How to Make AIRCRETE The RIGHT way! [ How to measure Density for consistency.

[@matthewmccartney3926]

I like this guy. He is a good man. He take everything he encounters and improves it.

[@PranaTech]

Thank you Matthew! I appreciate your kind comments! 😊🙏

[@jameselliott9397]

I have an idea, I am to old to start a new venture, but someone out there may want to pursue this idea. I would like to build aircrete logs. Based on the toys we all played with when we were kids, Lincoln logs. These could be pre-manufactured so really almost anyone could buy the logs and construct a building. There would need to be different lengths made say like 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 feet etc. There would need to be some that had special ends with channels for doors and windows. There could be some that are pre wired with wall outlet boxes and switches. Logs could be pre-colored or surfaced in some cases. A building could be constructed permanently by bonding the logs together, or could be temporary and disassembled and moved. I think this could be an amazing new business that could revolutionize small buildings. And it would allow for any person to DIY.

[@PranaTech]

That’s a cool idea 😁👍

[@thegnomegang6825]

We're actually planning on making aircrwte Geodesic domes and raised garden beds in Alaska if you'd like to join our workers coop lmk !!! Let's make ur dream a reality we can be millionaires in under 5 years with these lumber prices

[@matthewmccartney3926]

I had a similar idea. Use it for making preformed mini home or large shed.

[@foyjamez]

That's a great idea.

[@PranaTech]

I agree!😊

[@klave8511]

Thanks for this well thought out and presented video. The down to earth tips are valuable

[@PranaTech]

Thank you for your nice comments! I really appreciate them! 😊🙏

[@millardscott5646]

This video is really a good tutorial on making good quality aircrete. Can't wait to try this.

[@PranaTech]

Thank you! 🙏😊

[@randallsemrau6911]

Great tutorial. The only hurdle, is building an appropriate mixer.

[@PranaTech]

A lot of guys just use a regular cement mixer. 👍😊

[@rusosure7]

I have a suggestion for building walls with AirCrete. Maybe it's been posted and/or tried already, but it may be of use for continuous wall construction. Last year, I visited St Augustine Florida and took a close look at the exterior walls of Flagler College. They were CONTINUOUS concrete walls going up several stories. Apparently, how they did it is, each day, they would pour about a foot of concrete within forms that only extended up a foot. The next day, they'd move those forms up another foot and pour again. Each layer would bond to the previous layer. You can see the lines like strata in the Grand Canyon, each being a day or two old. Call me crazy, but wouldn't that be an easier way to build a wall than making blocks and mortaring them together? If the layer settled overnight, the next layer of foamy aircrete would simply fill it in. Just a thought...

[@rusosure7]

I'd love to try it here in Florida, but we have those things known as hurricanes, (and oddly, tornadoes...) and would require the impact resistance of 4000psi reinforced concrete, which is what I'll be constructing.

[@PranaTech]

That is a great idea with the slipform method with Aircrete! I had come up with a solution to building all those Aircrete blocks as well. I was going to build precision curved forms like pie sections of the dome called “gores” and just pour the Aircrete into them and my design was interlocking so once all the sections were cured, you just assemble the pieces and voila, instant dome! Similar to this method the Japanese use.kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6axk4Cid8p0etU I have since revised it to be similar to yours where I just build my arches out of steel like I described earlier. I purchased a “Hulk” tubing roller from Swag off-road and have been playing with it for a while now building projects around the house and I’m confident I can produce repeatable arches out of steel tubing due to the accuracy of the digital readout that it comes with. 😁👍

[@rusosure7]

@@PranaTech Wow. That Japanese method looks costly and painful to get right. As much as I love the look of a dome and respect its resistance to external forces, like an egg, its geometry is far too difficult to build cheaply without an airform....in my opinion. Florida has a geodesic dome manufacturer, but they're not "monolithic" by any means. And they tend to leak from what I've heard. This gives Monolithic domes an advantage with a weather-tite airform. But even then, the airform won't last forever and will need to be coated regularly or covered with a "permanent" solution like metal. This is why I've decided to nip the bud early and use 2'x12' metal panels as a skin over hoops made out of 1 3/8" top rail bent with hoop benders from buildmyowngreenhouse dot com. With the weather sealed out, I can then apply 3" of polyurethane closed cell to the inside of that, then attach the rebar & spray my sand mix with a cheap mortar sprayer. The hoop bender is cheap and I believe I can get consistent hoops. Since it's soooo thin, the skin will have to be screwed on though... I'm not skilled in spot welding. I'm starting with a 100 sq' shed. Then a bigger shed of 150 sq'. And if all goes well...

[@rusosure7]

@@PranaTech One other method I've seen which may allow for a thick wall of Aircrete is: "Bow Construction". This definitely is DIY level, see: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eaCYfJmsgNqrapY I haven't given it too much thought, but it seems a guy could use 2x6 spacer blocks, and if you skin both the inside & outside using the "slip form" method, you could build your walls 2 or 3 feet a day till you get to the peak. This would be a 6+ inch wall (depending on the plywood used for the bows.) I believe it would be very good "R-Value" and at that thickness, as strong as wood construction. When the aircrete has cured, you could remove the bows and fill in the spacer block holes rather easily. Again, this would be great for a place with no hurricanes or tornadoes (like Florida or Texas). I think the arch would be fine with the snow loading in the Northern states. But I'm no engineer, I'm just a guy who thinks he knows some stuff.

[@adancetogo45]

First I like to thank you for all your informative videos. Your videos are much more detailed and scientific then most of the video postings. I'm new to Aircrete and frankly somewhat skeptical of its durability, but I guess it has it's applications. I've been researching the making of Aircrete by DIY'ers for about six weeks. My first impression was that making the proper density of foam and using the proper foaming agent was the “holy grail” of Aircrete. But several individuals appear to have engineered a workable foam making device and “magic wand” to provide the proper working density. But I'm now convinced that the incorporation of the foam into the Portland Cement slurry is equally important. After watching video after video of people having problems properly blending the foam into the cement slurry, I have a couple of question which I hope you can help me understand. I see most DIY'ers using drill type blenders with sculptured wire blending paddles to “beat the hell” out of the mix. This kinda works, but it appears to be time consuming and has to be destroy numerous foam bubbles in the process. I watched your video of the cement mixer you build with interest. I noticed that your first attempt did not product the kind of mixing action to properly blend the foam into the cement slurry, but that you made a modification to the paddle design that from watching the video had a dramatic effect on the blending process! First, can you confirm that I'm seeing and understanding that your modified cement mixer had this dramatic blending effect? Second, will you share your modified paddle design on you blog, its a bit difficult to see the entire paddle in the video? Third, I have a Harbor Freight cement mixer (frankly which I have never used), would you recommend using a standard configured cement mixer over using a drill type blending mixer to incorporate the foam into the slurry? Lastly, I have to say that I'm impressed with your ability to produce well thought out useful devices. If you are interested in a new project, have you seen the new continuous concrete mixer for DIY. Its called the “Mud Mixer”, (mudmixer.com). It cost about $2999 at Northern tool. It's essentially a small hopper, with in-feed/mixing auger with a controllable water spray and a motor to provide power to the blending auger. Again, I thank you for the very informative videos!

[@PranaTech]

Good morning! Yes you are correct in all of your findings! The properly developed dense foam is the first critical element and then gently incorporating the foam into the cement slurry without damaging the foam structure is just as important for consistent Aircrete production. My paddles were too small in the first design and so I extended them to about 5 inches length from the side of the mixer. I am currently rebuilding the mixer as we speak. Upgrading to a steel body instead of the plastic one of the original design. The plastic did not hold up over time and ended up cracking in many places due to the weight of regular concrete mixing. If I only used it for Aircrete it would have lasted for decades but regular batches of 200 pounds plus of concrete was just too much for the plastic barrel. Your harbor freight mixer will do perfectly for Aircrete just the way it is. The key is mixing just enough to incorporate the foam fully into the mix and then stop and pour into you molds. I have looked at the mud mixer and it certainly is an interesting design. If I was in the fencing business I would certainly buy one because it is great at small batching doses into holes and such. I mix up larger batches at a time so it would not be very practical for me. Thanks for your great comments! Don😊👍

[@anniedavenport386]

I hope you don't mind that I put you in my Pocket! The past couple of months, I have spent days searching for a well thought out, organized, informative video on Aircrete. Your video is the first one I have watched. No, not fully true. Yours is the first that literally held me captive to the very end...twice! I am a 67-year-old very adventurous farmer lady. I want to build an Aircrete dome home, however, I needed some very solid guidance, from both a practical and scientific standing. Thank you for the time and thoughtfulness you put into your presentation! I have subscribed and have been through some of your other videos. I feel like the robot on Short Circuit, "Need input, need more input!" You, sir, are inspiring!

[@PranaTech]

Aww, thank you so much for your kind comments Annie! I’m glad you got some inspiration from my videos! I’m just trying to share what I’ve learned so that others will be empowered to build on their own and not have to enslave themselves with debt. Let me know if you have any questions as you go along. 😁👍❤️Don

[@anniedavenport386]

@@PranaTech Don, you are very welcome. Frequently, I find myself in trouble because I do not dilute my opinions, making what I say true. So many of my friends are mortgaged well past their ears and in today's economy, that is a dangerous place. If there were more Keepers of the Flock such as yourself, life would be much more enjoyable and peaceful. You are a vessel of knowledge as well as being a wonderful teacher. You're clear, concise, and thorough. Questions? Me have questions? lol. Thank you for the invitation, and I accept! It will be spring/summer before the snow melts enough to begin. In the meantime, I am on an information-gathering odyssey. As Arnold said, 'I'll be back!'

[@clifflikens2153]

Looks great. You mention the heat drys too quickly, what is the lowest temps to for mix and cure? I'm in the Pittsburgh area and are temp fluctuates as we go into the fall. Thank you agian.

[@PranaTech]

Hi Cliff! The colder it gets the slower the curing time. You just don’t want the mix to get below freezing. 😊👍

[@dustinabc]

Can't wait to see more videos about your aircrete projects. Would be nice to see some follow up on the panels you poured- their final weight, strength, hardness, etc.

[@PranaTech]

Hi Dustin, well those panels got ruined the evening that I made them. A bunch of Javelina came through my yard and decided to step right through both panels. When I checked them in the morning they were all full of holes from their hooves walking through them.☹️

[@speedbuggy16v]

@@PranaTech LOL, sounds like my life!

[@LonDiffenderfer]

@Prana-Tech, I am not handy enough to do this and am looking for a builder who uses aircrete here in central Pennsylvania. No luck yet, but your videos will help me in my search. Thanks for sharing! Very best to you!

[@PranaTech]

Thank you Lon! Good luck on your search! 😁👍

[@swatisquantum]

I love watching air Crete vids

[@cmr4110]

Hi 😃 Thks for the video Do you have any foaming agent you can recommend?

[@PranaTech]

I like Vermilion the best, but Ridgeway is a close second. Both are designed specifically for aerated concrete. 👍😁

[@AllGrowing]

Amazingly inventive! Is aircrete non-toxic for plant boxes?

[@PranaTech]

Yes, it is non-toxic and safe to use for planter boxes. The only thing that is different from regular concrete is the addition of the foaming agent and as long as that is non-toxic, there should never be any problem with toxicity. The foaming agent that I use is from Vermillion and is completely non-toxic. Here is a link.www.vermillionassociates.com/varimax-concentrate.html 😊👍

[@AllGrowing]

@@PranaTechOk, good, thanks for the info and link!

[@UrbanGardeningDIY]

How much foam do we need to add? How do we know? Thanks.

[@orestisvoukalis2010]

hey, have you experimented with using lime instead of cement? would be interesting to figure out the ancient roman concrete formula (lime + volcanic ash) as an aerated mix. will play with it when i get the time..

[@PranaTech]

I haven’t experimented with it but I like the idea! Not being dependent on a complex product like cement is definitely a good thing!😊👍

[@patrickday4206]

Adding some lime can create self healing concrete

[@lautaroparada950]

Thank you, mate!

[@PranaTech]

You are very welcome!😊👍

[@dgsj2011]

Hello. The concept of aircrete began in 1889 when it was patented by Czech Hoffman. So it's been around a while.

[@PranaTech]

This is true! Sadly the United States is way behind the rest of the world in regards to adoption of alternative building technologies. I can’t find an engineer anywhere that will approve building plans for an Aircrete structure.😞

[@peacefulscrimp5183]

Great video 👍

[@PranaTech]

Thank you!😊

[@patrickfinnegan5202]

Nice video thanks for the information. I plan on building monolithic homes in the Philippines for a charity. Can this product be sprayed to form a dome like they do with the traditional concrete sprayers? Does it have any insulated values? I appreciate any information Thank you!

[@PranaTech]

Hi Patrick! Aircrete has great insulation properties but cannot be sprayed on the outside of a dome. It has the consistency of a thin airy milkshake and can be poured into molds to make different shape blocks for building. If you need compressive strength, you will need to ad sand to give it some strength. Hope this helps! 😊👍

[@patrickfinnegan5202]

@@PranaTech Yes absolutely helps beautifully I just wanna make sure that we can spray it so that it will stay in place and can be formed with a trowel. I’m just hoping that it will have less of a chance of cracking like typical concrete although we will have a rebar chicken wire so to speak structure for it to adhere to and we will also have a flexible insulated board with a vapor barrier underneath it and then another layer of Air Crete on the inside. I know traditional monolithic homes done the regular way with typical concrete still have a very good R factor for insulative purposes but I think this Air Crete will be far superior. We’re also incorporating incinerator toilets and water tanks on each corner with a wall that connects them which is also a big water tank. The solar system will also have a battery array for each home and a big generator that will come on when the battery of any of the homes Drop below 50% to give us a longer battery life. Very excited to get it started

[@PranaTech]

Wow, that is going to be a great project! 😁👍

[@TecraTube]

this is fantastic! thank you so much

[@PranaTech]

You are very welcome! Thanks for your kind words! 🙏😊

[@myice-creamdreams3421]

do you have a video on how to build your foam tool and set up? a video of your mix concrete slurry ratio how much concrete how much sand, if any? how much water??? what brand concrete mix do you use???

[@PranaTech]

Hi there! Here is a link to my foam generator build video.kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6TUgoKohMyDp6c My ratio for Aircrete is as follows: My recipe is mixed in a 55 gal barrel and I mix 6.5 gallons of water with a 94 pound bag of Portland cement and once it is blended into a nice even slurry, while still blending with my drill, I fill the barrel up to the 45 gallon mark with foam. I mix it just enough to incorporate all the foam and then stop and pour into my molds. If you mix too long you will beat the bubbles out of the foam and the mixture will collapse before it can set up. Any brand of Portland cement bags will work fine. No sand is used unless you want stronger, more dense Aircrete blocks.😊👍

[@myice-creamdreams3421]

@@PranaTech thank you soo much for this information this is truly most helpful great video also keep up the great work sir!

[@PranaTech]

You are very welcome! Let me know if you have any other questions.😊👍

[@highcountrystories]

What is your cement to water ratio? And how much of the foam additive per mixed load.. ?? 😊. Thank you

[@PranaTech]

My Aircrete recipes. 15.66 pounds of Portland cement mixed with one gallon of water. Then add 7.5 gallons of foam. Or in metric. 7 kilos of cement to 4 liters of water and then add 30 liters of foam. If you want to make it in a 55 gal barrel, I mix 6.5 gallons of water with a 94 pound bag of Portland cement and once it is blended into a nice even slurry, while still blending with my drill with a grout paddle, I fill the barrel up to the 45 gallon mark with foam and mix just enough to incorporate the foam evenly. I usually mix a 5 gallon bucket of foam solution for my foam generator to spray foam with. If you are using Drexel, use 4 ounces to 5 gallons of water. For Vermillion concentrate, I use 2 ounces to 5 gallons because it is more concentrated. 😊👍

[@mrcpu9999]

I enjoyed this very much, and will go through your other stuff. sub'd.

[@PranaTech]

Hi Jaye! Thanks for subscribing! If you like the Aircrete stuff, I’m working on a new video on how to make Aircrete even easier without foam. Simply with a chemical process. 😁👍

[@mrcpu9999]

@@PranaTech I would *love* to see that. I've seen some mention of aluminum powder and some other stuff making aircrete

[@PranaTech]

Should have my initial video done soon. I’m setting up a test device with a 5000 pound load cell so I can do some real compression testing of some of my samples to show the strength of this stuff. 😊👍

[@theaussienurseflipper.8113]

Gr8 video, have U heard of styroaircrete?

[@PranaTech]

Yes, they are all pretty cool building methods! 😁👍

[@blaymoses542]

Hy that looks nice, what did you used for the foam?

[@PranaTech]

Hi Blay! I used Richway CMX. Here is a link.richway.com/product/cmx-foam-concentrate/ 😁👍

[@blaymoses542]

Thanks soo much

[@PranaTech]

Anytime!😁👍

[@berhart1865]

I'm going with you. great video. thanks.

[@PranaTech]

Thank you! 😊👍

[@lmenascojr]

If your form was made vertically, then it would dry out much more slowly. Not sure that wood would be the material to make it out of though. Also, if the slabs were made vertically, then you could make multiples in one form using sheet metal separators - of course you would have to coat the mold with a release agent. And a pouring lip is a good suggestion to add to the mixture.

[@PranaTech]

If you made your forms vertically, the weight of the slurry will collapse the bubbles. This is why you see most people making their forms horizontal. 😊👍

[@sarfraz6931]

wow really impressed keep p the good work

[@thebrokenstringspete]

Hey, just starting my voyage and wondered... before the foam was added to the mixer you referred to the 'concrete' slurry in the mixer. Was that just water+cement? In the UK when we refer to concrete it is generally cement+water+aggregate (ballast) but I am guessing there is no ballast in aircrete? I would assume that the foam bubbles are essentially acting as the aggregate? Many thanks

[@PranaTech]

Hi Pete! Yes, you are correct on all points! The foam takes the place of the aggregate and I should have called it a cement slurry. Cheers!

[@thebrokenstringspete]

@@PranaTech thanks so much for clarifying 🙏

[@RobertHamm-u7c]

What kind of a releasing agent do you need to spray on your forms to allow the air-Crete panels to release from the forms?

[@PranaTech]

Hi Robert! Sorry for the delay in my response! Somehow I missed your question. I’ve used a bunch of different release agents. Johnson’s paste wax works good and so does Vaseline thinned with kerosene and brushed on the forms. Diesel fuel works good on smooth forms. 😊👍

[@RobertHamm-u7c]

@@PranaTech I’ve used diesel on regular concrete forms, I just wasn’t sure about air-Crete forms. I know Dawn dish soap cuts through oil and grease (auto mechanics cheap hand cleaner), but I wasn’t sure how the air-Crete would break down with the releasing agents.

[@andyh8239]

cured portland blocks that float? How long do they take to absorb enough water to sink?

[@PranaTech]

That’s a great question! I don’t know, but I sure wouldn’t build a boat out of it!🤣👍

[@eliaslecera6895]

Good day sir.. where did you bymut the earcrete generator?

[@PranaTech]

Hello Elias! I built the generator myself. Here is a link to the video where I show how to build one yourself. kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6TUgoKohMyDp6csi=g4vxTDT00BN8FaMi Enjoy!😊👍

[@Rodrigues-xg3ln]

Hi. I have a question. What Hapen if we mix mini gravel rock in the misture???? enyone try ir ???

[@PranaTech]

Hi Fernando! I think gravel would sink to the bottom of the mix. I know a lot of companies that make blocks for structural use, add sand to the mix to make it more dense and stronger.😊👍

[@kenwheatley1781]

Aeriated concrete has been around at least 50 years. One of the applications in the 70's was pouring floors in new apartment buildings.

[@PranaTech]

Hi Ken, thanks for your comment! I had no idea that it had been around that long! 👍😀

[@kenwheatley1781]

@@PranaTech Like your videos. I will be using air crete to build my house. So far I like your rigs best.

[@PranaTech]

Thanks Ken! Let me know if you ever have any questions. 👍😀

[@onetwothree4148]

Aircrete and aerated concrete are completely different things.

[@ytSuns26]

Ok you are on , I am an old geezer as well. However I am working on a 3D concrete printer . The printer has the ability to from a ten foot concrete circle eight feet high. The printer can print various form, shapes . If I work with you we cover two new technologies and build on our efforts. Thanks for the read Walt

[@PranaTech]

Hi Walt! Wow a 3D concrete printer! That’s a pretty cool idea! Aircrete is very runny like a milkshake. How would you get that to stand up and not run off ? Here’s a link to a company that makes a bunch of different solutions that make concrete stand up with no slump. alliedfoamtech.com/Appgeotechfoam.htm 😊👍

[@daniellapain1576]

I know this is an old video but what if you replaced the water with a cement adhesive? It might produce a stronger aircrete.

[@PranaTech]

Hi Daniel! Yes, that does create a slightly stronger Aircrete. If you really want it stronger you simply add fine sand to the mix and the greater the amount, the greater the compressive strength. 😁👍

[@RedandAprilOff-Grid]

In our experience, the density of the foam is way more important than how much foam you add. Less foam makesthe aircrete way stronger. We'll be showing our test sample results soon. We have huge temperature swings where we are in southern Arizona. We are mixing at about 80° in the afternoon and getting down into the 30°s overnight. We leave the aircrete uncovered until the next morning, which has worked out fine. Did it work to cover it, & did this panel turn out? Maybe you show them on the next video, I'll check. 🙂

[@PranaTech]

No video of the finished panels. The javelina came through overnight and stomped them all to pieces and ruined them.🤣👍

[@RedandAprilOff-Grid]

@@PranaTech Gotcha, I'm surprised nothing big has stepped on ours yet. We have had some birds on the garden wall, and some rodent tracks on one sample, but nothing too catastrophic. Later we started putting metal chairs over the samples just in case our daughter's dog comes around early in the morning. Aircrete is cool stuff, we are impressed with it's performance.

[@UrbanGardeningDIY]

I have seen your videos on testing different blocks and post. Just wanna ask how much foam do you add on that standard mix you have. Thank you.

[@RedandAprilOff-Grid]

@@UrbanGardeningDIY Aircrete recipe we used: In barrel mix 5 gallons water 94 lb bag of Portland Cement Foaming soap solution: 5 gallons water 1/4 c. (4oz) Drexel 1 T. Glycerin Foam weight 80-100 grams per quart. Mix into cement slurry enough foam to make a 45 gallon batch.

[@UrbanGardeningDIY]

@@RedandAprilOff-Grid thank you. I appreciate it. More powers to you guys.

[@GOLDVIOLINbowofdeath]

I’m impressed that your slab pour did not slump or shrink as I have seen on other KZbin videos. did it really not shrink at all or was it just too soon to tell?

[@PranaTech]

Yes, it does not shrink. If you use high quality foaming agents designed for making Aircrete, you won’t get the shrinkage. I am currently using foam solution from a company called Vermillion and their stuff is the best I’ve used. Here is a link to their site. www.vermillionassociates.com/varimax-concentrate.html. 👍

[@GOLDVIOLINbowofdeath]

@@PranaTech Thanks. I think you may be on to something as to that being the reason. one guy was using some kind of foaming agent used by crop dusters to drop white blobs on the crops so they could see where they had been

[@PranaTech]

Yes, I’ve used that stuff and it sucks! If people would use engineered cellular concrete foaming agents they would be much more successful.😁

[@tigercub1965]

Thank you for your video. The most informative aircrete video yet. The III cellular concrete class is kinda in the middle. Would that class be good for a tinyhome ICF home with a second story? I'm thinking of building an investment property.

[@PranaTech]

Hi Gina, thank you for your nice comments! In the case of a second story building you would need an engineer to sign off on the density of the block for such a building. He may just require the first story be one density and the second might be allowed a lighter density. It just depends on the engineer you are dealing with and how much experience they have with Aircrete/ cellular concrete. 😀👍

[@rduhari]

Hi Don, thanks for all the videos. Very inspiring. I am toying with the idea of putting this setup on a tank track and pumping the aircrete out through a nozzle and using it as an aircrete 3D printer.

[@PranaTech]

Hariharan, wow, that is a great idea! Check this company out. alliedfoamtech.com/Appgeotechfoam.htm They make solutions that make the Aircrete thicker and have form so you can shape it and have it stand up for applications like you are thinking about. Keep me updated if you go forward with your idea. I would love to see it! Thanks, 🙏😊 Don

[@andrewsantos4366]

I like the ideas, just wondering if you tested the strength of of your mixture and how many psi, thank you again for your video.

[@PranaTech]

Hi Andrew, I haven’t done any formal testing yet. I would have to invest in some expensive test equipment and I have so many other projects on the list before that.😀👍

[@tgordon7065]

Thank man... wel done

[@PranaTech]

Thanks! I appreciate that 😊👍

[@moneypenni1694]

I really appreciate the chart, thank you very much...:-}

[@PranaTech]

Hey there, thank you for the nice comment! I appreciate it! Glad the chart helped. 😁👍

[@moneypenni1694]

@@PranaTech ; I must admit, I was not looking forward to having to do all the 'figuring' on my own. I have a bit of math dyslexia so working with numbers is very cumbersome for me...LOL!!!

[@johndelta5970]

I am thinking of making some self supporting roof panels 4ft by 6ft for an outdoor aviary. I was wondering if you have any suggestions on thickness and or interior reinforcement.

[@PranaTech]

Hi John, that’s an interesting idea! I would think something in the 3 to 4 inches thick would work, but you would need something like what they use for concrete counter tops called “scrim” to ad structural strength to it. It is basically a square woven cloth with various size squares depending upon your size of panel. 👍😀

[@azimihossen6414]

how much cost would it be when i use (600mm x 3000mm x 100mm) mold? and raw material mixing ratio?

[@PranaTech]

Hello. Here is my small batch recipe in metric. 7 kilos of cement to 4 liters of water and then add 30 liters of foam. Mix the cement and water well and then add the foam and mix just enough to incorporate it into a well blended mix and then pour into your mold. You will need to enlarge my recipe to fit your mold and then calculate the cost per batch for what your materials cost locally. Hope this helps.😊👍

[@azimihossen6414]

@@PranaTech thanks!

[@timbarnett3898]

My family made wedding cakes. We tapped out bubbles from mix to rise timo surface an be gone from mix. Can you tap on side of frame an remove air bubbles like we did with cake mix?

[@PranaTech]

Hi Tim! I’m sure you could! That would not be good for the Aircrete though, because we want the bubbles to stay to make it lighter. 😊👍

[@Glow0110]

Very awesome video! Thanks so much for putting this together

[@PranaTech]

Thank you! 😀👍

[@PranaTech]

Thank you! 😀👍

[@RicJaruda-iz9bi]

What is the right mix proportion of water, cement & foam, and also the mix proportion of foam solution of water & foaming agent

[@PranaTech]

Hi Ric! Ok, here is. My Aircrete recipe. 15.66 pounds of Portland cement mixed with one gallon of water. Then add 7.5 gallons of foam. Or in metric. 7 kilos of cement to 4 liters of water and then add 30 liters of foam. My larger recipe for a big batch is mixed in a 55 gal barrel and I mix 6.5 gallons of water with a 94 pound bag of Portland cement and once it is blended into a nice even slurry, while still blending with my drill, I fill the barrel up to the 45 gallon mark with foam. For the foam concentrate to water ratio, I use what the manufacturer recommends. With Richway concentrate I use 4 ounces of concentrate with a 5 gallon bucket of water. With Vermillion concentrate I only use 2 ounces with 5 gallons of water because it is more concentrated. Here are links to both companies. These are the best foam concentrates I have found. richway.com/product/cmx-foam-concentrate/ www.vermillionassociates.com/varimax-concentrate.html Hope this helps! 😊👍

[@J0HN_3_16]

​​@@PranaTechgreat video. How are your Aircrete structures holding up after a few years? Does Aircrete have enough compressive strength to use in load bearing walls on a two story building? I noticed you haven't been making Aircrete videos in quite a while. Do you still recommend it

[@PranaTech]

Hey, great questions! Ok, in the method I was making it in my previous videos the answer would be no, I would not recommend it for a two story building at all. Standard Aircrete would be fine for a dome home with an outer layer of fabric and cement slurry to tie the structure all together. For a conventional square home, I would only recommend it for insulation in the walls. I had a lot of issues with deflating bubbles and density consistency during the hot Arizona summers here. I have been experimenting with a chemically induced Aircrete that rises like a cake and uses no foam so the bubble issue is removed from the equation. I am building molds right now and should have a video out soon showing the process and recipes for structural blocks and even engineering processes to test your batches for consistency and structural strength. 😊👍

[@J0HN_3_16]

@@PranaTech thank you for the informative answers. A number of Aircrete proponents have encountered problems and moved on to something else. Recently, I have observed some alternative builders replacing air bubles with shredded Styrofoam but have no idea about long stability. Autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) block is much stronger than Aircrete and weighs 80% less than traditional concrete. Unfortunately, it is costly. It appears to have good compressive strength and be stable over the long term. I believe it can NOT be manufactured outside an industrial facility and has the additional costs of shipping the block to you. I have seen videos of large bricks made by compressing damp earth that includes an unknown amount of clay at 3000 PSI with no heat like traditional bricks. If your dirt is suitable, you could buy a machine to make block on site. I have never seen these machines in person but they seem to form strong, stable and large earthen blocks. GOD bless you.

[@PranaTech]

Essentially what I am making is AAC without the autoclaving step. The only thing the autoclaving does is cure the concrete quickly so it can be sold. Cement cures within 28 days naturally so you can build the same blocks yourself but they will need to cure before use. God bless you as well my friend! 🙏😊

[@MariaRodriguez-gc9jk]

I just got a 3 Oz sample of Vermillion. What is not clear are the followings: for 94 lb of cement and 6 gallons of water for making the slurry, how much water rouse with how much foaming agent and what would be the concentration of foam ? . We need to know the density of the foam? I mean at what PSI the foam generator would be creating the foam to inject it in to my slurry. So, several Q here: amount of foam agent in how much water? At what psi setting on the foam generator? Thank you so so much?

[@PranaTech]

Hi Maria, it has a variable ratio up to 250-1. I have been using 3 ounces of Vermilion concentrate to 5 gallons of water and it works great! 😁👍

[@manishjavali]

Very informative. What should be the foam density. Which foaming agent is good.

[@PranaTech]

Hi Mohan, the density will vary depending on the strength of the finished aircrete that you want. Typically most people use 30 to 40 pound per cubic foot density for building blocks. This would mean 3 to 4 pounds density measured in my 1/10 of a pound green measuring cylinder that you see in the video. The best foaming agent I’ve used so far is CMX from www.richway.com/construction.html I believe I have found a better one from a company called Vermillion but I haven’t tested any yet. vermillionassociates.com/ Hope this helps!😁👍Don

[@dustinabc]

In other videos people will test the foam density before mixing it in with the Portland cement. Have you tested the density of the foam itself?

[@PranaTech]

Hi Dustin, yes I set my foam generator to produce foam at a specific density. I want it to produce a 5 gallon bucket worth of foam that weighs 3 to 3.3 pounds for just the foam. Once I have the generator producing the density of foam that I want, I merely have to time my foam application to match the amount of Portland that I am mixing.😀👍

[@cynthiaelm7643]

Hi Don. My son and I found your video and have been producing nice foam and aircrete since buying and modifying a mixer. My question is what ratio of products would you use to produce structural blocks? We are interesting in casting 8"x8"x32" blocks for building.

[@cynthiaelm7643]

Also, how do you test the compressive strength of your blocks?

[@PranaTech]

Hi Cynthia! Here is a chart that gives ratios for strengths of simple Aircrete with just Portland and foam.drive.google.com/file/d/1MaVj1CvjdFybTYpFop8wE49Tg0TNzKzH/view?usp=drivesdk Here is also a chart I use for structural Aircrete with various ratios of sand added to the mix. drive.google.com/file/d/1BLYueqCIp7c6YN1LklAt4uoINeXFDtA_/view?usp=drivesdk I don’t have any way to test compressive strengths of finished product. The best I can do is to make a one cubic foot mold and mix according to these charts and compare the cured weight of the finished product to the weights on the chart and go by their rating for compressive strength. Hope this helps!😊👍Don

[@cynthiaelm7643]

@@PranaTech This is excellent - thank you! I did not have access to the second file, so I sent a request. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and resources!

[@PranaTech]

Hi Cynthia, sorry about that. I changed the restrictions on the file. It is annoying that onedrive defaults to restricting all files instead of making them all available. 😊👍

[@anniedavenport386]

Good morning, Don. I hope that this finds you and yours well in this devastating pandemic. I'm unsure how I am supposed to add a new message here. Do I make a new query here, or add to the 'replies'? I do have questions. As Aircrete blocks are being stacked, does one mortar as the blocks are stacked? And, how much insulation does Aircrete supply? I live near the Canadian border in northeast Washington state. We can dip down into the below zero range in the winter, with several feet of snow, and up toward the 90s in the summer, but a dry heat. If I need to insulate, what material do you suggest? How do I need to reinforce my dome to support the snow load? Thank you in advance!

[@PranaTech]

Hi Annie, here’s my business email. Send me a message on there for future questions that way you don’t have to keep going to the comments to ask. As soon as I get your email I’ll send you a chart for R values for thicknesses of Aircrete. I also have an engineer in Idaho that I’m working with to approve designs for my dome. My design will be approved for snow load but will take a little more work than the standard DomeGaia style aircrete dome, which no engineer in this country will stamp for structural design. I know, I’ve tried. 😁👍[e-mail]

[@BywaysnoHighways]

I read what happen to those panels. Have you made any that you could strength test when cured? Very good video and happy you made it!

[@PranaTech]

Hi there, no I haven’t made any yet for strength testing. I’ve made enough now that I can get very consistent results and I’m confident that I could build my dome home with no trouble at all. My big setback so far is finding an engineer that will sign off on plans for Aircrete building. None of them will put their stamp on it unless I put a shell of rebar and shotcrete on the outside. This really defeats the purpose of building it myself if I have to hire a shotcrete company to finish my building.☹️ I’m still looking for an engineer but I may just have to build in Mexico.👍

[@nub9688]

What if you use wire mesh, can it prevent cracking?

[@PranaTech]

Hi there! Yes, mesh can certainly help. 😊👍

[@awokentruth333]

I would like to make five gallons of air create. Could you tell me the Portland to foam and how much water ratio. I've tried this about 20 times and Can't Get it Right

[@PranaTech]

Good morning! Ok, here’s my recipe for a smaller batch of 5 gallons of Aircrete. 7.5 pounds of Portland cement, mixed thoroughly with 1/2 gallon of water. I put the water in the bucket first and slowly add the Portland and blending completely until no dry lumps remain and all Portland is hydrated. Then add 3.75 gallons of foam to the mix while blending and only blend long enough to incorporate all of the foam completely into the Portland slurry. If you blend too long it will destroy the bubbles and your Aircrete will collapse. What type of foam concentrate are you using? This may come out less than 5 gallons after blending but it is my standard ratio and can be expanded larger if you need more. Hope this helps! 😀👍Don

[@Jack-bs7cy]

Looks kool but i would like to see you make interlocking blocks or bricks

[@circle4922]

This is very cool. I've been learning about this aircrete for a couple days now. Great video, thanks very much.

[@PranaTech]

Hi Circle, thanks for the nice comment! Stay tuned because I have a bunch more Aircrete videos coming up. I am finishing up a new design for a simpler foam generator that runs on air only and doesn’t need electricity to run. Thanks😀👍 Don

[@circle4922]

@@PranaTech That sounds interesting. I've subscribed so I'll check it out. I'll try and suggest your channel to a few people who might find it interesting. You convey the information very well. Thanks again.

[@PranaTech]

Thanks man, I appreciate it very much!

[@AircreteHarry]

Nice job!! I was going to wright something about the mixer, then you made the improvement.

[@PranaTech]

Thanks Harry! Your videos have helped me a lot! 😀👍

[@jefferykeeper9034]

Hello just out of curiosity do you know of anyone ever trying to use the white styrofoam packing in boxes that you get when you buy an item at the store?

[@PranaTech]

Hi Jeffery! Yes, it’s called styrocrete. Here’s a link to another guys channel that shows how. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aGjZaIKnYtZsrtU Enjoy!😊👍

[@grumblycurmudgeon]

What was the density on the second, CORRECTLY MIXED batch!?

[@PranaTech]

30 pounds per cubic foot. 😊👍

[@VitalityMassage]

I wanted to see what it LOOKS LIKE AFTER it's dried!

[@PranaTech]

I did too! When I woke up the next morning, the Javelina had trampled all through it and ruined the entire batch! So I had to end the video with the footage I had.🤣👍

[@VitalityMassage]

@@PranaTech Lol! So funny.

[@paulfreeman1665]

me tooo...

[@kouassiappiah2506]

Thanks for the show; pretty cool stuff! How do you make the mixer and how much it will cost if I could order one? Thanks

[@PranaTech]

Hi Kouassi, here is a link to my build thread for the mixer so you can see how I made it. m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZzZdKdnbapsbc0 I don’t sell them, I just built it for myself. Thanks for your comment.👍😀

[@danielalicanduurbina7349]

Hi! Excelent job 👍 we like your video. We made the air crete gun and the air compresor. But Would you please let us know how to make the other things or pieces for our project? We are wishing to make air crete at home🌟. Thxs.

[@PranaTech]

Hi Daniel, I would be glad to help in any way I can. What pieces are you looking at building? Let me know and I will get you info or dimensions. Whatever you need. Don

[@crassbusinessman3122]

You look to be in Arizona. Nice. :)

[@PranaTech]

Yes, Tucson. 😁👍

[@happy2b4]

OK, you had me with the TREADMIXER 3000 sticker! I was wondering who made such a cool mixer - where you could use different plastic drums, I assumed. Then to realize that it is just one eccentric guy that builds them. Thanks for your info! Yes, CMX is more powerful with significant minerals present, but their enviro warning...maybe does not apply in your climate. Still learning about aircrete. Thanks!

[@PranaTech]

SpaceCrete, hey thanks for the nice comments! Yeah, I think we’re all still learning with this Aircrete thing. CMX is the best I’ve used so far but I’m not too thrilled about the chemical warnings! If I can find a natural protein based concentrate that works as well, I’ll be switching to it. Oh yeah, and that Treadmixer 3000 is hand painted on the side, not a sticker! 🤣 Eccentric is a good word for me, much better than others people have used.😀 Anyway, thanks for watching and if you find a good nontoxic concentrate that you like please let me know. Thanks, Don👍

[@happy2b4]

@@PranaTech One strategy is to use a strong set accelerator to kick the cement before the foam collapses. I think this is why Honey Do adds Baking Soda. Though most foams seem to have some initial fade as you begin to mix in the slurry. And the surfactants like SLES really retard the set. The protein ones literally stink. To test other mix components I am always using CMX right now - consistent.

[@h.vandewalker2428]

I love all of the Air Crete devices you have made. I wish I could get my husband to build them for me, but since he is too lazy, I will just have to build them myself. I haven't looked yet, but have you built a foam generator using a standard air compressor for the air? I already own a very nice air compressor, so I don't need to build that box unit you made. I have seen other people build them, but they don't explain their designs well enough. Maybe I should keep searching. Thank you for the wonderful information.

[@PranaTech]

Hi there! Thank you for your kind words! I did another video about my high performance foam generator that is completely powered by air which would be better for you since you already a good compressor. That video is in my Aircrete playlist on my channel but here is a link right to it. m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/gl62cnunbr1sh7M You don’t need to put it in a box, you could just mount it to a board if you wanted. I’m finishing up an even larger foam generator that is built in an open frame setup and I should have the video up in the next couple weeks. Let me know if you have any questions. 😀👍Don

[@annefischer3530]

Is it fair to call your husband lazy if it's your project? Maybe you should just do it yourself.

[@austinjunkman2449]

hello. Great video. Just a thought. I was reading some of the comments about the hard water and the different foaming agents and was wondering if you tested the pH of your water and adjusted it at all, since concrete doesn't like acid.

[@PranaTech]

Hi there, yes, I’ve played around with the water and even tried distilled water to eliminate that variable and it does make a little stronger foam. I’ve started using a foam concentrate from a company called Vermillion and it has eliminated all my foam durability issues.👍😀

[@fordbuchanan8630]

@@PranaTech Is that still being sold? I can't find pricing through Google.

[@PranaTech]

Good morning! Yes, here is a link to their site. www.vermillionassociates.com/varimax-concentrate.html 😊👍

[@fordbuchanan8630]

@@PranaTech Thanks, I did find that page but there doesn't seem to be any pricing or method of ordering. I assumed the page was a remnant and they weren't selling it anymore.

[@PranaTech]

Yes, as far as I know they are still selling it. They are pretty low tech so you have to call them.😊

[@delroylue8928]

Thanks. Good demonstration

[@PranaTech]

Thank you Delroy! I appreciate it! 😀👍

[@armkf2343]

Hi Hope you are fine and in good health Great work Sir i want to know the mixing ratios for different densities and strenght. Shall be greatfull for that kindness

[@PranaTech]

Hi there! Here is a link to a great chart that shows the different mixes and densities with regards to strength. dlvews.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Strength_Density-Charts.pdf 👍😀

[@shaydmargan8796]

Can you add rebar to the aircrete? If I were to build a small coffee table?.

[@armkf2343]

Yes

[@PranaTech]

Yes but the finish of Aircrete is pretty rough with all the air bubble holes that are on the surface. If I was going to make a lightweight coffee table, I would make a mold and spray a thin layer of some high quality counter top concrete and then fill up the mold with Aircrete to give it the thickness you want without weighing 200 pounds. I wouldn’t use rebar though, I would use scrim that will reinforce the concrete and not add weight. 😊👍

[@stephenthon4669]

Love your videos. I made your wand in an hour. Much better tool. Wondering if you have considered making a pump from the mixer to forms? Thank you in advance. Terry

[@PranaTech]

Hi Stephen! Thanks for your kind comments! Great minds must think alike. I working on a concrete pump that can be built at home with fairly common parts. This way I can pump Aircrete into forms as well as shoot shotcrete for concrete plastering on the outside of my Aircrete. 😀👍

[@carmenmariacortesmarin2664]

Thank you so much for this and all your videos. I have learned a lot. They clarify so many questions!

[@PranaTech]

Thank you for your kind words Carmen. I’m glad you liked it! 😁👍

[@carmenmariacortesmarin2664]

@@PranaTech Thank you, sir

[@MariaRodriguez-gc9jk]

So, can you tell me the proportions please? 3 Oz of Vermillion to 5 gal. Water. Then how many pounds of cement? In how much water? How much foam for the above mixture? How much air in rhe foam generator? Thank you so much for your help

[@PranaTech]

Hi there. 5 gallons of foam concentrate is plenty to make a 45 gallon batch of aircrete. Mix a 94 pound bag of Portland cement with 6 gallons of water in a55 gallon drum and then add foam up to the 45 gallon level. Mix throughly until the foam is fully blended in but don’t over mix it or you will kill the foam. Air pressure is usually at about 55-60psi.😁👍

[@MrRonluker]

Vermillion or cinnabar is the second most deadly substance known to man. Why not 6oz. Just go for it.

[@PranaTech]

Hi Ron, Vermillion is the name of the company that makes the foam concentrate for Aircrete. It’s as completely harmless as Johnson&Johnson baby shampoo.😊👍

[@MrRonluker]

@@PranaTech I would have to say they made a poor choice in naming their company.

[@PranaTech]

It’s the owners last name so I’m sure he feels differently about the name.😁

[@johndelta5970]

Thanks, cogitating on that...

[@larryb2500]

Hi, I appreciate all your work with aircrete. How do you get the correct amount of foam into the mixer as it is turning? Also do you think a regular concrete mixer will do mixing properly? My project is to make a raised 12 in. high garden bed with air crete using 2x2 welded mesh I have as reinforcement. Any comments or suggestions will be appreciated. I have built 2 sheds out of papercrete which are good so am excited about building with aircrete as it should not absorb water like papercrete will.

[@PranaTech]

Hi Larry, here are the ratios that I use. You will need a scale that is pretty accurate. For every 15.66 pounds of Portland cement you add one gallon of water. To this mix you add 7.5 gallons of foam. You will need to get your foam generator set where it produces good foam and then accurately time how long it takes to fill however many gallons of foam you are going to need in your mixer. This will obviously be determined by how large of a mixer you buy and how much Aircrete it can mix without overflowing. This time of foam application will now be your dose time and you can use it accurately every time. 😀👍

[@larryb2500]

thanks that info. is just what I need. Do you know about adding some sand or gravel to the aircrete mix to stabilize it.

[@PranaTech]

Adding sand will increase strength and density. Adding gravel is tough because it wants to sink to the bottom due to the weight. 👍😁

[@dustinabc]

I wonder if you could add a low density rock, like pumice, and what would result from that.

[@PranaTech]

That’s a great idea Dustin! I never thought of that! 👍😁

[@richardmartinez5440]

is it strong enough to make a full size house with?

[@PranaTech]

Yes, but it depends on how dense you make the Aircrete and how thick the blocks are. 👍😁

[@CaseyColeCorbin]

Can you use a regular concrete mixer? Or does it deflate the mixture?

[@PranaTech]

Yes, you can use any mixer, you just have to do smaller batches and once the Portland mixture is well mixed, you add the foam and blend just enough to mix thoroughly and then pour into your molds. This prevents it from deflating the mixture.😁👍

[@CaseyColeCorbin]

@@PranaTech great! Thanks for answering and so quickly! Do you ever add glycerin to stabilize the foam?

[@PranaTech]

Hi Casey, no I haven’t tried that yet. I have heard that it helps but since I started buying high quality foam concentrates designed for Aircrete, I haven’t had any problems with foam collapsing. My current favorite is from a company called Vermillion and there concentrate is amazing stuff!👍

[@CaseyColeCorbin]

@@PranaTech can you provide a link to the Vermillion product? Much thanks for all your help! I made my first aircrete product yesterday, well, it was actually made with plaster and a can of shaving cream poured in silicon molds shape as small plant pots.

[@PranaTech]

Hi Casey, here is the link to Vermillion www.vermillionassociates.com/varimax-concentrate.html They will sell a sample if you just want to try them out.👍😀

[@williamfields8452]

can you add rebar to aircret?

[@PranaTech]

Hi William! Most of the time it is not used with Aircrete because it is so lightweight that it doesn’t have the density or tensile strength to be worth it. If you made it denser with adding sand to the mix, it would probably work fine.😊👍

[@dr.marcopaez2586]

Hey I have a question. Can you add pumise to the aircrete? I thought of making it hold to a wall or to make molds?

[@PranaTech]

Marco, I think pumice would work great because of its lightweight. It won’t sink like regular aggregate does, especially if you used small pumice sizes.👍😀

[@B30pt87]

Thank you! (Hell yes I subscribed, liked, hit the bell - all the things)

[@PranaTech]

Hey, thanks man! Glad you liked it!😀👍

[@jamesdeeton4299]

Have you ever tried Triple F Firefighting Foam?

[@PranaTech]

Hi James! No, I have never tried it. I’m a retired firefighter and thought about it a couple of times but it is a fairly toxic stuff so I didn’t really want to mess with it. 😊👍

[@havanaday9981]

Hey, I make stone veneer with a typical rich concrete (fine aggregates and Portland) I’ve seen other companies such as Airstone and Evolve stone using a material very similar to this I believe. I have some questions and would love to get in contact

[@PranaTech]

Very cool! How did you make your molds and do the coloring to look natural? 😊

[@havanaday9981]

@@PranaTech we use a third party company that makes rubber molds. We use oxide pigments to mimick the coloring of natural stone. interested more in the formula for a strong, lightweight but cheap batch rather than using 3/8 aggregate. It would eleminate storage that aggregate takes, moving that aggregate....but I’m interested in your take on filling our rubber molds(1,500 square feet a day) with aircrete and the formula you might use(maybe add sand?)

[@havanaday9981]

@@PranaTech can you put together a formula for one cubic yard

[@PranaTech]

Hi there! I use just a basic foam and Portland mix to make very lightweight Aircrete. It is way to fragile for your application, but if you add sand it gets more and more durable. Here is a link to a chart with percentages of sand added and their strengths.drive.google.com/file/d/1BLYueqCIp7c6YN1LklAt4uoINeXFDtA_/view?usp=drivesdk Here is also a link to a company that makes a very interesting product and would be perfect for your application. alliedfoamtech.com/Appgeotechfoam.htm 😁👍

[@havanaday9981]

@@PranaTech ty

[@paulschulman8837]

Love this video! I am trying to make some planter bases of Aircrete and am experimenting with small amounts, just to get the proportions right. I did an experiment using shaving foam. seemed to work pretty well, but having a hard time getting the ratio, portland cement to foam, right. Your 30 lb/c.f. sounds ideal- about 1/3 of regular concrete alone. What ratio of cement to foam are you using? Or are you just mixing the ratio to a 30 lb/c.f. weight/volume? Thanks so much!

[@PranaTech]

Hi Paul, here is my recipe for a big batch. My recipe is mixed in a 55 gal barrel and I mix 6.5 gallons of water with a 94 pound bag of Portland cement and once it is blended into a nice even slurry, while still blending with my drill, I fill the barrel up to the 45 gallon mark with good thick foam. I then mix it just enough to incorporate all the foam into the Portland slurry and then I stop and pour into my mold. For a small batch I mix 15.66 pounds of Portland cement mixed with one gallon of water. Then add 7.5 gallons of foam. Let me know if you have any other questions.😊👍

[@paulschulman8837]

@@PranaTech Thanks so much, This is perfect. I may start by quartering your recipe as I need to test this before I start making bigger batches. Do you think 4 lb. of Portland, 1/4 Ga of water with 30 cups(1.875 Ga) of foam would work as a tester?

[@PranaTech]

I think that would work great! Glad to help anytime.👍😊

[@paulschulman8837]

@@PranaTech I'll let you know how this goes, and what I learn. I just cast the mold. 2 notes so far, 1- the i added another pound of Portland as the 4lb/.25 ga ratio seemed a little watery- I used 5lb/.25ga. 2- By volume I had a ratio of about 1:5.25, concrete to foam

[@paulschulman8837]

OK, the block dried. Weight seems pretty good, but it's a bit soft. If I run a pen on it, it engraves. Is that supposed to happen?

[@MariaRodriguez-gc9jk]

I am confused about your measuring cup. It is 6.112” diameter, but you said it has 6” across? Isn’t diameter same as across? What is the length”? Thanks

[@PranaTech]

Hi Maria, sorry if I messed that up. Sometimes my mouth gets going faster than my brain! The diameter is 6” and the length is 6.112” hope that clears it up. This is for 1/10 of a cubic foot. 😀🙏❤️

[@sportsfan205]

Why are other people mixing but after they add the foam they start mixing counter clock wise?

[@PranaTech]

Hi Dave. Some of the mixers have angled blades and some people run them in reverse so they can pull the foam into the cement slurry to incorporate it faster. 😁👍

[@khyberafridibuilderspvtlim8904]

Great videos. Do you still reply to your subscribers???

[@PranaTech]

Thank you! Yes, I still try to reply to every comment that comes in.😊

[@khyberafridibuilderspvtlim8904]

@@PranaTech Thank you so much for your kind reply. I will keep in touch with your self and let me say thay you have great presentation skills. Keep your good up. God bless you for sharing knowledge with people like us. Warm regards

[@khyberafridibuilderspvtlim8904]

@@PranaTech Actually i am planning to start clc blocks and would like to get your support. Regards

[@PranaTech]

Thank you very much for your kind words! Please let me know if you have any questions. I will be glad to help my friend🙏😊❤️

[@khyberafridibuilderspvtlim8904]

@@PranaTech highly indebted to your kind offer. Let me finish with watching your all videos with regard to clc blocks. After that i will bother you and i hope your good self will not mind my silly and childish questions. God bless you for this kind offer. Warm regards

[@shekharbhatt5864]

Sir please let me know.... 1. How big pannel I can make.thichness and cement ratio.?? 2. Can I use expanding .?

[@PranaTech]

Hello Shekhar, you can make your panels as wide as you want. Probably should keep them no thicker than .5 meter to keep them from collapsing the foam. I don’t have any experience with expanding foam with Aircrete so I can’t say yes or no. Ratios are as follows. For every 7 kilos of cement add 4 liters of water and mix well. Then add 30 liters volume of foam to the cement mixture and mix gently just enough to blend completely and then pour into your molds.😀🙏Don

[@shekharbhatt5864]

@@PranaTech thank you for your reply. I am very much inspired and want to start working on project. Pleaee email me your WhatsApp number. So I can take help to explore more on expanding cement material.. [e-mail]

[@millertb3550]

It looks like you are in Tucson! I live in midtown. My friends and my wife and I want to learn how to make aircrete. What do we need to get started? Any information you have would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[@PranaTech]

Hi Tim, you have good eyes! 😀👍

[@millertb3550]

@@PranaTech we are up in Show Low right now, purchasing an 1.25 acres off-grid. My friend is an artist (sculptor) in Tucson. We want to get into this! Your name is cool, isn't Prana like energy and breath?

[@PranaTech]

Hi Tim, yes, Prana is the life force that flows through everything, including our breath.🙏. Very cool that you are getting a piece of property up in the cooler country! You will need to make a foam generator so that you can produce good foam to mix with Portland cement and then pour it into molds of whatever size blocks that you need. It’s not hard but does take some experimenting to get the mixes right. I’m a firefighter on the Northwest side of town and my wife and I are retiring to Central American in a couple years and I’m going to build an aircrete dome home there. I’m building all of my equipment now and getting all of the processes down so I will be ready to build when I get there. I’ll help you in any way I can. 👍😁Don

[@millertb3550]

@@PranaTech wow! Have you decided which country? We have a house down in Panama. Www.lagobay.com Check out the video! Thank you for the advice. I will be referring back to your channel often.

[@millertb3550]

@@PranaTech Hi Don, can you please send me a text at 319 350 6791? Or email me at [e-mail]. Thank you so much.

[@cordellscott]

Very informative

[@PranaTech]

Thanks Scott! Glad you liked it 👍😀

[@vanorsdelry]

Have you ever tried any fiberglass, epoxy or graphene additives?

[@PranaTech]

Hi Ryan, no, not yet but I have a bunch of hemp fibers that I’m going to be experimenting with soon. 👍😀

[@vanorsdelry]

@@PranaTech sounds great.

[@FredFlintstone718]

Hi Don, In this video you used Drexel F-M160 but in your "Aircrete Foam Generator Machine DIY" video you used CMX Foam Concentrate. You've said you like both of them, but in each video you seem to prefer the one you used in that video ... so now I'm confused. Can you perhaps point out which features of each you like best? Or is one nearly always better, and if so which one? By the way, thanks for another great video! :-)

[@PranaTech]

Hi Fred, the footage for the foam generator was shot after the making Aircrete video. I have only played with the CMX concentrate a little bit with making Aircrete and my initial experiments are showing it to be superior to the Drexel. Sorry for the confusion! I’ll be doing another video on the CMX in Aircrete in the next week or two once I have some more substantial results. Thanks for catching that! 👍Don

[@zachsteele1089]

Prana-Tech I am having such a hard time keeping my aircrete from collapsing. I am using Drexel but not sure of mix ratio (water to agent) and my suspicion is that ratio causes the bubbles to be unstable. Also are you aware of a vertical limit on aircrete whereas after a certain thickness it cannot support its own weight? Current foam agent to water ratio used is 2c to 5gal. Seems like good foam out of my generator but doesn’t last once mixed with Portland and poured into mold. 😖

[@PranaTech]

Hi Zach, I’ve been playing around with this for a while and have at times struggled with collapsing foam issues as well. One of the things I found was the mineral hardness of the water really affects the Drexel foam. I tried using distilled water for my foam concentrate and it made a big difference in the longevity of my foam. I started playing with the Richway CMX foam and it is way superior to the Drexel foam and is made for concrete. Your 2 cups of Drexel for 5 gallons of water is exactly what I was using for my Drexel based aircrete and sometimes it would just collapse depending on my mixing time. Very frustrating! Hope this helps👍😁Don

[@PranaTech]

Hi Zach, I realized that I didn’t answer your question about vertical limit of moulding Aircrete. It seems that it is around 2.5 to 3.5 feet in height depending on the quality of your foam for how high you can mold before it begins to collapse.👍

[@MrInnovativeEnergy]

@@zachsteele1089 You may also be putting oil from your air line into the mix thereby causing contamination which will destroy the foam. Oilless compressors are a better way to go.

[@freightshayker]

Good stuff

[@PranaTech]

Thanks David! 😁👍

[@1voluntaryist]

Wouldn't the density be determined by the ratio of slurry - foam, i.e., the slurry volume increase, e.g., 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, or 1-4? What was the volume of water - cement powder or do you go by weight?

[@PranaTech]

Hi Don! The ratio I go by is one 90lb bag of Portland cement mixed with 6.5 gallons of water in a 55 gallon drum. Once mixed add foam until it comes up to the 45 gallon mark on the drum. A smaller ratio of this would be 15.66 pounds of Portland cement mixed with one gallon of water. Then add 7.5 gallons of foam. Hope this helps.😊👍

[@1voluntaryist]

@@PranaTech I assume the smaller (richer) slurry mix would total 1 gallon volume. How do you measure 7.5 gal. foam? I assumed you just added foam and gauged the volume increase by eye. Or, are you saying you add foam until you get to a total volume of 7.5, giving a ratio of 1-6.5? I was planning on making a rocket stove of aircrete in one caste. It's cheaper than ceramic, lighter, and can be carved as needed, e.g., secondary air holes.

[@PranaTech]

Hi Don. You were correct with the second method. I take my mixing container and add water in increments of 1 gallon or 5 gallons at a time depending on the size of the container. Marking it with a marker at every increment. You then mix the slurry in the container and add the foam until it comes up to the 7.5 gallon point. It’s not exact because the foam doesn’t fill like a liquid but it will get you close. To be really accurate with your Aircrete you need to weigh the mixture once blended to know exactly what your density is. My how to make Aircrete the right way shows how to do this. Also, if I was making a Rocket stove out of Aircrete I would add some sand to make the end product more durable. Aircrete is quite fragile and can be quite crumbly in the lighter mixes. 😊👍

[@emichaels4152]

@@PranaTech If I want 60 pound per cubic foot concrete, should I assume I simply cut the foam in half from your recipe?

[@PranaTech]

Well, that sounds reasonable but I think once you go above 45 pounds you need to start adding in some fine sand to make that kind of density. That’s what the guys in the Philippines do and it makes the blocks structurally sound for weight bearing walls. 😊👍

[@pablop7872]

Awesome video!!! Do you know temperature application for Aircrete? Didn’t see any video or cold places, here in Alberta , Canada in winter could make -35 C plus winds, this material would be suitable for a house construction? Thank you.

[@PranaTech]

Hi Pablo, yes it is fine in any weather. It has great insulation properties as well. 👍😀

[@pablop7872]

@@PranaTech thank you for the fast response. Interested in the method, i was thinking double wall with straw in between to get even more insulation. Have a great weekend!!.

[@PranaTech]

Wow, that would be an amazing R value and sure would retain the heat in the winter!👍

[@egreber]

Pron5 not needed just cast a thicker mold and increase density to 1500 to 1800

[@akatsukiawsome13]

@@pablop7872 strawbale home with aircrete instead of cob? Interesting. Should be more than insulated enough but won’t offer the “heat bank” effect of cob. Still, if you have a decent masonry heater inside anyways you wouldn’t need that!

[@bobreichel]

So I got 2 questions 1) will a cement mixer work as well? I do understand it may stick to the metal if you don't clean it out right away, but other than that? 2) why is it called foamcrete and not foamcement? In reality it's just cement water and foam, unless you add sand or rock which makes it concrete. just a question.

[@PranaTech]

Hi there, 1) yes a regular cement mixer will work fine. You will just have to do smaller batches depending on the size of the mixer you have. 2) yes it is also known as aerated concrete or cellular concrete as well. There are many names for it out there. You can add sand to the mix and it can still be considered Aircrete as long as there is foam added to the mixture. Hope this helps. 👍😀Don

[@josettetucker2236]

@@PranaTech The mix does have an aggregate added to the cement hence it is a concrete.

[@VegaHawk769]

Can you use aircrete to make a floating structure like a boat house or houseboat

[@PranaTech]

Hi Erick, I think you could but I would probably encase it in some epoxy or fiberglass to seal it and make it more durable for the life of the boat or float. 😀👍

[@edelgado1]

36 thumbdowners more that need help. Good video.

[@PranaTech]

Thank you Edward! 👍😀❤️

[@KickingMule1]

I’m looking for a way to pump aircrete. Any suggestions?

[@PranaTech]

Hi Dan, probably the cheapest way would be to use a double diaphragm pump. Like this one www.ebay.com/itm/30-GPM-Air-Operated-Double-Diaphragm-Pump-1-Inlet-and-Outlet-Industrial-Pump-US/233880189258?hash=item367458794a:g:ZDUAAOSwwrNgF6eq They are gentle on the Aircrete so it doesn’t pop the bubbles. Also a peristaltic style squeeze pump will work as well but they cost a lot more. Hope this helps.😀👍

[@KickingMule1]

Thank you very much! Is there any information on the proper mix ratio to achieve the best insulation value?

[@PranaTech]

Hi Dan, for me I will be mixing around 30 to 35 pounds per cubic foot density. This will give you around .5 to .75 R value per inch of thickness. You can go less dense in your mix but my experience has found that the blocks become very fragile and break and crumble with any handling at all. 👍😀

[@KickingMule1]

I saw your reply flash on my iPad briefly, but it hasn’t shown up in the Replies yet, maybe it still will.

[@Liberallez]

Hi, Do you know if you can use rapid set cement for aircrete? And...how would it fare using some kind of aggregate (pea gravel)?? Thanks

[@PranaTech]

Hi there, I think the rapid set cement would work fine. The aggregate doesn’t work so well because it sinks to the bottom of the Aircrete due to the weight. You can use sand to increase strength and density if that’s what you’re going for. Just reduce the foam amount in the Aircrete mix so there is more Portland cement in the ratio and this will float the sand in the mix and make a higher density Aircrete. Hope this helps! 😀👍 Don

[@MrInnovativeEnergy]

I've used Rapid-set (CSA, calcium sulphoaluminate) with aircrete and it does work. I will be trying Magnesium Oxide very soon considering the set time of 5-15 minutes it should be a good one. Mag-Ox is used in the "Air-Krete" brand insulation because of it's rapid set time it will not allow the foam to collapse before it sets. In fact they have accelerators that allow it to set within a minute or two! Although there is no currently available way to slow down Mag-Ox cements which can be in issue in other applications.

[@DC-ei9vl]

@@PranaTech Lightweight aggregate? Not as pretty as river gravel, but durable.

[@patrickday4206]

​@@MrInnovativeEnergymy neighbor mentioned this magnesium can be purchased from feed stores in 45 pound bags

[@robertd6925]

About how much cubic feet does a 94lb bag of cement make?

[@PranaTech]

Hi Robert, I get about 6 cubic feet out of one bag of Portland. 😁👍

[@robertd6925]

@@PranaTech Cool thanks