Masonry Magazine November 2006 Page. 45
MASONRY COMPUTER ESTIMATING
Masonry Computer Estimating That Does It All... in 3D! by Tradesmen's Software
the mixer and sand pile can be located right inside the building where all walls are easily accessible and as close as possible."
Another way to speed up mixing is to make sure the machine is prepped and ready for the next day. While cleaning with water is the best way to go, it's not always an option. In this case, Lang suggested "throwing a five gallon bucket of gravel and some sand or empty mortar bags in the mixer while it is running." Multiquip's Faler also suggested spraying form oil into the mixer to prevent mortar from sticking to the sides.
No matter which method is utilized, the one thing crews should try to avoid is "dry cleaning" a mixer, where hammers are used to hit the outside of the drum to shake loose dried material inside.
"A lot of mixers have been hit so hard the drum looks like a shriveled up prune," Faler said. "For contractors worried about clean up, choose a mixer with a plastic or polyethylene tub. They are much easier to clean and, if you hit them, the polyethylene will flex a little to knock the material right out."
Finally, maintenance of the machine is also vital.
"It's very, very important that you check the oil in the engine, keep the air filter clean, and grease the mixer." Faler said.
He stressed that contractors and their crews should apply grease both at the beginning and end of the day. If crews grease just at the beginning of the day and several days pass between uses, the slurry has the potential of getting into the system and hardening.
"If you grease the mixer after the pour, or when your job is over, the material is still fluid," he said. "You are adding grease and it's purging any contaminants from the system. So the next time you use the mixer, it's easy to grease."
Most of all, contractors should be sure that crews follow the manufacturer's maintenance guidelines to keep their mixers running smoothly, day after day.
"All machines will operate more efficiently if they are maintained properly," Lang said. "A few extra minutes at the end of each day will go a long way toward more production tomorrow."
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November 2006
Masonry 43
The Voice of the Mason Contractor