Cementitious open time Test

[Julian 'Farmer' Bonsall]

Came across this while looking for something else. I hadn't entirely appreciated the state of cure effect on tile coverage.

 

[Flintstone]

Julian, your posting a fair bit of late, why not introduce yourself and tell us a bit about you and what you are on with!

Open time - I’m so super cautious with open time I leave it no longer than a couple of mins usually.

 

[Qwerty]

I must say I do like a good test!!!!...... but that was by far the worst test I have seen in a long time! It started off badly with the use of a food whisk, followed by spreading adhesive on the back of a ceramic tile. That tile would suck the moisture out of a pile of sand let alone tile adhesive. Not a good test I'm afraid and certainly not one that any reputable tile adhesive manufacturer would use

 

[Timeless Tiling]

I was looking some advice on how lono before grouting I'm hearing 24 hours and also hearing you can do it after 3 to 4 hours could someone advise me please thanks

 

[Qwerty]

If you want another giggle, check out the video that same indian company has on marble fixing. All I will say is you've all been doing it wrong!!!....

 

[Julian 'Farmer' Bonsall]

Well it would appear not enough work if Im posting to much 🙂

Have a father who is in need of a hip replacement and is struggling to manage the farm. We also have one of the farm dogs injured ( a working dog as we have some beef animals) with a broken leg so that's problematic. I enjoy tractors far more than animals.
I recently did some tiling in the kitchen of one of my sisters.
Im busy at home trying to build another shed as the workshop wasnt big enough, garage is going to make way for an extension (polished concrete - another story). I enjoy doing small jobs for others and trying to learn along the way.
We have a house we let which takes a bit of maintenance (that needs some tile work in the near future) and one of the guys that rents an engineering unit wanted help with his bathroom (that's where the questions about hardibacker for a shower enclosure came from).
Im currently doing another doctorate which kind of keeps me sane and I spent some time playing with grouting systems for large structures (a little like large radio telescopes) mainly with BASF and concrete systems for similar structures.

When I was much younger I worked in a branch of Topps (no laughs please it was a good job) helping out and also worked for someone fitting bathrooms/kitchens to help save and pay for Uni but wires and machinery were more my thing. Farming became complicated and diverse.

I am having a period of attempting to reduce working hours so sometime spent playing in the man shed is welcome and an aid to health, reducing stress and more away from Directing, staff and HMRC VAT and all that stuff.

I miss being able to ask and watch someone that is skilled in this trade and rely a lot on the help from people here - you tube is interesting but being untrained I have more questions than I know where to start. I've never worked with a proper tiler and probably will never have a proper clue what I am doing.

 

[Old Mod]

I spent some time playing with grouting systems for large structures (a little like large radio telescopes) mainly with BASF and concrete systems for similar structures.

Interesting......,

Does this mean you can you could explain the chemical reaction between Portland cement and aluminium?

 

[Old Mod]

I was looking some advice on how lono before grouting I'm hearing 24 hours and also hearing you can do it after 3 to 4 hours could someone advise me please thanks

Standard set adhesive is normally around 16-24hrs
Rapid set 3-6 hours depending on type used.

 

[Timeless Tiling]

So after those times its ok to grout

 

[Old Mod]

So after those times its ok to grout

Generally speaking yes, but atmospheric conditions and substrate also play a part.
Freezing cold and on to a tanked substrate will have a longer curing time than a plasterboard wall in a fully heated home.

 

[Timeless Tiling]

I hear sometimes tilers grout walls straight after finishing the tiles is this wrong are you better to come back the next day

 

[Old Mod]

I hear sometimes tilers grout walls straight after finishing the tiles is this wrong are you better to come back the next day

You hear lots of things over the years.
Your best bet is to actually read the bag of adhesive and follow the instructions carefully, best way to protect yourself and your client.

 

[Timeless Tiling]

Thanks very much for taking the time to reply really appreciate it thanks again

 

[Old Mod]

Thanks very much for taking the time to reply really appreciate it thanks again

No problem.

 

[Julian 'Farmer' Bonsall]

Interesting......,

I also currently trying to learn how to braid paracord and make shock cord splices and having as much look as sanding tiles

Does this mean you can you could explain the chemical reaction between Portland cement and aluminium?

That sounds a question for a Concrete technologist. I have some knowledge but remember in struggling with a small disc and a slab of clay at the moment

From the manual.
Concrete shall not come in contact with any
aluminum during conveying and placing
operations.

Not sure what you want to know but I thought this may be helpful.

Aluminum Frames in Masonry Walls - http://www.cement.org/learn/materials-applications/masonry/masonry-construction/aluminum-frames-in-masonry-walls

 

[Julian 'Farmer' Bonsall]

If you want another giggle

Sorry Plan Tec I had completely missed this post of yours - personally I think his tamping stick is patentable and needs branding. The chap with the 'adhesive hands' is a brave one 🙂

 

[Old Mod]

From the manual.
Concrete shall not come in contact with any
aluminum during conveying and placing
operations.


Aluminum Frames in Masonry Walls - http://www.cement.org/learn/materials-applications/masonry/masonry-construction/aluminum-frames-in-masonry-walls

View attachment 98073

Apologies Julian,
Couldn’t find your response, lost track of the thread.
What I’d like to know is about the relationship between Portland cement (used in adhesive) and aluminium when they come in to direct contact with each other.
I know that when grouting heavy machinery legs into a concrete base, Aluminium powder is added to the grout to encourage the grout to expand and lock the machinery in place. However, I also know that as a byproduct, Hydrogen gas is created.
This and it’s possible effects on tile adhesive are the subjects I’m interested in.
Oh, one more thing, is it possible to prime against a reaction taking place? 🙂

Thank you for the link, I only hope I find time to read it, I was kinda hoping I could cheat and get the short version from you as you’ve worked in this area.
My turn to pick your brains, a little reciprocation if you will. 😀