I'm new her so first it's nice to know that there is a site designed for this unique industry. They want me to try and pump 1500' on a 2/1 slope both up and down the hill, I was just wondering if this was at all possible and if so what would be the best mix design for such a job? Any comments would be helpfull, thanks

My record is 1000'. Piss wet grout through 1.25" plastic tubing with a Schwing P-88. Filling an old well. Would never do it again.

How many yards, what for? Is it really necessary? How do you plan on cleaning all of that pipe out?

Here are a few suggestions. Regular weight concrete, and prob. might wanna go with a 3000psi mix, so that way it won't flash on you as fast, just incase you have a plug up. use as much steel pipe as possible, and try to keep the rubber hose down to a minimum, no more than 80 feet of hose if possible. Make sure the mix is fresh and wet, don't be afraid to turn down a load if it is getting old, and a little warm. The one truck you pump out trying to be the nice guy and not lose a load, will be the truck that you end up having to wait an hour for another truck with it in your line, and that could be the last truck you pump out for the day. You'll be spending the rest of the day trying to clean the pipe out. Oh yea, make sure you have a strong pump, one that is newer if possible, and it can handle the abuse from slamming that mud that far of a distance. Good luck.

Mine was a half mile, in a 1 mile tunnel covering a 5' round water system pipe each side 72 hours non stop using 5" pipe... santa margarita shaft to san luis obispo ca

Sammy I would like to know how did you "push" the concrete within the pipe run once you had the last load?  We plan to use wáter with a go devil in between the concrete and the water

Speedy is on the right track.

How far can you pump?

Only as far as you need to. Records and heroics are cute, but they do not pay the bills. Think of the hours of service life you are taking off of your equipment. Don't be the guy that pumps for distance. Pump for  PROFIT - there is more future in it. ;~)

Don't ask me what pump, but its electric and pushes 60stories up into a placeing boom. We pulled our line pump out at 30 stories high pressured. My guess is Schwing, just very tight and a fast switcher. I have been told in NY they do 1000ft up on a regular basis.

You may want to consider putting a retarder in the mix in case something does go wrong. That is a lot of system to loose.

There are probably 250 pumps in the Atl, GA area. Out of all of the various companies there are only really three that are capable of doing any really serious long distance or hi-rise work.

(in alphabetical order)

Cherokee

Pioneer

Pumpco

To be a player in this high stakes pumping you need to be able to do more than just pump a long distance. You need the ability to have a bad day. That might sound stupid, but if you think about what a bad day costs it makes more sense. You need to be able, after that bad day, to recover. Just because you loose 100 yards of 9,000 psi concrete - 1,500 feet of pipe doesn't mean that the rest of the job is canceled; hell no! You need to set up ANOTHER 1,500 feet of pipe the next day, pay for the concrete, eat the cost of fixing yesterday's problem, wheel your equally capable back up pump out and hook her up, swallow the back charge from the contractor for his lost time and trouble, SMILE... and pour it out.

Unless you are REALLY ready, that is not a game you want to play. ;~)

How far can you pump???

As far as you can afford to.

That is the way I see it. It is just like going to Las Vegas; don't bet what you can't afford to do without. ;~)

Though I heard Cherokee was bought out?? THAT WAS A WHILE BACK?

300ft so 500ft is pushing your luck,so if you do not complete the job will you get paid?. if you have money for a 1500ft system you can afford to stay on the porch or go do a puss job, get paid and go away. life is full of hard decisions stay in business or be really stupid like the customer wants to be.

I have never used a nomograph, can you explain to me a little or let me know where i can get some info on it? I don't feel that it is a great idea but the boss os kinda stuck on the idea. i have to believe that there has to be an easier way but according to him this is the only way that it'll get done. It'll be about 5000 yards over  a month or so in time. I feel i'm up for the challange and have complete confidence in my ability to do such a job i've just never pumped that far before and want to have all my ducks in a row before taking on the challange!! Because as we a;; know if things go south it usually ends up being the operators fault. as we know isn't the case all the time though  

500 ft is far for me! and thats priming every 100 foot. after 500 foot I would tell them to use a bucket. I can't see pumping 1500 ft. with all that system. You will need 1500 ft. of water hose if you get pluged up just to clean up the $10,000 system. Do you know how much water pressure you get out of 1000 foot of garden hose. Your body has more pressure if you know what i mean!! You better have a bad ass pump!! And a big hammer, air compressure, and lots of water to unplug that system. good luck.

Bob, you forgot AJ's concrete pumping.

4OOO PSI 8"SLUMP MUD, 9 SACK GROUT TO PRIME, 1 MAN FOR EVERY 150' OF PIPE ,WELL MAINTAINED PUMP, AND A SEASONED OPERATOR AND PUMP IT.

4OOO PSI 8"SLUMP MUD, 9 SACK GROUT TO PRIME, 1 MAN FOR EVERY 150' OF PIPE ,WELL MAINTAINED PUMP, AND A SEASONED OPERATOR AND PUMP IT.

4OOO PSI 8"SLUMP MUD, 9 SACK GROUT TO PRIME, 1 MAN FOR EVERY 150' OF PIPE ,WELL MAINTAINED PUMP, AND A SEASONED OPERATOR AND PUMP IT.

I had to think a bit.I have done as I recall 1400 uphill and downhill.In general a richer mix pumps easier.Amounts of aggrigate/sand plays a big role.Adding flyash,perhaps high range water reducer will help as well.I can't help but think what kind of micro-wave tower it is.

just finished a tunnel pour we, myself,dave ,and tom, pumped a total of 840 feet to the far side and poured 100 feet less every pour. kind of intimidating at first but i wish we had another one lined up. we did all that with a 1200,no accumillater, the guys we worked with were the best also. i would go for it on the long one ,we might have a shot at a bid here the total lineare feet would be 1600 and i am sure we could start and finish the whole tunnel. so far my record is 840 but soon to be passed up ,bring it on....