Anyone know concrete mix design?

[JERRY2KONE]

And of course make sure you vibrate it aggressively so you get every single air bubble out of the mix. Using any kind of aggrigate that will give you some kind of bite would be the ticket to good holding power. Keeping it cool in water will help with setting up, but I would believe that you want it to be fairly dry by testing day or it will surely crumble. Getting the right moisture content will be crucial in the final day of testing preperations. Sounds like a great way to get everyone thinking on something that seems so simple on the outside. One would never imagine that it takes so much thinking power to mix concrete the right way. Most of us have been spoiled with bags of Quickcrete most of our lives. The outcome will be most educational for all of us. Thanks for sharing the experience with us. We learn something new every day, right?

[pinkpanda3310]

Oh yeah, compaction. Good thinking Jerry. Compaction is usually acheived by vibrating the bubbles out but if your going to make a thick clay type paste then take small lumps in your hand and press it firmly into the cast. Try to make it so it stays workable while through out this process, if it starts to go off and your still pressing lumps into it ...... actually nevermind about that, we're talking 2" cube.