Ok Guys,

My customer wants to pour next week.  I have set up for the pour, it is through 330 feet of line.  He doesnt want to use slurry to prime, which I recommend.  Any sugguestions?  The line runs up, down, left right...messey and alllll over the place ... any help would be great! Thanks.

Get you some Bentonite mix a coffee  can full in a 5 gallon bucket of water  put a wet wad of news paper in front to hold it back and go for it.

You have to use something and at least grout has cement and will cure. There is enough distance to justify ordering grout from the plant.

Tell him you NEED grout or your not going to do the job, as a pump operator I don't "recommend" anything I tell them what I NEED to get the job done if they don't want to do it that way they can find somebody else to do it.Priming is the most critical part of pumping next to washing out, you NEED what you NEED to make it work.

A bag of portland cement, make it as thick as split pee soup (3 buckets or about 15 gal. and 5 gal. of water in front ;on your down hill a plastic bag half way down in between with a cut on top to allow air to pass but slow down the initial flow.

I AGREE, IF HES GONNA BE CHEAP AND NOT ORDER GROUT,YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN BUT GIVE YOURSELF THE EXTRA HOUR TO SAFELY PRIME OUT THE SYSTEM AND OF COURSE ,CHARGE HIM FOR IT!!

;)

what size line..4inch?

I think Ed's got the ticket. A little bit of bentonite goes a LOOOOONG way, but I'd be tempted to use a lot of bentonite. 20 gallons even, what the hell, it's UBER-CHEAP!! It mixes quick, gets thick, you can mix it in 5 gallon buckets and store it for weeks or months, just give it a stir before you pour it in. Put a sponge in front to hold it back on the downhill runs, soak the sponge in bentonite, have bentonite in front of it. If there are low spots in places in the line, dump a little bentonite in there too, to keep some lube on the ball - keep it from tearing up or jamming. Waste the first yard or so of concrete, bentonite is not compatible with concrete.

I do the way mudcup says . And I use to tell them that it is easier to take a couple of wheelbarrows with grout or slurry whatever You use , Out than take hundreds or thousands of wheelbarrows with mud inside... They use to buy a yard of grout or what it takes to prime and take care of it... And if they dont want some kind of slurry they has to call someones other to do the job , I have plenty of phonenumbers that I can "recomend" , it gives us more job to say no than have a blockage in the wrong place and time... Bentonite is a very god primer but IF You dont know what your doing dont use bentonite...

I is like an insuring I always tell my customers, if we use grout and get a blockage its my problem if we don’t use it its your problem. Including all the costs of losing lines, loads and damage.

I have been pumping for the last 3 weeks with 350' of 2.5" hose with my line pump pumping ditch paving. I put water in the hopper up to the seats (ball valve) put a wad of paper in the outlet and put a couple of gallons of water in the hose ahead of the paper then pump. I have never had a problem but I also clean out with water every time so the system is slick. You have to have something to "wet the hose" or it will not make it. If you try to wet the mix up it might segregate and plug anyway. We have to control the situation or it will get out of hand quick because the contractor does not pump...... even if he stayed at the Holiday Inn Express last night.

I keep it simple, and give them the hammer and say their in charge. If they don't listen, and any damage they pay. They think about that and get slurry. I am serious, if no slurry for evil jobs they get that, and a recommendation of a wheelbarrow and an extra laborer. Clowns need to be slapped sometimes. I do use cement and water as a rule, but nasty jobs are just plain nasty, and I give them a spare hammer and all the expert advice on how to pull clamps and put them back on. LOL it works for me. Most always slick pack or powder and water are enough though. I have never had to use the plastic retainer yet but do like the idea for downhill work. Like the picture look em in they eye and explain the situation hehe

Frothy portland and masonry mix. I use bentonite quick gell. But in a high stress situation why not just mix a few buckets of the good stuff. Dump it right in the hose with no extra water. I did one a couple weeks ago 60 cu yards, a 4 inch floor. Thats a lot of concrete and 8 guys waiting. Your on the "stage" till the mud comes out the other end. Whats a yard of grout cost? $250? Just charge for your own mixture.

Those are the kinda jerks I love.Solution,15 slickpaks,stand back and laugh.Oh,and while your at the laugh bucket make sure they get some wet loads,about midnight take them some coffee.

PJ IS RIGHT  sometimes I use more, on my 5/45 OLIN I fill the nanifold to the bottom of the balls put in about one pound turn volume control to slow let it mix by stroking, the mix up 5 gallons in hot water in the winter but wait till the mud arrives put wad of paper in front then pour in the bentonite , Monday I pumped to start with 275 foot of 2 1/2 inch hose it was 28 degrees it primed out fine it had ice at the discharge end chrisals all most, we were on Kentucky Lake.

3 or 4 bags cement with a little slick pak to thicken it up a bit, and a paper ball and you should be good to go. As far as priming concerned , the customer has to realize " IT is all about you."