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Watch out for that new quick-set mortar mix from the big box store
I was on a chimney repair job in Chattanooga about six weeks ago. The homeowner wanted it done fast, so I grabbed a bag of that 'Rapid-Set Pro' stuff. It said 30 minute working time, which should have been fine. I mixed a small batch to reset about twenty bricks. The stuff went from wet to rock hard in maybe 15 minutes. I barely got the last three bricks in place before my trowel was scraping on what felt like concrete. One of the bricks wasn't seated right and I couldn't adjust it at all. I had to chip it all out and start over, wasting a full bag and half a morning. The label is a flat out lie. Has anyone found a reliable fast-set mix that actually gives you the time it says?
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jana6727mo ago
That Rapid-Set Pro is a nightmare in hot weather. I only get about 12 minutes with it, so I start with a half-bag and mix tiny batches.
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brown.angela7mo ago
Yeah that stuff is no joke. @jana672 is right about the heat, but even in cooler weather I've never gotten the full 30 minutes. The clock starts as soon as water hits the bag, not when you finish mixing.
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