rowan_thomas84•1mo agoProlific Poster

I finally tried mixing my mortar with a paddle mixer instead of by hand

I've been laying brick for about 8 years now and always just used a hoe and a wheelbarrow like my old man taught me. Last Wednesday on a job down on Maple Street, I got sick of the back pain and borrowed a paddle mixer from the supply house. Figured it would save time but man, the consistency was way different than what I'm used to. The mortar came out almost too smooth, like it had no bite to it, and my first few bricks kept sliding around. I had to add a little extra sand to get it back to where it felt right. Now I'm wondering if I've been doing it wrong all these years or if the old timey way is just better for grip. Anyone else had trouble switching from mixing by hand to using a drill?

3 comments

3 Comments

paul_taylor211mo ago

Have you noticed the paddle mixer tends to get the mortar too wet, even when you're careful with the water? I had the same problem last summer when I borrowed a buddy's mixer, ended up with a batch that was basically running off the trowel. Took me a few tries to find the sweet spot where it felt right, but I still fall back on the wheelbarrow for small jobs.

cole_baker1mo ago

That bit about it being so wet it runs off the trowel is exactly what happened to me the first time. But I think the problem might not be the mixer itself, @paul_taylor21. It's more about adding the water too fast before the dry ingredients are fully combined. I've found if you start the paddle and slowly drizzle the water in, letting it mix for a solid 30 seconds before adding more, it stays way more consistent and doesn't turn into soup.

the_anthony1mo ago

That's the secret, Cole - water is like my ex, dump it all at once and everything's ruined.