Is Quick-Set Concrete Worth It? Testing Quick-Set VS Regular

We all know quick-set concrete is supposed to be faster, but how much faster is it? Today we'll set two fence posts in fast setting quikrete and regular quikrete and compare the difference between the two.

[@elliottbrown1725]

Another advantage to the fast setting is that it is designed to set without mixing. We like to get all the post in the ground, add dry mix to all of them and come back to sight them in and add water. We will add water and poke 3-4 holes in the concrete to make sure water quickly penetrates to the bottom. Thanks for making this video.

[@xxxxxbriansanchezyyy]

Never set up a fence post but this sounds Ike the best idea I've found yet.

[@christophercale]

Is it strange that I pick a fencing video to be the first thing that I watch after I pour my first cup of morning coffee? Keep 'em coming, love the content. I've learned all kinda of great info from watching your videos, thanks!

[@SWiFence]

We don't think it's strange! 😆

[@makanjuolamathewbabatunde5477]

Hello can you help me with the current price of quikrete cement bag ​@@SWiFence

[@viazel2796]

Thank you for this video that I have been looking for a week to do a repair of a metal fence. I had my wood fence repaired. The man did a great job, but "he" decided to work on a fence that separate my property from my neighbor. When I told him that's not mine, he stopped. He left but he did leave it (the fence) in a position to just pour the cement. I was not sure which one to buy until seen your video. Thank you so much, again!

[@SWiFence]

You are welcome!

[@lonnieclemens8028]

I had to watch your video when I got home. I worked with the fast setting concrete today. It was my first time to use it. It does set up faster than the concrete in the yellow bag. I won't be using it again, because I like to be able to work with the concrete for a few minutes.

[@colleencook382]

Thanks! I always DID wonder if there was any difference!

[@AtelierWong]

Terrific educational content. I am learning so much about fencing before building one myself, since construction in Austin is booming. Good pros are too busy with larger projects to do smaller projects like mine.

[@Loadedgoods]

Its now just in your area In eastern Canada where I'm at every fence company is flat out. The 2 major players have no time for small jobs the smaller companies are so busy they have a 1 year waiting list.

[@brevinainslie6357]

Make hay while the sun shines!!

[@AtelierWong]

@@brevinainslie6357 I finished my fence project this weekend and must credit the videos posted by SWi Fence & Supply of Powell. As experienced professionals they made construction look a lot easier than I found it to be, but the instructions were quite sound and my fence looks awesome.

[@robert.musk1965]

this is good i was wondring what the difference was lol i love this guy lol thanks for another great bideos!

[@r.carmichael4236]

I’m looking for concrete to go under a fence to secure an under fence guard (trying to stop a dog from running through the neighborhood). It sounds like I need to wait until spring though

[@BlackHamRadioUniversity]

One more question. I am installing a steel/metal fencing post. The hole that I dug is 3 feet 9 inches deep with a diameter of 14 inches. How bags of Quikrete do you think I would need assuming I want the Quikrete to come up to ground level.

[@user-pk2hl2gi6g]

Can you mix both in the same batch?? And what would happend? 1 to 1 bag...

[@duaneulman9915]

Thank you

[@SWiFence]

Welcome!

[@reydecoahuila]

The difference is the formula an yes correct on the fast setting is for fence an the regular concrete is for more lengthy jobs that require longer set an dry time fast setting is for posts only an for side walks an patios there is a product we make Q-5000 which is more pontent

[@alternajarsandbladesforble8896]

for a little more than half the price, I would go with the regular high strength concrete bag (80 lbs for $5.27 equivalent to $3.29 of a 50 lb bag) over the quick setting bag (50 lbs for $5.37 per bag or $8.59 for a 80lb bag). Just take your time, brace your posts and wait a day. It will take me a few days anyway to set up all my 23 posts.

[@onlyme8870]

So how did it go? I have 23 posts to do too. Was considering the fast due to I live 30 minutes away from the jobsite not really wanting to drive too many days.

[@jayb.8460]

Exactly I'm trying to put up a fence and save anywhere I can. That's why I'm doing all the labor myself 😅

[@_lu9]

there is no need for bracing with quick set. by the time you're done with last post you can go back and hang pickets. you save a day for few bucks. quick set all day

[@daeyoon1381]

Exactly what i was wondering about. now, Can you mix the two and would that be in somewhere in between in terms of how fast setting ??

[@SWiFence]

Yes, provided you are not overly concerned with the final properties of the mix.

[@TimLoeppert-kb1wz]

Do people know about the tarp trick for mixing concrete?

[@machonsote918]

Well Done!

[@SWiFence]

Thanks!

[@gumby3057]

Good info. I'm old and in no hurry so it's regular mix for me.

[@BlackHamRadioUniversity]

I dug a 3ft 9 inch deep hole with a diameter of 14 inches. Due to rain, the 3ft 9 inch hole got about 9 inches of water in the hole. Crazy thing is the hole was completely covered prior to the rain but somehow 9 inches of water still got into the hole. I have been waiting for the dirt to soak up all the water in the hole however it doesn't seem to be doing that. After two weeks the water is still there. So my question is what would be the best way to drain the water out of the hole? I thought about just putting a few thick bed sheets in the hole to soak up all the water like a sponge but wasn't sure if that would work efficiently. I then thought about just pouring dry concrete in the hole and mixing it with the water that is already in the hole. What do you suggest? One more question. If I drained all the water out of the hole and the dirt/soil in the hole is still wet and soft is it still okay to mix concrete and pour it into the hole with the dirt/soil already being fully saturated with water? Oh wait....one more question LOL. How many bags of concrete would I need for a 3ft 9 inch deep hole with a diameter of 14 inches? I will be installing a fencing pole with a diameter of about 2 inches. Thanks for your help.

[@SWiFence]

You could try a kid's suction squirt gun (outdoor toy aisle at Walmart) or something similar. After you pull the water out--yes, double-check and clean the hole out one more time. Also, yes, you could throw in some dry concrete and do that as well.

[@BlackHamRadioUniversity]

@@SWiFence I ended up draining the water out of the hole myself simply by putting a thick bed sheet in the hole and pulling the bed sheet back out of the hole. When I put the bed sheet in the hole it completely sucked up all the water out of the hole. The project required 10 bags of concrete as I made the hole way too deep and wide but I would rather be safe than sorry. The 10 bags used was for a 3ft 7 inch deep hole that was 1 foot 2 inches wide. I will be adding additional post within the post that I installed to serve as a 34 foot mast for my HF antenna. He is the video that I did. There are two videos. Video # 1 is the preparation and Video # 2 is the actual start and completion of the installation. Video # 1: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5ndepKFnbehoKs Video # 2: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rnO7ZHd7d7aoeMU Thanks for your help.

[@jenniferm1023]

Which one do you usually use with post master? How long do you wait to set before adding 2x4s to Post Master?

[@SWiFence]

We almost always use regular (and it usually comes off a truck). kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3PKiKtorp6joJo You want it to be set up pretty firm. That's going to depend on your ambient temperature. In general you want to be fairly gentle with it until the next day.

[@thomasblack6653]

Could you use a little fast setting first to get the post to be sturdy and workable and then add the high strength after 30 min or so in order to work while the majority of the the high strength dries?

[@SWiFence]

I wouldn't recommend. Concrete should pour once and cure once.

[@michaelwalker2091]

@@SWiFenceFacts!

[@JeremyB8419]

tried mixing quick-set in a bucket. hardened before i could even get it properly mixed lol.

[@corybigelow5944]

Do you use additives with regular concrete?

[@SWiFence]

We usually order off a truck, so get a mix to certain specs. When we're using bag mix, no--we don't add anything special to it.

[@earlyriser8998]

nice

[@user-zq6pj5jo8j]

Do you every pour the concrete in dry set your post then add water? I hear fence guys doing this all the time.

[@SWiFence]

We don't. kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3PKiKtorp6joJo

[@finallyfriday.]

We do. Dry pour can be compacted- most important factor. Wet cement cannot be compacted. More work for less hold.

[@DerekF242]

Can you throw a bag of red Quick set in with a couple of the regular yellow bags?

[@SWiFence]

You can! Then your result will be somewhere in the middle.

[@DerekF242]

@@SWiFenceAwesome! Thanks for your reply!

[@wigggles420]

U should have water in ur wheel barrel b4 ur concert a lil easier to mix

[@stevencaldwell838]

Is it worth it? Well, Quikcrete is more expensive. That said, time is money so if it takes more time to mix your concrete the traditional way then it seems as though you’d be breaking even by using Quikcrete! Personally, after setting a few metal post brackets last week without mixing, I’ll most definitely not be pre mixing in the future.

[@jdee2095]

Did it stress anyone else out when they were exposing himself to silicosis and scarification of the lungs do to cement particulate. Sometimes I wish I was never trained in HAZMAT

[@bial12345]

Even if it is faster, at more than double the cost of regular concrete mix it's definitely not worth it. Not to mention how much the price has gone up in the last 2 years. I paid ~$4.50 a bag for the quick setting 2 years ago and it's $7 a bag now.

[@SWiFence]

I hear that!

[@jacknife10000]

I used quicrete and 4 hours later is still not set. hope i dont have to dig it back up

[@SWiFence]

That's... odd.

[@jacknife10000]

@@SWiFence it is set now

[@y2kleader1]

It wasn't clear which hole was which cement. I was confused about the conclusion to your experiment.

[@SWiFence]

Regular on the left. Fast-setting on the right.

[@rv10flyer84]

They used to manufacture bags with a plastic liner. Now without the plastic, the bags just blow apart if you drip sweat on them while working. Higher profits, bigger bonuses for the suits. Called corporate and complained. It’s been crickets.

[@stijndeconinck6417]

Good. The less plastic the better. Just don't be clumsy.

[@taramiller3236]

Please protect your lungs, toxic fumes!

[@yourebusted5786]

There are no 'fumes' from concrete. There IS however hazardous dust from dry concrete mix.

[@aetnaone]

So what's the benefit of buying the original version?

[@SWiFence]

1. It's cheaper. 2. It doesn't set as fast. If you're laying a long line of fence or working on a sidewalk that you need time to smooth and trowel you absolutely don't want the fast-setting. It'll set up before you have a chance to finish your job correctly.

[@franciscovaldovinos3491]

Try hot water... makes a huge difference

[@carysherman7956]

There's no need to mix the kwikset just add kwikset to the whole then add water

[@ausfan100]

I think you mean "HOLE".

[@biggiedickson]

@@ausfan100 The whole hole yo

[@jamskof]

Never wobble a post while it's setting!

[@MD-uu5nt]

This is a test, they are obviously going to wobble it!

[@NSDaishi]

@@MD-uu5nt but don't do it WHILE it is setting. would have been better if they waited like their other videos.

[@jboon4175]

Homeboy is a bit tipsy lol

[@SWiFence]

Homeboy is not tipsy. 😂

[@woodman1701]

Yeah fast set is weak. It’s like crumbly powder if you hit it with a 6’ crow bar. Somebody I know tried making a sidewalk from it. The edges broke right off. Zip for strength. If I want to work on a post quick I tamp it with a fairly dry mix. It’s super wet where I live so the moisture will continuously go into the concrete over the winter. Mix the top well. I used to use quick set. I don’t use it anymore. Cheaper. And stronger to use reg set. Once it cures that fence ain’t ever going anywhere (unless a tree root starts moving it over time).

[@djratino]

Thanks for the tip. I was wondering if you could repair sidewalks with it.

[@finallyfriday.]

Not everything is a good app for everything. Works more poorly on slabs but good on posts. Just like an 18 wheeler isn't good for orv trail riding. Losing a customer another day of production to wait for set up isn't usually the best choice, either.

[@woodman1701]

@@finallyfriday. We set it sort of more on the dry side and tamp it. No bracing needed. It’s plenty strong and will only get get stronger with time as it sucks more moisture into it. The tamping can be labor intensive and a bit slow, but we build immediately.

[@finallyfriday.]

@@woodman1701 it's the tamping, the compaction that's the real factor. Soil well compacted is better than cement in loose ground. Hard as granite cement is actually irrelevant since the post would break long before. In fact cementless posts rot slower and flex in high winds better (think oak tree vs willow tree). Overkill has its disadvantages. Cost being another disadvantage. No one best answer, though.

[@sicilianr1]

Setting time has zero to do with strength of the concrete. Rapid set concrete sets up and you can drive a car on it in under an hour and it’s stronger then anything else out there in a bag.

[@chemokineimmu7068]

Don't you need to wear mask when mixing the concrete?

[@sicilianr1]

A lot of you have no clue what you’re talking about. Setup time has zero to do with the strength of the concrete mix. Rapid set is stronger then anything else in a bag and sets up faster then anything else in a bag… drive on it in under an hour and they use it on airport runways it’s that good. 🤦🏻‍♂️.

[@biggiedickson]

Airport runways use tarmac you dork.

[@fernandocovarrubiascomander]

You are not 160 lbs fuck outa here. Thanks for the Great video tho.

[@SWiFence]

I hired a short camera guy to make me look bigger... 🤣

[@fernandocovarrubiascomander]

@@SWiFence lol, you’re like 5’-9” I guess. I was thinking 165 +