[sudo-discuss] Skymall Workshop / Skillshare: Basic Concrete Slab *Sat March 16*, 10am onward

[Anon195714]

Funnily enough, I have a mixer (and so did one of the guys behind PGP,
as he proudly showed us one afternoon at a hacker gathering many years
ago).  And I have concrete skillz.  Whether I have enough time to help
out is another question, but we'll see...  What city is this in, and
approx. what dimensions are the slab? 

A few things to keep in mind about flatwork (slabs) (I'm sure Bobby
already knows all this stuff, I'm just putting it out there for general
knowledge): 

Ideal case is to put plastic sheeting below the entire slab, else the
water in the concrete will be absorbed into the ground prematurely and
weaken the concrete.  If this can't be done, spread about an inch of
sand on the ground, and then wet down the sand just before pouring the
concrete.  Rebar should be held off the ground by being placed on small
standoffs (commonly available at lumber yards: 2" concrete cubes with
wires sticking out from the top), otherwise the rebar will rust from the
ground inward.  Concrete should be mixed as stiff as possible: excess
water weakens it severely (the way ready mix companies get that "lentil
soup" consistency is with chemicals known as "superplasticizers" not
with water).  After finishing the surface, it should be covered with
plastic tarp or sprayed with curing compound, otherwise sprinkled
consistently after the surface is hard, for at least a few days and
ideally for about 2 weeks: this to prevent evaporation of the mix
water.  Concrete should always "cure", never "dry" to harden. 

-G.


=====


On 13-03-05-Tue 2:45 PM, Vicky Knox wrote:
> Hey all!
>
> My friend Bobby will be putting on the below workshop. He is an
> amazing builder and metalworker who I've been sneakily trying to suck
> into the vortex that is Sudo Room. If anyone is interested in going to
> this workshop that he is putting on, will you envangelize him please?
> This event is sure to be fun--he has a fascinating mind and brews
> awesome beer. If you're into beer, make sure to ask him to show you
> the huge vats he welded, as well as the taps he has set up.
>
> V
>
> From: Robert Tomkiewicz <tomkiewicz.b at gmail.com
> <mailto:tomkiewicz.b at gmail.com>>
> Subject: Skymall Workshop / Skillshare: Basic Concrete Slab *Sat March
> 16*, 10am onward
>
> Hi all,
>
> I am in the process of modernizing the laundry facilites at the old
> homestead and the first step is pouring a little slab outdoors to hold the
> washer and dryer off the ground and function as a foundation for the shed
> which will hold them.
>
> Together, we'll (re)discover the basics of pouring a concrete slab.  We'll
> be mixing by hand in wheelbarrows, which is just fine for a slab of this
> scale, unless I get a line on a mixer before the end of the week.
>
> I will have the forms built and (probably) the rebar laid before Saturday,
> but they'll be there for you to take a look at so you can see how they're
> constructed before we begin.
>
> Beer and snackage provided.  Space is limited to the amount of people that
> will actually be useful, which in fact is quite a few.  Still, if you
> could
> RSVP with any specific dietary preferences that would be super sweet.  If
> we're super fast we might even get to do some plumbing.  Got to get that
> natural gas hookup to the dryer, and hot water pipe in place for the
> washing machine.
>
> Bobby
>
>
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