Found a trick for mixing mortar that saves me about 20 minutes a day

I've been laying block for about 8 years now and I always just dumped the water in first then the mix. Last week my helper showed me he pours the mix in first, adds about half the water, lets it sit for 2 minutes, then pours the rest. I figured he was just wasting time but I tried it on a retaining wall job for a guy near Columbus. The mortar came out way smoother with less clumps and I didnt have to stop and add water as much throughout the day. I mean it's not a huge change but it adds up when you're mixing 5 or 6 batches a day. Has anyone else tried doing it this way or am I late to the party?

2 comments

2 Comments

caseyw121mo ago

Man I was doing the water first method for years too and felt like an idiot when my old man showed me this exact trick. The pre soak step makes a huge difference because the dry mix absorbs that first bit of water evenly instead of you fighting with the drill trying to get the clumps out. I started doing it about two years ago and now I can't go back to the old way. My batches come out way more consistent and I hardly ever have to toss a stiff one that set up too fast.

kim.sandra1mo ago

You mention the dry mix absorbing that first bit of water evenly, and that's the part I think a lot of folks overlook. I read somewhere that the gypsum in the compound actually needs a little time to fully hydrate before you start mixing hard, which is why the pre soak works so well. If you just dump it in dry and start spinning right away, you end up with these little pockets of dry powder that never break down, and that's what causes those weird hard spots you're always trying to drill out.