Masonry Magazine September 2007 Page. 30
MATERIAL DELIVERY
Silos used to be thought of as geared only toward large commercial masonry jobs, but they can be used for smaller residential projects as long as the contractor has the equipment to load the silo, such as a telehandler or large skid steer, Blohowiak said. SPEC MIX offers its silos for free when mason contractors buy bulk bags.
"A lot of people thought the silo was designed for the big jobs, but over time, it filtered down to the smaller jobs," he said. "The contractors found the efficiencies of the silos could be used on any job."
Silos are portable and easy to move around the job site, so the silos and material pallets can be placed near the point of use, Blohowiak said. "Contractors absolutely love it in the city because the silos don't need a lot of room and can be used in tight areas," he said.
When using the silo system, contractors need to give materials proper mixing time. The systems are fast and efficient, but mortar and grout still need three to five minutes of mixing time to allow the aggregate to rehydrate, Blohowiak said.
The Next Generation of Mixers and Pumps
NEW REFRACTORY MIXERS from EZ Grout, like the RMHE 29 ($26,000), have a high torque that enables them to mix low slump material, Lang said. The "Big Mixer" has a 2,000-pound refractory capacity, a three-phase electric motor, and a 60-gallon hydraulic reserve.
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Mud Hog
"The Mud Hog Refractory/Precast Mixer was built with a hydraulic drive and dump with an adjustable height that can be adapted to load below the waist and to dump high into a delivery system," he said. "Six rubber blades are used to provide longer wear as well as to decrease batch time, making it great for bulk bags. The fork pockets are accessible on all sides for easier portability."
He said the mixers are perfect for small batches and very low slump mixes. EZ. Grout's new hydraulic mixing station, the MH12 ($5,995), also has an ergonomic design, Lang said. "It loads below the waist and has the capability of dumping high, which lessens labor fatigue and backaches," he said.
Honeoye, N.Y.-based Stone Construction Equipment, Inc., offers 11 Champion mortar mixers with up to a 16-cubic-foot mixing capacity (prices vary). The HM1290 12-cubic-foot hydraulic mixer with a 13-horsepower Honda engine costs $6,822.
"We've got any size mortar mixer that anyone would want," said Ed Varel, engineering project manager for the company. "With our variety, we have an answer to meet contractors' needs."
The hydraulic dump model is virtually maintenance free and is adjustable to make discharging easier, Varel said.
For pumping materials, the GP-6 Grout Pump ($795) from Kenrich Products Inc. in Portland, Ore., offers a solution for pumping at low pressure. "If you want a small, gallon pump with high delivery, we're the king," said Rick Rountree, company owner. "This is a low-tech, unsophisticated product and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to use."
At only 32 pounds, the hand-operated pump is light enough for a single person to carry. It can pump most types of cementitious grout.
"The most common applications are filling voids accidentally left in the walls, grouting metal door frames in place and