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Rant: My mortar kept setting up too fast in the heat until I tried something dumb.
We were laying a garden wall in Spokane last July, and the mix was turning to dust in the pan after 20 minutes. I started adding a splash of cold water from my cooler every 10 minutes, just enough to keep it workable, and it actually got me through the whole afternoon without a single wasted batch. Does anyone have a better trick for keeping mortar plastic in a real dry heat?
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mason_lopez5d agoRising Star
Heard some guys swear by using ice water instead of just cold. It cools the mix down more and slows the chemical set. Your trick works but the ice might buy you a few extra minutes.
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janah835d ago
That whole idea of buying a little extra time with something simple like ice water is everywhere if you look for it. Like pre-chilling your tools before a hot job, or even just putting a bowl in the freezer before you make whipped cream. It's all about finding that one small hack that gives you the breathing room you need. Makes you wonder what other tiny changes could save a big headache later on.
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robin5915d ago
Yeah, the ice water trick is solid for a bigger batch. I used it last summer on a big pour when the shop was like an oven. Straight from the cooler, it gave me enough time to get it all down without it going off in the bucket. That extra few minutes makes all the difference when you're working alone.
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