I know my query is probably going to sound a bit ridiculous:
is there any way of storing ready mixed mortar?
It would be ideal if surplus mortar could be stored in an airtight
container for a few extra days and ready to use for the many odd jobs
of a renovating project.
I am aware there are many types of fillers in the market which might
answer my question but these are quite expensive compared to mortar
and require a different approach which might not be very practical
sometimes.

Thanks for any hint....

Alex.

Alex wrote:
I know my query is probably going to sound a bit ridiculous:
is there any way of storing ready mixed mortar?
It would be ideal if surplus mortar could be stored in an airtight
container for a few extra days and ready to use for the many odd jobs
of a renovating project.

Not a chance, I'd'a thought. Mortar doesn't "dry out", nor react with
atmospheric oxygen, to set: it's a (slow) chemical reaction driven by
bringing the cement component into contact with the water in your mix.
You can slow the reaction down by reducing the temperature, but freezing
your mixed-up mortar will najjer it too (ice crystals'll form,
distributing the water unevenly-clumpily in the mix).

If the quantities you're mixing up are for "filler" purposes, just use
smaller measures - e.g. 4 old-mugs sand, 2 old-mugs cement, 1 old-mug
lime, or whaetver proportion the mix needs to be - for each part of the
job, rather than the bucket-loads more usually appropriate.

HTH - Stefek

Alex wrote:
I know my query is probably going to sound a bit ridiculous:
is there any way of storing ready mixed mortar?
It would be ideal if surplus mortar could be stored in an airtight
container for a few extra days and ready to use for the many odd jobs
of a renovating project.

Not that I know of. But there's no law which says you have to make up
mortar by the barrowload; I've often made up tiny amounts for very small
jobs and it works perfectly well. Not really much less convenient than
having it ready mixed (especially if you 'batch' your jobs).

However, there are several proprietary exterior-grade fillers available
ready-mixed in tubs, which would probably fulfil most applications for
mortar, if this aspect is really important to you.

David

In article , "Alex"
says...
I know my query is probably going to sound a bit ridiculous:
is there any way of storing ready mixed mortar?
It would be ideal if surplus mortar could be stored in an airtight
container for a few extra days and ready to use for the many odd jobs
of a renovating project.
I am aware there are many types of fillers in the market which might
answer my question but these are quite expensive compared to mortar
and require a different approach which might not be very practical
sometimes.

Portland cement doesn't rely on drying out or exposure to air to
harden, so it will go off no matter how you store it (unless you
freeze it, but I think that migh not be too convenient). Lime mortar
can be stored if you keep it damp and exclude air, but probably won't
be suitable for your application.

"Alex" wrote in message
om...
I know my query is probably going to sound a bit ridiculous:
is there any way of storing ready mixed mortar?
It would be ideal if surplus mortar could be stored in an airtight
container for a few extra days and ready to use for the many odd jobs
of a renovating project.
I am aware there are many types of fillers in the market which might
answer my question but these are quite expensive compared to mortar
and require a different approach which might not be very practical
sometimes.

Thanks for any hint....

Alex.

Proper ready mixed mortar delivered to large sites is ok for a couple days.
You just need to remix and its ok.

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
Alex wrote:

I know my query is probably going to sound a bit ridiculous:
is there any way of storing ready mixed mortar?
It would be ideal if surplus mortar could be stored in an airtight
container for a few extra days and ready to use for the many odd jobs
of a renovating project.
I am aware there are many types of fillers in the market which might
answer my question but these are quite expensive compared to mortar
and require a different approach which might not be very practical
sometimes.

Thanks for any hint....

Alex.

Do you mean dry mixed (just sand and cement) or wet mixed (including the
water)?

Wet mixed mortar will go off whatever - so there's no way of keeping it for
later use.

You might get away with a dry mixture - but even that is dodgy. Unless the
sand used is 100% dry, any moisture in it will react with the cement and
render it useless.

I know from bitter experience, having tried to save time by producing a dry
mix for use the next day. I didn't realise that the resulting mortar was
useless until I had built a section of wall with it - which I had to take
down and start again. I only did it once!
--
Cheers,
Set Square
______
Please reply to newsgroup. Reply address is invalid.

In message , Alex
writes
I know my query is probably going to sound a bit ridiculous:
is there any way of storing ready mixed mortar?
It would be ideal if surplus mortar could be stored in an airtight
container for a few extra days and ready to use for the many odd jobs
of a renovating project.
I am aware there are many types of fillers in the market which might
answer my question but these are quite expensive compared to mortar
and require a different approach which might not be very practical
sometimes.

Thanks for any hint....

Alex.
As other posts, generally no.
However, I did once have a one of those bags of pre-packed mortar from
the DIY sheds, which rather than the usual bag of sand with small bag of
cement inside, was actually kiln dried sand & cement premixed, so you
could as little as required just be adding the water.

Actually, I'd rather like to be able buy cement in small plastic bags,
maybe 2.5 or 5kG at a time, as you can with plaster.
2.5kg for 99p would be fine by me. Otherwise I end up buying 25kg bags
down the BM and dumping a rock hard 20Kg bag 6 months later.
(Yes, right now I need just enough cement to stick 1.5 ridge tiles back
on, and my left over bag from last summer has gone off)

--
steve

Steven Briggs wrote:
In message , Alex
writes
I know my query is probably going to sound a bit ridiculous:
is there any way of storing ready mixed mortar?
It would be ideal if surplus mortar could be stored in an airtight
container for a few extra days and ready to use for the many odd jobs
of a renovating project.
Actually, I'd rather like to be able buy cement in small plastic bags,
snip
Me too.

down the BM and dumping a rock hard 20Kg bag 6 months later.

(Yes, right now I need just enough cement to stick 1.5 ridge tiles back
on, and my left over bag from last summer has gone off)

If you get to it a little before it goes rock hard, and you need have a
soil that's overly acid, you can spread a thin layer over the soil, and rake
it in.
(even "rock hard" on the surface will often come apart if you use a small
hammer)

"Ian Stirling" wrote in message
...
Actually, I'd rather like to be able buy cement in small plastic bags,
snip

Me too.

B&Q do small (5kg ?) ones. Totally uneconomic if you need even two of them
but fits your needs.

Alex wrote:

I know my query is probably going to sound a bit ridiculous:
is there any way of storing ready mixed mortar?
It would be ideal if surplus mortar could be stored in an airtight
container for a few extra days and ready to use for the many odd jobs
of a renovating project.
I am aware there are many types of fillers in the market which might
answer my question but these are quite expensive compared to mortar
and require a different approach which might not be very practical
sometimes.

Oh dear....I await caustic responses with interest.


Thanks for any hint....

Alex.

Space_Cowby wrote:

"Alex" wrote in message
om...

I know my query is probably going to sound a bit ridiculous:
is there any way of storing ready mixed mortar?
It would be ideal if surplus mortar could be stored in an airtight
container for a few extra days and ready to use for the many odd jobs
of a renovating project.
I am aware there are many types of fillers in the market which might
answer my question but these are quite expensive compared to mortar
and require a different approach which might not be very practical
sometimes.

Thanks for any hint....

Alex.


Proper ready mixed mortar delivered to large sites is ok for a couple days.
You just need to remix and its ok.


It ain't.

"The Natural Philosopher" wrote
| is there any way of storing ready mixed mortar?
| Oh dear....I await caustic responses with interest.

I don't think adding caustic is going to help here. It's great for blocked
pipes though.

Owain

"Owain" wrote in message
. ..
"The Natural Philosopher" wrote
| is there any way of storing ready mixed mortar?
| Oh dear....I await caustic responses with interest.

I don't think adding caustic is going to help here. It's great for blocked
pipes though.

Owain


You could try freeze drying it.