I Finally Figured It Out - Learning Masonry: Shop Build #8
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- Опубліковано 21 вер 2022
- Want to lay up some block? Watch these Masters of Mud: • Masters of Masonry
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My tips as a 23 yr mason.
Layout your bond before hand and then lay up your corners first....then check bond again! Range your first course with a string line and then keep everything plumb from there. When cutting your excess mortar off turn your trowel on more of an angle to "cut" the mud to reduce smearing. Butter block ends as they are laid not standing block up. When mixing mortar....get it to where it should be then let it set for about 5 minutes then break the set...equals more working time. If you want more cream in the mud just buy a big bag of Portland cement and add a shovel per 80lb bag of spec mix. When laying your corner block don't waste time on cross leveling. Just plumb the ends since the block are not perfectly square. Much more but just the few I thought of
Hey, can you explain why block walls and not core filled with mud? Ive only done block a few times, knee wall for a garage type stuff, and as a group of carpenters we wondered why the cores do not get filled?
Fellow mason of 23 years myself. And in that time, you're the only other guy I've heard mention the second mix. I always make my helpers give it a second spin. No one taught it to me. I just figured it out after spending some time doing epoxy floors and that was specifically in the instructions for mixing.
Back off
You give the impression that humility is a mark of maturity.
In the early 80s when I was 20, I worked a multitude of jobs on a large commercial interior build out. Laboring for a group of brickies was a memorable part of it. Laying out walls and beam pockets, setting metal door frames, mixing mud, building scaffold, and learning block laying basics. After watching these pros for a while they invited me to lay some block. They all chuckled when the mud kept falling off my trowel. They punked me by not telling me about tapping or shaking the trowel before trying to lay down the mud. A lesson learned years ago that I'll never forget. Also learned just how wet the mortar needs to be as it stiffens really fast when it hits that raw, dry block. Always wet the mortar board before shoveling on a new batch to give you more working time. And whatever you do, never let a brickie run out of mud while he's building. Those guys love to give laborers grief!! More mud, more mud, is the familiar cry from up on the wall. You gotta have thick skin, and if you do, you'll learn skills for life!
Sounds exactly like my experiences here in Australia.... MORE MUD!!!!
At 62 I'm learning masonry/plumbing as I have left the medical field and now help my husband build and maintain large commercial fountains. I grew up working with my father and grandfather as a carpenter's assistant and I loved it. It was hard to find workers so I now assist my husband. We are currently putting in precast concrete pavers with spillway cut outs to cascade the water across two tiered steps, First Sidercrete waterproofing (which is an art in itself) and now the masonry part. Learning a lot and grateful to learn new skills...at any age.
Thank you for sharing your learning process.
i can tell you that much: as a mason using whatever sources are available near the sites i always try around with different types of sand from different pits and different lime recipies from different sources on how to get my mix right. with the pre fabricated cement stuff you can flatten your mix with the trowel, make a vertical cut through that flattened surface, and if you scoop a trowel out of that region, the mortar should open up like a... canyon maybe. but always have it wet enough that the "cliffs" barely stay stable. and if my bricks are to dry, mostly if i reuse old bricks from a taredown building, i put them into a big bucket (like the one i saw you mixing in, dont know how to call it in english )of water to saturate the pores with water, that way the lime and or cement has enough water to harden properly, otherwise the mortar will just dry out and the wall wont be as sturdy
As for the plasticizers, we used them when making concrete, not so much for laying brick (although some readymixes had them incorporated if you ask me. you could feel that in comparison. the expensive readymixes of course, the ones you dont get that often if your boss knows how to make money). and for the last two years i just worked with lime only, no cement at all, like the old folks did...so no organic compounds in my walls (maybe soot if i need to reuse bricks from a chimney, got to be careful with those to not let the soot stain through to the surface..) in germany it's the same as in britain with the masons and brickies. stone masons always seem to work on the edge between crafts and arts, if you know what i mean...but if you watch how they build their houses in the US, its no wonder they dont know the difference. im not even sure if its possible to survive over there as a bricky without traveling hundreds of kilometers between jobs. and as for the masons... at least the masonry involves some kind of big-ish stone that at least sometimes has one or even two sides made look natural-ish. and they do process them sometimes (with an anglegrinder)...
You dont want saturated block. You want it wet but only enough that it's still "thirsty". The block, when left still "thirsty", will pull the water and cement mixture into its pores and bond better. Look at how stucco guys wet block walls before applying stucco. When I was younger I wet the fxck out of the wall (it was a light retaining wall for a planter ~15'x6'x2') and when I went to apply my stucco it slid off the wall. There were some old guys there laughing at me. I didnt understand cause I didnt speak Spanish at that time. Later on I learned that the wall has to be wet but still thirsty. Then the stucco is a lot more like concrete and you have time to finish it. It sticks better and doesn't crack as often. Maybe it doesn't matter for block, idk. But from my experience and other older guys, that's what I'd recommend
Clay bricks, it is a must to soak them in water before laying them or a very weak bond is formed with the mortar. With CMU's We would hose down the stacks to help the bond. Dry hot work in Aridzona. Your are right on about the mortar mix consistency description!
@John Thomas I live in the United States Rhode Island and I'm a mason as opposed to just a bricklayer out of necessity brick houses are few and far between this year alone I started off doing the front of a house with brick then a few brick steps then a job with 7000 8-in blocks then like three chimneys repaired some stone walls and right now I have a blue stone patio that I have to finish up and I'm in the middle of doing the front of a house with real stone veneer that is becoming more and more popular I did a paver patio a couple months ago so I need to know how to work with all these materials but I would have no problem if I could just lay brick or block everyday
I do tile, stone work, marble etc. In Illinois people lump us in with the “BAAC” which is brick layers and allied craftworkers. Idk how it works elsewhere. But I know when brickys are on a site they are more than just “brick layers” working together.
There are many things that I love about Essential Craftsman series. I like the simple demonstrations of skills and the explanations. Perhaps even better - I love the very wise nuggets of work and life wisdom delivered with such a calm voice of experience.
Agreed
This man is the GOAT. The mental horsepower to do anything he wanted and he chose to work with his hands AND mind, a doctor of the tangible if you will. Laying block in your 60’s - you set a high bar Scott.
I’m a 69 year old retired carpenter superintendent I just built a sunroom on my house this summer I laid every block on it dug the footing by had. Hard corps Marine
@@allenbuck5589 Oorah! Good on you!
Really like your phrase, "a doctor of the tangible".
Excellent.
Your grandchildren are going to have great memories about their grandfather, love your work and attitude. Keep up the good work!
Some hints I learned after tuckpointing a huge chimney:
Hose down the concrete slab (and your plywood mortarboard) before you start, so it doesn't suck the mortar dry.
Mix the mortar in small batches to match your work speed.
Mix the mortar to the right consistency: scoop some up on your trowel, tap it, then hold the edge vertical. The mud should stick to the trowel. About ½ thick is good.
If your mud starts to get a little thick, hit it again with the mixer. Adding water to thin down mixed mortar is like adding more water to concrete: Too much is bad. And for the same reasons.
But good for you for jumping into unknown territory.
And you are absolutely right about eating the crow while it is still warm!
I love that Kenny was just chillin in your shop watching you practice laying some block down.
Those grandkids are sure handy. And they will always remember when they learned something from grandpa
I'm an actual Mason and I'm now a Structural DSA Masonry Inspector and I will say that what you did is not bad at all considering you're a carpenter. I've seen a lot of good work and a lot of bad work before and the worse possible thing a bad mason can do is give advice to someone else. That being said if I was the one inspecting your work I would suggest a few things before passing it but all in all it's not bad. I really appreciate your cannel and I'm grateful that someone like you is giving props to Masonry. Many people and trades don't acknowledge how hard Masonry is and how skilled someone has to be to be called a Bricklayer/Mason.
A lot of us watch these videos to learn so please list any tips/ critiques.
"The worst possible thing a bad mason can do is give advice..." That is a succinct and profound statement. I think it probably applies to damn near every subject too, not just masonry. It's certainly true that when someone is doing/making something incorrectly at least they can only churn out bad product as fast as 1 person can work, but if they pass their errors on to even 1 person then they have effectively doubled their productivity at creating useless/dangerous wastes of material.
This is a perfect example of why I like to listen to experts talk about their expertise. Even if it's not a subject that interests me much, I'll often hear some insight that is valuable knowledge, or sometimes even directly useful in my day to day life. Thanks to this quote, I have a laconic way to remind myself and others to trust but verify things learned from experts.
Well said brother. Im a life member local 21 Chicago. I started in 1976 in Seattle. Ive traveled the world studied under masters in brick, block stone, PCC, Traditional and historic. Ive consulted nationally and still do teaching the craft and science of Masonry.
@@radiotests -masonry is NOT a science……it is WITCHCRAFT ‼️‼️ Happy Halloween 🎃
In addition to learning a few things and getting in some hard work those grand kids are building some really really awesome memories.
Outstanding! I am impressed with your honesty, humility, and your ability to admit to and learn from your mistakes. You cover a lot of little things that are critically important to a beginner. For example, your comment about the texture of your mortar is spot on. Getting the consistency right is key. You might want to try adding a plasticizer to your mortar mix. This will help with the texture and pliability. And, always mix all of the ingredients together DRY before you ever add water. One thing that will help maintain your mortar for longer is to use a "Gatorback," or other plastic mortar board. Using a wooden board will suck the water and moisture right out of it. Again, Great Job!
Around the 3:00 mark he mentions knowns and unknowns. It reminded me of a Mark Twain quote that I try to remember at all times. "It ain't what a man doesn't know that hurts him, it's what a man knows for sure that just ain't so."
I am a carpenter too, and I too mess around in other trades. I like to try new things and learn new skills. However, I figured out a long time ago that masonry is something I know I am not good at. Good on you for trying it and getting it done. You’ve now learned something that I’ve never been able to do well. Maybe I’ll figure it out too when I reach your age.
That's some serious work, Right there young man! As someone just a few years behind you, I'm about to under take my first masonry job. You give me hope.
The consistency of the mortar is key, in the uk we use a 4:1 ratio mix of sand and cement rather than pre mixed bags, we use a plasticizer additive which makes the mortar more elastic and pliable. It’s all mixed using a small rotating cement mixer rather than a paddle mixer. There’s a few decent UA-cam channels out there showing our bricklayers, top quality craftsmen such as “the traditional bricklayer” and “Charlie Collison” well worth checking out, I’ve learned a lot as a carpenter watching these guys and understanding their trade.
I worked for a mason friend of my Dad's and he always made me put dish soap in the mix. It made it stick and clean up better. Ya I know but I was 15 at the time and didn't know anything. Still don't. Learn something new everyday. Yes yes yes let those grand kids fill the block. Its TIME with grandpa and believe it or not they WILL have FUN!
To me you are in a tier of content creators on UA-cam to be revered. Years of knowledge just gladly being given away, with insight that can only come from doing it. and my god the commentary at @5:20 rings so true....
As a 40yr mason bricklayer I can say you did pretty well and - as with any skill set - it all basically boils down to practise and how often you get the chance to practise with the many variables within the masonry trade/craft. After just over 40years as a craftsman, I can confirm there's still something new to learn.
Perhaps the best way for anyone fresh to the trade - to learn and hone skills - is by working alongside masons while watching and listening to what they do and have to say about each task. Never be afraid to ask questions (There's no such thing as a stupid question), but always work to line and level and practise your trowel technique at the spot/mortar board as much as practicably possible before starting a project.
A true craftsman, in every sense of the word! #SALUTE
I saw the half block mistake as soon as you laid it and I haven't laid block since I was in high school @ 17 years old back in 1977 but we had a great Shop teacher.
Same...
I dont understand the half block mistake. Where was this mistake made?
@@mkmac9539 should have have gone around the corner with 2 full blocks one down and one over lapping
Don’t know if it’s just the camera resolution, or UA-cam’s compression, but that slab looks absolutely beautiful in the video. Wish we could have slabs like that poured for us; would save a hell of a lot of packing!
Looks to me, being ambidextrous, would be a good a good quality in a mason. “Keep up the good work”.
it is
You did a great job! I've been laying bricks and blocks , etc for 50 years .. you're right , the mud is always important.. a lot depends on temperatures, direct sun , etc
Looks like you got it down pretty good 👍
Ahh, the memories! Not knowing my rear end from a gopher hole, I built a 100 foot long wall from 6x6x18 slump stone.That included coloring the mortar. Built it 10 blocks every day after work, and 40 blocks on the weekend. Talk about a learning experience! Boy how I feel for you! Thanks for the video. Jon
I always appreciate these videos. It's so incredibly motivating for someone relatively inexperienced as myself to be reminded that on certain projects that the best of your ability is good enough. Its impossible for someone to know everything and be perfect, but learning, and having even a small bit of experience, is better than never trying.
It's always amazing to watch an expert ply their trade in a way that seems almost effortless, but it can be discouraging too if you're struggling to learn that particular trade. That's why I love this channel, because Scott passes on so much knowledge from his areas of expertise, but he also humbly shows himself learning, trying new things, and fixing mistakes. One major life lesson I've learned from watching essential craftsman is that nobody is an expert at more than a couple things at most. That lesson has made the prospect of learning from an expert in person less daunting to me. It is encouraging to know that on a different subject there are things I can teach most experts.
You will always have a good finished product no matter what it is ,mostly due to your overall accuracy in general ,and effort.
Scott you should be a mentor cause you are simply the best tradesman a evere saw nothing stops you I have learnt so much eith your videos
I appreciate that you as a carpenter is doing masonry and that you are willing to show your mistakes. As a mason I will say that the consistency of your mud depends on the conditions. Dry block in hot weather with low humidity requires a lot more water than wet block in cool weather with high humidity. If your unsure lay a few block and add water or dry ingredients if needed.
7:30ish, adding lime to premixed mortar cement or mortar mix, yes, Lime adds body. I have worked with cement/lime mixing as a hoddie in the 70's to small batch mixes for repairs in the present. The premix mortar cement (cement and lime) or the pre mix mortar (sand, cement, and lime) never have the body necessary to lay brick of block properly. The mix needs to have body. This is a function of having the ability to hold itself up and resist weight but also remain able to be compressed. As you set a block into the mud it needs to stay in place and allow the mason to then adjust it's position. This is body. Most current premix blends lack this. Add some lime and you will have it. Remember to always allow time for hydration of the mortar mix. Mix it, let it sit for 10+ minutes, agitate, then use. Mortar for mason work, Stucco, Mortar for tile, IT'S ALL THE SAME. Mixing 100# sacks of cement with a half of a 50# sack of lime made such a nice mortar. I have never been satisfied with the current premix mortar cement (no sand) blends. Even more disappointed with the premix mortar (with sand) blends. Adding lime is always the cure to then have the body to lay block or brick properly. What I was taught by pros in the 70's has me spoiled for life.
Great to see Kenny.
When you watch a talentaded mason lay block they make it look sooo easy! Which it absolutely is not!
The only tip i would suggest is that you get the air out of the mud while its on the trowel. I use a Philadelphia trowel on block work, much larger base and with that trowel and one trowel full of mud, i can evenly spread mud on both sides of the bed joint. Two rows of mud with one trowel. This is a skill that took many hours developing to the point that i can now do it without even looking at the block. Its all about knowing the mud, you were very correct about the consistency but there is more to learn. Always learn. Amd for your first block structure, i give you a 10/10 in preparedness and a 10/10 for effort. Great job, truly.
Out of all the work I do...and I am no professional at none... block work for me is the work I enjoy the most.. great day there partner ✌🏼🤠
I’ve been in masonry 50 years, it is hard but satisfying work. I have now started my retirement apprenticeship, to early to tell. I have always considered myself to be the worlds worst carpenter, but I keep trying. Being in the trades you know perfection but it’s the years of experience that gets you there. I think you did just fine and we are all grateful you shared it with us.
If you’re not failing you’re not trying, if you’re not trying, you’re not learning. Be proud of your job. Be proud in knowing you tried, you failed, you learned AND you took the time, which many would not, to make it right.
And the most important: you got something done in the end! :)
2:51 "Sometimes, you don't even know what you don't even know."
No truer words have ever been spoken.
I love that you are showing your grandkids what "sweat equity" is all about
I'm learning masonry at the moment and love these.
If you’ve never done something but want to, the only way to really learn is to do it, you gave it a go and you succeeded, that’s what the game is about. Also, kudus and mega bonus points for the respirator and silica reference, as a health and safety person you’re mentioning this is brilliant, thank you. Keep up the excellent work.
Love your work 👍
"compeling and growing satisfaction and it comes from just diving in and piece by piece knocking out some work, doing something worthwhile" I can feel it. you are teaching life philosophy ... I am learning something at your age too. Thank you, Sir!
at @2:52 you took me back to memories of my dad. One of his favorite sayings was "You don't know what you don't know." I lost him to cancer 42 years ago when I was in high school. Thanks for bringing him to mind again.
If you put a vertical posts plumb (a wooden 3" by 3") up on each corner of the building, you wil be able to start bricklaying without the trouble of putting corners up out of thin air. If you Google the Dutch word 'metselprofiel' then you will see what I mean. On those profiles you can mark the hight of each layer, so that you're walls are perfectly level. That's how we do it in the Netherlands. Thank you for you're videos! It helped me a lot as a framer in a country where brick and mortar are the norm.
I recently built some brick planters using the layout techniques that you taught us in an earlier video. It's true that masonry will humble any man who attempts it!
I’m not a mason, I’m a licensed g.c. and work on site daily as a carpenter. However, I’ve laid 1000s of blocks . I build corners and stretch strings . I’m surprised you don’t do the same. Different strokes. Semper Fidelis Dave the Carpenter in Omaha
That was fun!
I’ve been in the skilled trades (HVAC) for almost 30 years, I can say it doesn’t matter how much planning or how long anyone been in there field of choice, usually something goes wrong on the job site, or on the way to it. We wish we could control all aspects of the job , but just to many ppl and items needed for it to go as planned.
Love the whole family grouting idea!!!
Hot tip. I purchased a 3x3m portable gazebo for $150. gets you out of the sun for cheap and easy to move around as you go
Isn't that a cool tip ? :)
@@JimmyLarsen33 it is a game changer, i set up my drop saw and cut station under it. and it is a good place for lunch too hehe
Looking forward to this new build series! Thanks for being so informative Scott on every process. ! And always keep up the great work!
I could listen to Scott talk about anything. He seems like a kind soul. I hope he is.
Extremely grateful for your channel. Easily some of the best content out there. Thank you.
You did a great job!!!
I appreciate the insightful reflecting commentary....it's humbling.
There's a mason over in the UK who also has his own channel named Stu Crompton. He makes slinging mud and laying bricks look so effortless that I forget it's a highly skilled job. He makes it look so easy that I could just pick up a trowel and start building my own walls today.
We make him look like a begginer in Phoenix AZ
Laying Block With A London Trowel is some what interesting next time get your self a OX TOOL CO PHILADELPHIA TROWEL ,
I'm very impressed by your work and your willingness to learn something new.
I've done very little mason work, much respect for masons!
I once did an outdoor BBQ pit for a client and had a buddy who knew what he was doing (thank goodness!) it was a HOT summer day in direct sunlight, and the only way we made it was to soak the bricks in a bucket before we laid them.
Learned a lot that day and the most important thing was to hire a mason LOL.
Cheers from Tokyo!
I have taught Masonry at South Caldwell High School for 24 years. ( We sent you a sticker for your cabinet a few years ago). We, my classes, admire you for your effort. Sometimes in life it's more about attitude and effort! Good Job!!
I don’t know if it’s cheating or not, but as a kid I watched an old mason build a CBC wall around his acre lot in South Texas. Took him months as he could afford to buy block and as he’d work a few hours in the evening and on Saturday. Sunday was for church. During the very hot summer months when it was close to or over 100 degrees, he had a bucket of water he’d dunk each block for the few moments it took to set the previous block. They weren’t in the water for long but it was enough to wet the surface of each block. He’d also splash some on the rows he was setting upon. At those high temps, the water didn’t last long but it was long enough that the mortar could set without making it into soup.
Good move on the block fill ! !
Thanks for sharing your knowledge! Great video.
Thank you so much for the videos! I cannot adequately express to you how blown away I am with all your experience, & knowledge. Especially about so many trades. You are an unbelievable person & I greatly admire you. Thank you so much & God bless you 🙏🏻✝️🙏🏻 Growing up I was taught to learn everything you can from guys like you, & respect them greatly. It was a different time. Today’s Generation is sadly much different.
So much Wisdom.
I learn so much for u guys thank you so much
This was great to watch because with how many different trades I know you are proficient at, it’s insightful to see that there are always areas where we aren’t confident or knowledgeable and we have to remember to slow down and pay attention even though we are used to going at a much faster pace.
Build your corners first then you can string your line for each course. Makes for a straight and level wall
I think that's what he did. Seems like the first 4:45 of the video is him building the first 2 corners, and at 4:50, you can see the string laying on the ground when he ripped out the one corner. You can definitely see strings in the later part of the video.
Agreed. There are a number of tricks and tips for the proper, detailed and professional outcome in the end. Little things can be prominent time-savers, too, such as saving like 30 secs for every brick by cutting every extra movement or walkin. Like a delivery guy who is completing 30 addresses during the workday and turns the car the right way towards the next destination by making a u-turn; he might save a minute in every stop ie. comes 30minutes for the whole day :)
Looks like fun.. I always enjoyed stepping outside my comfort zone and learning new skill.
Thanks!
Keep up the good work
That is awesome working with your grandkids this will make great memories 😀 KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK 👍
Good job
It's what you think you know but you don't, a great way to keep you humble
It looks like you did a great job sir👌beyond good
I was taught to wet the blocks and rocks before putting the mortar on them because a dry block or rock will suck the moisture from the mortar too fast creating a dry bond.
That’s right the slower the mortar drys the better
At least doing the tiling, it is best to always wet the surface and the tile before planting it. And use primer on the surface, too.
Wrong on this and the replies. The wall is compressive strength not just bonding strength. Wet block causes messy work and creates mineral salts known as efflorescence.
Bond is important
Watch Mike Hadack a lot, and pre-soaking your foundation before starting, maybe pre-soak your block also will help keep the crete from pulling the water out. Wouldn't be surprised if it ends up being stronger because of it.
Awesome 👍😎
You can run a line on some batter boards to set your first row straight and level without much guess work. Secondly, the consistency of your mortar will vary depending on weather, type of block or stone or brick you’re using, sun exposure, and time of year. Third, the pre mis mortar is handy for small jobs but I find the mortar is better quality when mixed on site with dry brick sand and straight masonry cement. You can add air floated clay or lime to increase workability as needed.
Finally it’s nice to see a masonry episode and your affirmation that it’s probably a job best left for the pros.
Gratitude to you for putting good content on UA-cam over the years. I hope the world one day turns out to be as good as I know it can be.
You are so lucky to have a friend like Kenny. Its always nice to see him in your videos.
I’ve always started from the top of the wall, and worked my way down. But I guess you’re way works ok.
That’s and advanced technique, not for beginners.
True American show
Interesting choice in block.
Rubber hammer will be game changer, adding more lime also will help. Good work Sir, and your voice and kindness are remarkable. Thank you!
Block laying my next goal to achieve 🤩
Speaking as a similarly skilled (non mason concrete able carpenter) guy I say good job. A little job like that is good for practice/learning and maybe save a buck. The pointed trowel is a skill to it's own like anything else. The best part is watching grandkids hoofing mud and packing block - They will forever remember the days of helping grandpa do that everytime they see the building. Thanks for sharing
Also do all four corners first so you can have your string line makes for a straighter wall.
Applying mortar for joints: one of the first things I learned, but took me a while to get, about buttering your bricks was to condition the mud a bit on the board first. I saw you do it some and those beads went on nicely. Use the trowel to scoop the mud, then plop it off in one tap on the board; scoop, plop; scoop, plop until you have sort of a triangular roll of mortar. I guess it packs the mud a little and you can pick it up slide it along your brick. I also found if I "set" the mud on the trowel by kinda slinging the trowel down flat and stopping sharp it the mud would stick to the trowel and allow me to reach the difficult angles.
Lay the first course: Pushing little "dimples" into and along first course mortar makes it a little easier to set the block in without having to lean your weight into it.
When I was younger we always used J-bolts to anchor the sill plates to the foundation. Now when I use blocks I skip the plate and use angle iron, bolt it directly to the inside of the rim joists, run it down inside the block and grout it solid. It makes a much stronger connection for extreme weather conditions.
Glad to see the project is going forward and your attitude towards learning a new set of skills.
One thing I think is very important is hearing protection, and I didn't see you using any, maybe I'm wrong. Hearing loss induced by electric tools is very common and can be very severe.
Thanks for the video!
Collomix mixers are top notch. My company has mixed up thousands of gallons of epoxy and tonnes of concrete with one that has been running strong for almost 8 years with no maintenance.
Your one of the handiest craftsman I’ve ever seen👍
First of all, you kept up the good work, and did the work well.
I've had a pointed trowel in my hand since 1972, and agree with all you discovered about the mud, the angle of the trowel, and timing. I watched you begin to use the back side of the trowel for the bed joint when it suited getting past steel, or increased production, smiled when you applied your knowledge and experience of concrete finishing to the work at hand. If you ever lose another bet and have to lay block again, consider mixing the mortar for far longer. That old drum mixer I spied will mix and fold that mud up and entrain air as it goes 'round and 'round, making a mix that assists in the laying, 15 minutes should do it. "Level, plumb, straight, true and even. "2 over one and one over two" and "Mortar dosent hold the block together..it holds them apart" are three maxims to remember. Keep all that in mind and you may discover the last little bit of fun and joy that lies hidden under each block on the pallet.
I vote.for the Mexican dump truck. As my.father use to say, son it builds character and keeps.you out of trouble.
Everyone got promoted that day... laborers became apprentices, apprentices became masons... 😄
PRO TIP, always blend the cement, lime and sand dry. Once you have added water never add cement or lime without first blending it with sane. A batch of mortar can be adjusted but the direct addition of cement or lime will make it lumpy. (machine mixing can eventually get it blended but you will be cooking your mix and it will not last as well for working). Blend it with sand (your adjustment recipe (cement, lime, or cement and lime), then add it to your mortar that was improperly blended and you have a fix.
A little tip that helped me tremendously. Tap the corners of your block, not the sides
Back home we get the kids to push mortar through the vertical grout lines and finish the horizontal ones with a skinny grout trowel. Allows for much faster block laying. Also use a string line as a guide.
Just a heads up, every mortar recipe is a bit different depending on climate. Here in northeastern pa we use a bit less lime and more Portland because of the daily freeze thaw cycle during the winter. Basically extra hard Type S. The extra Portland makes the mortar very resiliant but it's way harder to work with. Wish we could add more lime! People should talk to their local supply house to see what the common knowledge is in their part of the world!