Masonry Magazine March 2011 Page. 21
Canoga-70 Wheelbarrow Style Mixer
The lightweight, portable Canoga-70 Mixer is suited for mixing grout and polymer based materials in smaller quantities. It features a heavy-duty polyethylene drum for easy clean-up. The Model 70 is designed with an all-steel frame and powered by a high torque 1/3 electric motor. Quiet enough to operate anywhere.
MK-890-GH Plaster/Mortar Mixer
The MK-890-GH Plastic/Mortar Mixer is constructed from structural tubing and channel and features torsion bar suspension. Drum has a 12" by 18" opening and can tilt back for easy cleaning. Powered by GX240 Honda engine.
MK-5000 Series Wet Cutting Block Saws
The MK-5000 Series of block saws set the quality standard for durability and maintenance-free operation. These saws are specially designed to provide the highest level of productivity, operator safety and convenience. Length of cut: 20". Depth of cut 8" with a 20" blade.
MK-414PB Penter Brick Blade
The MK-414PB has been specifically engineered to cut hard/dense brick. The turbo segment design provides additional cooling and cutting performance.
Grout pumps used in the masonry field typically are powered by a gas engine (although electric or LP gas power have been used successfully for indoor jobs). The engine powers a hydraulic pump, which extends and retracts a material cylinder. Material is fed into the receiving hopper and forced or "pumped" out of the material cylinder into the material hose connected to the pump. The extend/retract motion of the cylinder is referred to as a "stroke." The material hose may include various types of fittings and couplings that connect to the pump or any line reducers at the pump discharge. Sections of grouting hose are typically 25 or 50 feet long. A pipe bend otherwise known as a "wall hook" is connected at the end of the hose and is inserted into the block when pumping.
When using a grout pump, some keys to success are worth keeping in mind, namely material mix design, pump priming and taking full advantage of the grout pump's capabilities.
Material mix design
MATERIAL MIX DESIGN and the use of proper materials are critical for successful grout or mortar pumping with a masonry grout pump. Contractors must be sure that the mix design used with the grout pump does not include aggregates more than 3/8-inch minus pea-gravel (3/8-inch and below). Using rocks larger than this size in the material could clog the pump and material hose.
Masonry grout pumps are compatible with the specification for fine grout as stated in ASTM C476 Standard Specification for Grout for Masonry. This specification classifies fine grout as either "conventional grout (requiring mechanical consolidation by puddling or vibration when placed) or self-consolidating grout (not requiring mechanical consolidation when placed)." The self-consolidating grout owes its automatic consolidation characteristics and high-flow rates to the water-reducing agent included in the mix. High-range water reducers are preferred. ASTM C476 states, "Polycarboxylate-based high-range water-reducing admixtures are best suited to achieve the water reduction and slump flow values required for self-consolidating grout.
The related specification ASTM C404 Standard Specification for Aggregates for masonry grout further clarifies the actual dimensions of aggregates in a fine grout mixture by stating that all aggregate must pass a sieve test at 9.5mm/3/8-inch minus for the grout to be classified as fine grout.
Proper mix design should be specified when ordering material from ready-mix if using a grout pump. Masonry grout pumps are designed to pump Portland cement, blended cements, sand and fine grout aggregates, non-shrinking grouts, pre-bagged mortar, pulverized lime/hydrated lime, quicklime, fly ash, pozzolan and slag - provided all materials are proportioned in the proper amounts with adequate water content. The inclusion of any admixtures, such as water reducing or air entraining, may be determined by the building code or contractor. These admixtures may be useful in ensuring overall "pumpability" of the material used with the grout pump. Some all-in-one admixtures claim to offer "water reduction, plasticizing, air entraining and gelling" in addition to featuring
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