

[@mattwernecke2342]

I was looking at graphene but its just too expensive.

[@albertvonschultz9137]

How about boron

[@bbustin1747]

Yeah just mix your concrete in the hole my man. Just put some rust proof holders to bolt those poles to. You might wear your back out but you’re young and you’re only young once. Go for it !

[@abcertweld]

Throw the fiber to it.

[@creatingconcrete]

definitely

[@XboxSpecialist]

Im sorry but superplastisizerz sound like orbeez which you should definitely not add to concrete

[@zidnyknight3611]

❤

[@DoeBoy999]

Dudes in his house telling people not to experiment with additives in their own house for projects. Stupid.

[@martinmengh]

1 minute worth of info stretched to 10 minutes, with a monotonous vocal fry

[@DaveHendersonFakeRockVideos]

Love your channel! Been building and repairing faux rock projects for over 25 years and love to see people with a cool spirit of serving others creating cool content. Great job buddy! For me I'm too lazy to worry about the mix design other than getting bagged 4000psi pre-mixed concrete or shotcrete with a bit of Sika Acrylic Add-Mix in hand mixed batches. At 66 I'm turning down my on site work loads and hope I can do more teaching. Maybe even get my studio cleaned up like yours! Anyway, God bless you brother and I wish you massive success with your channel. fyi my channel is this if ya like. Be well my friend. www.youtube.com/@DaveHendersonFakeRockVideos