Putting slick-prime to the test:

Experimenting with gel type primers for pumping concrete through rubber delivery line. The results may shock you.
***Full disclaimer: individual results may vary greatly depending on concrete mix design and specifics of raw materials used in the mix.

[@shawnmister141]

Slick Willie 2 and Slick Willie 3 are only meant for boom pumps. If you are looking for a great alternative when it comes to line pumping you will need to use Prime-A-Pac. The ingredients consist of bentonite.

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

This is great information Shawn. I’ve used the Prime-A-Pac several times and can attest to the fact that it works great for priming through rubber line. Perhaps we’ll have to put it to the test in a future video 😁😁😁

[@benjamin-qn7nf]

Love your videos man. Im currently learning my Dads business, and Im tryna become a great pumper like him and yourself. Sending love from San Diego, CA. 💪🏽🙏🏽

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

Appreciate that my man. Never stop learning 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@agonz11]

Bro what same, my dad is a pumper in the sd area and I’m trying to become a pumper eventually too.

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

@@agonz11that’s awesome man! It’s been a great career for me. Nothing else (within reason) that I’d rather be doing.

[@fronabargerconveyingpumping]

You'll learn something new every day, just be safe and think smart. I started when I was 22, and I just turned 43 this year. You'll remember the bad days and forget the good ones!

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

@@fronabargerconveyingpumping this is the best advice indeed 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@youtubeconnollyfamily]

I always like it when you upload a new video. Hope everything is going well.💪 good to see your channel growing. I think KZbin is finally putting it in a lot of other peoples feeds.

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

Thank you brother. I think you’re right, the channel seems be to growing at a decent pace and attracting a broader audience for sure.

[@youtubeconnollyfamily]

@@canadianconcretepumper1979 yes, absolutely. It’s going to keep growing for sure

[@pumpingconcretefamilywithe2631]

Yo como KZbinr también te digo que me encanta tu canal tienes muchos equipos los cuales muestras y montón de aplicaciones y maniobras con la seguridad a bordo me encantaría de verdad tener la camisa de AJS 🇨🇦 para salir en un video mi hermano excelente canal de KZbin de bombeo de concreto yo hago esta clase de contenido para américa del sur es una belleza explicar con conocimiento y experiencia bendiciones a todos desde Bogotá Colombia, pumping concrete family 🇨🇴

[@jamessomero3617]

Portland less headaches most of the time 😂

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

Agreed

[@dannpriebe]

Totally

[@superiorsteeljack]

In my last job the contractor had the ready mix bring a meter of mortor for priming. It was awesome 250ft of 3-inch line, smooth like butter.

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

That’s the best when they do that, especially on a big pour. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@dannyrees3324]

try sticking a sponge ball in front of ur primer to stop it running away when u get to the drop and u shouldnt plug works for me :)

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

We’ve tried that one at it typically causes a dry-pack with our materials. I’ve spoken with lots of guys who swear by it however. One again, perhaps something specific to our materials which doesn’t jive well with bit of added line-pressure as result of putting the sponge-ball ahead in the hose.

[@catolicaa]

Bonjour de Belgique 😊 Moi pour une grande longueur de flexibles, je prépare un coulis de ciment , la plupart du temps sa passe 👍 Merci pour votre partage 😊

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

Cement/grout or bentonite are my two favourites 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@newrealm9187]

Yay! More Scott!!

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

Scott here with your weekly, Wednesday morning fix of concrete pumping content 😁

[@DangleMan27]

I think you might be onto something with its reaction to the course sand. We use a lot of course sand in our mix also. I’ve played around with it by just mixing it up in my hopper. Turned a 7” into a 2” slump. I’ve mentioned squirting a dab of dawn dish soap in the slick pak before. I find it to not dry out as easy. On another note: if you keep having Dan in the videos, you’ll have to purchase another go pro and change the name of the channel. LOL, I’m completely joking. I love Dan in the videos, tons of knowledge between the two of you.

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

Dan currently has one of my GoPro cameras (he was doing some “homework”). I’ve been not so subtly hinting to him that he just keep it 😁😁😁

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

I may give that dish soap trick a try in an upcoming video 👌👌👌

[@DangleMan27]

@@canadianconcretepumper1979 you don’t need a lot a 1/2 table spoon is roughly what I supplement with the slick.

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

@@DangleMan27 solid advice brother, I much appreciate it. That’s what the channel’s all about! 😁

[@ConcretePumpingService]

When it’s 100’ or less of hose on shot crete, I whip out the slick pak 2. I use to mix it in the hopper with mixed success so I’ve been sprinkling a little in the elbow, squirt some water, sprinkle some more, add some water, until I can see it in the elbow. I’ve had great results doing it this way. I’ve also had great success mixing it in the hopper (as you’ve seen in a couple of my previous videos) but also putting bags on almost every clamp. You don’t want it to run ahead of the concrete at all. Any bit of the hose not coated in prime is going to suck all of the moister out. I think if you would of put a bag on the front of the 3” to 2 1/2” reducer at the top and one right at the bottom to catch it again, she would of made it. The guy who mentors me and who I bought the pump from, runs 6 pumps doing 12-15 pumps a day and all he uses is slick pak 2. He’ll use 3/4 of a bag on a 250’ prime and dump the other 1/4 in his hook to prime it out to dump it back into the truck. He’ll mix it in the hopper and send it at a pretty decent speed.

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

It just seems like so much extra effort getting this stuff to work when we could just toss in a bucket of bentonite (even a half a bucket for this short run) and make it through first try ninety nine times out of a hundred without having to do any of fancy stuff. Especially considering how much cheaper the bentonite is (I think we’re paying close to $7 Canadian for one packet of slick these days).

[@ConcretePumpingService]

The slick pak 2 comes with 2 bags in one. So you actually get 120 bags per box which brings it down to around 3.50 per prime. But yes, bentonite is definitely the most successful and cost effective way. If they make a type of bentonite that doesn’t ruin the concrete, they will definitely get all my money.

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

@@ConcretePumpingService What are your thoughts/experience with regards to pumping slick-pack into the pour? I’ve never really gotten a firm answer as to if it compromises the concrete or not..

[@ConcretePumpingService]

⁠@@canadianconcretepumper1979 I’ve never had an issue with it. Nobody has ever complained about how the finish product was and I have (multiple times) used slick pak 2 as a pumping aid. One slick pak 2 is good to lubricate 4-6 cubic yards of concrete to improve pumpability.

[@jamessomero3617]

It depends on sand the Redimix company’s use if it not wash sand the course sand it dry the concrete out I dump that in the hopper put a newspaper ball duct tape put it at the reducer I’ve gone 200ft with 4 inch off the back end

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

We’ve got great line mixes around here (pump through 250’ of 2” hose all day long), but I’m really thinking that it could be something to do with our sand. I’d love to someday chat/nerd-out with a quality control to dig deeper into this.

[@Vatnemo]

We used to use slick willie and another brand years ago at work. We had the same result as you, also if you do floors that they are going to use helicopter on the first kubikk meter of floor don´t dry as the rest after you put slick willie in the hose. Better to use only water and empty or put thick sement mix first.

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

We normally use bentonite, and it’s the same thing with regards to keeping away from finished areas. Agree with you in that Portland and/or mortar mix is the best/safest prime for sure.

[@zachcastaneda9781]

For slickline i just use a 20lbs bag of cement powder and 2 5 gallon buckets mix well and have pushed 100' of lime no problem

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

Cement works great, and can be pumped directly into the pour, which has its benefits. My only dislike with it is having to pack bags of cement around on the rigs, as well as storing pallets of it back at the yard. All that being said, it’s my vote for best primer, but most effective, but the best.

[@fronabargerconveyingpumping]

Primetech Primer won't let you down! My next choice is good Ole Fritz Pak. I'm going to try bentonite one of these days.

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

I’m going to look into that one. I’ve played around with a few of the different gel primers and had pretty much the same results. They work great for us with priming booms/steel pipe, but seemingly any amount of rubber line and they fail quickly.

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

You will LOVE bentonite. Can’t beat the price (pennies per prime) and it is in my opinion, the most effective primer aside from having the ready mix company supply a yard of grout.

[@fronabargerconveyingpumping]

@canadianconcretepumper1979 we used the fritz pak to prime the TK-50, we made it through 150' so far with no problems. Not sure what the Primetech would do, I use it on the 38 most of the time. It could be a busy day tomorrow, I may bust out the camera and hit record.

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

@@fronabargerconveyingpumping yes!!!!!! If you get a chance, I’d love to see your technique for priming out with the gel type stuff. If you could, I’d also like to see a close up of your line mixes. As I mentioned with ours, I really do think it’s the sand that isn’t jiving so well with slick-prime.

[@StephaneMartel404]

I water up my hose before bring in to job just creating some moisture in before prime but I use 10 feet 3inch hose ty like you video and like to learn you way gars cool ! Have a nice day all

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

I’m thinking that putting a bit of water in the lines ahead of the primer (as you had mentioned) could have helped us here.

[@joecapo8292]

Not that I am an expert, but the boom sections on the pump are Smooth. The rubber hose is not as smooth as the boom sections, of the pump itself. It would be interesting if the rubber hose manufacturer added a lining that does not require priming at all. Granted that type of rubber hose would be more expensive. As a business perspective, less down time, creates more profit. Especially on a large job, just a thought, Joe Capo.

[@lucashollingshead1957]

A bag in the hopper with 5 gallons with your cylinder ready to do a full pull…dump the concrete on top of your swing tube allowing the primer lever to rise on the readied cylinder sucking side..as soon as the primer level is above your exposed cylinder pump forward a stroke then stop and wait until the hopper fills the rest of the way the rest of the primer mixes in jelling that first hopper

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

Same way I do it when not using the prime-port. I’ve spoken with a few guys whom just fill the hopper a 1/2 up the barrels and throw her into forward pump just as the mud starts falling into the hopper. Seems less than ideal to me, but seems to work for them.

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

I believe this is the method which you’re referring to? kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z4ipcoaDnbqLm9Usi=dI2nrG8EDwdxVBJR

[@lucashollingshead1957]

@@canadianconcretepumper1979 similar…I’ll try and take a short video next time I have to prime out that way

[@pumpingconcretefamilywithe2631]

Scott quiero hacerte una pregunta .tu as tenido problemas en obra por causas de diseño de concretos que no son los adecuados todo no sale perfecto es mi pregunta ❓

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

The mixes from this particular supplier are most always spot on. We’ve had our challenges line-pumping mixes from other suppliers from time to time. It most often comes down to the contractor knowing the right mix to order.

[@joshuac5932]

I used to clog up a lot , till the company decided to buy me a 90 degree elbow for the trailer pump . Comes in handy when going up vertical with hoses

[@huntergibson1282]

Our concrete pumpers use those all the time. They just stick in in the pipe and throw a bunch of water in and start pumping. Works fine it seems like

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

I’ve heard many say the same. I’m convinced it’s something specific to the materials in our area here.

[@colemenjacquemart8897]

@canadianconcretepumper you don’t adjust water pressure with those hydraulic valves back by your accumulator bottle? Putz sends them out with way to much water pressure.

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

I’m trying to recall what the issue with adjusting them is/was, or if we have actually tuned it down on our same 39Z. My experience with the new/Ergo 2 stuff is admittedly limited. We have just the one newer machine, which lives exclusively at our main yard. My knowledge in this department begins and ends with adjusting the regulator mounted on top of the water tank (old school) 😁😁😁

[@garrettd6505]

Never used slickpac for anything but a boom plus sometimes a few hard lines and only 1 rubber hose. I dont think its meant for the rubber at all. We typically request grout for longer line pours but using more than 30 or 40 ft of hose is rare. Our aggregate being what it is, with recycled sand and about 1 inch stone we use 4 inch pipe for as much as we can and as few rubber hose as possible.

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

Speaking with the guys whom make the product, they said pretty much the same as yourself (see pinned comment). We have pretty good success with using bentonite on long-line primes, but we’re using typically 1/2” stone mixes with natural sand. Completely agree that grout is 100% the best plan of action, especially on big pours.

[@MuddyfeetConcretePumping]

I wonder if you mixed a half bag or less to 5 gallons. Like you said at the first of the video. If it was thinner if it would work better. I think it would if it wasn’t so sticky.

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

This Slick-Willy 3 was actually much less sticky than the Slick-Willy 2 which I’ve used before. I feel like the 3 is already so watery that diluting it any further, I almost may as well just use water 😂

[@fronabargerconveyingpumping]

It is definitely crazy how that packs tight from primer. There could be some reaction with the rubber line versus steel. Fritz is pretty expensive for a prime, however, Frank told us that's what he has used for 22 years on the trailers and has always had good luck. I'd be curious how your luck would be with Fritz instead of the slick Wille.

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

@@fronabargerconveyingpumping I may have to give it a shot here. Your one video in which you line-pumped the pan-stairs: the mix looked extremely creamy, much more so than most of our mixes here. I’m betting the gel primer would work much better with a nice “fatty” mix like that.

[@fronabargerconveyingpumping]

@canadianconcretepumper1979 Yes, I talked to one of the owners of the ready mix plant after that particular pour, and he said it was more of an 8 bag Grout since it did not need to be structural. The other mixes have had the 3/8 chip rock in them. They have been pumping very well, and we're still waiting on a few cylinder breaks from a couple of different pours. The water/cement ratio was borderline on our first test, I believe if they bump the water reducer up a fuzz more, it will be good, though.

[@tat1ukpable]

Just get some wall paper paste mix it really thick works pretty well if your stuck

[@Dex01-Z_WingZero]

Make old pumps great again!

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

I support this statement! (can we make old pumpers great gain too?) 😂

[@5x9withQSB]

Have not had success with this product in Australia either can only get it 6 meters from the hopper and it plugs. Sand and soap , and if I'm worried I'll use a MacDonald's paper bag as a wad between the sand and concrete.

[@ThePorkchop81]

That's a sweet hard hat sticker on Dan's hat

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

He has very discerning tastes 😁😁😁

[@ThePorkchop81]

@@canadianconcretepumper1979 he sure does

[@trentayye]

Hey mate, I’m from NZ and carry a few bags of slick Willy 2 for emergency purposes if I’ve ran out of my usual mortar and cement. It seems to be hit or miss. I tell ya what though, I’ve had a few loads of rubbish concrete and slap half a bag for a 5m3 load. Gives it a whole new lease on life

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

I’ve heard of guys doing that. Any issues with the Slick-Willy affecting the integrity of the concrete? Up here the quality control guys use a product by the name of V-Mar. it’s thick like honey. When added to the mix it helps keep everything in suspension. Amazing stuff. Really helps out when trying to push a boney mix.

[@troybartholomew1065]

I’ve tried a few different ones but bentonite is still my go to. Also with a harsh mix I use pump aid from Sika 👌🏻, drops pressures dramatically and is really creamy to work with

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

@@troybartholomew1065 we use mostly bentonite as well. Amazing stuff, especially considering how inexpensive it is.

[@jamessomero3617]

Grout one shot every time

[@mikeeemike988]

I only use 1/2 bag of slick 2 and you need extra 5 gallon of water to chase. Still not my favorite choice. Have not tried slick 3 yet.

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

I’ve heard guys say the same, just use a 1/2 a bag to 5 gallons water. I’m strongly convinced it just doesn’t jive with the type/proportions of sand used in our mixes here.

[@greghughey9738]

5 mins in, just put down the food..... 2 slick pak in the hopper of a 47ish machine, water up to the bottom of the shaft/middle of the paddles. Timing is important. Take first stroke of "water", second stroke should be mostly water, 3-4 seconds for 4" gear. As the concrete is stacking on the swing tube, it is pump on/off, as to get as much of the "water" in front of the concrete as possible. As soon as the second stroke is complete, pump on. I regularly "water" prime 150'x4", no plugs. 63z size machine I use 4 slick packs, and a full hopper of water. 65m Schwing I use 4/full hopper+ 1 extra stroke....

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

Is that with rubber line Greg, or steel pipe?

[@greghughey9738]

@@canadianconcretepumper1979 rubber most times

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

@@greghughey9738 no kidding? Perhaps our error is not using enough of the slick-prime. I’ve found using one pack mixed into the hopper works great for priming our big-booms, but just haven’t for the life of me been able to find success using it to prime through rubber line. If one of these days you ever have a chance to record your exact step by step procedure, I would be forever grateful.

[@tervic44]

only good for steel pipes as it just slides on the metal rubber pipe it dose the opposite it just digs in to the rubber blocks every time

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

Completely agree. Never had much success using gel-type primers through rubber line. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@MuddyfeetConcretePumping]

I’m surprised that ol’boy hadn’t run you off yet. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

Me and my bucket ‘O Slick-Willy gonna get a one-way ticket!!!

[@bowenike]

My theory is that there is something about the chemical make up of this stuff that just doesn’t work good with rubber. Maybe instead of coating the the rubber hose, the dry rubber hose becomes saturated with this stuff. Then under pressure and vacuum when you start to pump the liquid is pulled back out of the rubber and causes the segregation that you end up seeing. But i think you said you have the same issue with boom pipes as well? So maybe my theory doesnt hold. Also I’m no chemist so take everything with a grain if cement. We use slik pak for our booms, and never have any issues with the metal pipes. But we dont use it for the hoses.

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

I actually use it regularly with our booms and it works great. I think you’re onto something with regards to the rubber line having a funky reaction with it. I’m also wondering if our sand/materials as well as any added plasticizers/water reducers in the mix could affect its performance.,🤔🤔🤔

[@pato54321]

I think you maybe right about the plasticiser, we use plasticisers in our pump mixes and I’ve noticed we get a similar result with the pump primer as you got with yours. I’m beginning to think it is a plasticiser issue.

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

@@pato54321 I’ve send footage off to a few of my ready-mix friends to try and get some more technical insight as to what they see happening with the first bit of mud in the hose.

[@ThePorkchop81]

We use fritzpak slick pack. It's just like slick willy 2. We have to roll it through our hoses and even then it rarely works. I am interested in throwing a bag or 2 into the mixer as it says on the bag that it can be used in hard to pump mixes by adding to the concrete

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

@@ThePorkchop81 I’m wondering if doing so compromises the concrete at all?

[@Accurate.Concrete.Pumping]

Half bag of Mortar for the win

[@Bsfkoff]

Mortar sucks. That stuff doesn't turn too slurry, all the fines sink to the bottom if you put too much water in it. It's designed to make a paste. Cement slurry with a couple scoops of sand is 100% the best way.

[@Accurate.Concrete.Pumping]

@pumps4l operator error. I've never had a problem with mortar. I've got 2 pallets sitting in my shop that I use daily. Don't use so much water then! ha

[@newrealm9187]

Try the schwing stuff next

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

Is that gel type stuff?

[@newrealm9187]

@@canadianconcretepumper1979 yes but it’s thinner than slick Willy 2

[@newrealm9187]

@@canadianconcretepumper1979 just try mixing it in a bucket and tell me what you think

[@MatthewSarduy33177]

hey noticed you using both hands do you have a go pro on the hard hat?

[@dannpriebe]

Lol. You ever notice that he can't talk when using both hands? 😂

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

You’ll occasionally here me utter the phrase “camera in teeth time” 😁😁😁. I use a magnetic clip mount for most of my stuff. I’ll occasionally chomp down on it when both hands are required for a task. I’ve found with the hard had mount that footage ends sort of all over the place, especially when I’m running the boom pump. I’ve found a great way of clipping the mount onto the top bar of an HBC style remotes works really well. I also just picked up a GoPro 360, which I’m hoping to play around with pretty soon here.

[@jamessomero3617]

Looks like my old gate valve dump the oil end of the day

[@rockapeconcretepumping2729]

For the birds

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

You’ve already used that line. Do better.

[@jamessomero3617]

It will dry it out the concrete

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

That’s what I’ve noticed, which seems counterintuitive to how a priming agent should react with the concrete..

[@randallbernard2074]

Looks like the rubber hose sucked the water out of the mix

[@dannpriebe]

I ran water through the hoses and rolled them so the inside was totally wet before scott came.

[@randallbernard2074]

@@dannpriebe I've never had any luck with any of the prime aids !!! I'll stay with good old cement !!! Lol

[@dannpriebe]

@@randallbernard2074 that's my normal method

[@fronabargerconveyingpumping]

Looks like " Slick Willie" just lost alot of sales!

[@randyanderson1983]

Muahhahaha I got the 1st like and commment

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

Keeping sharp for the next giveaway I see 😁😁😁