Hey guys, First of all, great forum you have here. Im in the market for a small line/trailer pump. I am a pool builder. We are currently subbing out the shotcrete and I would like to stop doing this to increase our profits and ease the install. My question is which pump should i buy? Besides yards per hr, what is the main difference with say a P-88/mayco C30 at 30 yds per hr and a putz thomkatt tk 30 that also does 30 yph? Can I use a P-88 for shotcrete? Our pools usually take around 30 yards total. I know on the mayco website it says the mayco C30 can do shotcrete, but i was wondering if anyone here has ever done it? Also, which pump would you rather have: P-88 or mayco C30? Thanks for your help, Ryan

I think the P88 and the C30 are basicly the same pump. For shotcrete it might be better to look for a swing tube (S-valve) pump. The Reinert with a swing-away hopper is a good option for shotcrete. Makes it easy to clean out when your swing-tube blocks.

Please at least call our sponsors who sell Shotcrete pumps.

Putzmister Telephone: (800) 884-7210 http://www.allentownshotcrete.com/

Reed (888) 779-7333 http://www.reedpumps.com/shotcrete.htm

TransCrete 323 662-9615 http://www.transcrete.com/index.html

Magnum Pumps http://www.magnumpumps.com/applications/shotcrete.aspx

I think those are your four good choices. All three are great pumps and all four support this web site.

Its very cool that these four companies support this web site.

I wouldn't use a ball-valve style pump - not only is there a safety issue (the Swing-Tube pumps allow you to actually reverse the flow of the concrete in the line when you have a plug - ball valves cannot do this). Swing tube pumps have higher concrete pressure, which you'll need if you're ever pumping a stiff shotcrete mix any distance. Also, S-Tube wear parts will last you MUCH longer than ball-valve pumps

REED offers a few different pump options for pool builders - all S-Tube style pumps:

A30 - REED's least expensive pump - made to compete with ball valves. Great value - 82 horsepower, 903 psi

A30HP  - like the A30 above, but with a variable-displacement hydraulic pump (a neat option, but not required)

A40HP - 1172 psi concrete pressure (higher pressure than the A30) and 6" material cylinders (good if you ever decide to also pump big rock concrete with the same pump). A really great value for the $$

B50 - the 50 yard/hour shotcrete pump has been the shotcrete industry standard for a few years  (for the bigger pool builders and shotcrete companies). 110 horsepower, 1361 psi concrete pressure

B50HP - steps up to 130 horsepower

we also offer the C50S, C50SS, C70S, C70SS and C90SS...but these are really mostly for going very very long distances horizontally and/or vertically. We sell these to very big contractors/tunnel builders/mining companies, etc. They're very powerful, have lots of concrete pressure...and really are way more than you need for your first pump.

Please call us ANY time with any questions you have.

Thanks for your time!

- Mike Newcomb @ REED
www.REEDpumps.com
Tel: 888-779-7333
cell: 951-312-3111

Mike I have to disagree with you on cost of parts S-tube parts cutting ring, are a lot more costly than Ball valve parts, I know cause I run a Ball Valve it take a better part of a day to change out a S-tube my Ball valve about one hour for the poly paks, and S-tube might be better for shot crete but a lot of guys use ball valves to do the same thing, if you are pumping a dry mix add some fly ash and it will slide like lighting.

true, a ball valve will push shotcrete as long as it has enough powder in it, i myself learned to shotcrete w/a    olin 565 back in the day,and i don't knock it, but for a few more bucks if you can afford a swing tube or rockvalve, the possabilities are endless, and when you got those poor mixes, well no worries there, the bigger pumps will push it through, and for the occasional but guaranteed plug you can always reverse ;)

Thanks for the quick reply guys!! Hey Biged and toper, would a 7.5 bag mix with 150 fly ash at a 3 inch slump be pumpable with a ball valve like the P88?

it is always the same story. First time shotcreters buy a ball valve pump because it is cheap and realise soon after that they should have bought a swing tube pump.

Listen to the voices of experence

Swingtube,like the picture,nice setup

What is your contractor using now, is it doing the job? The Olin ball valves are very inexpensive to operate and quick to rebuild. The smooth no kick hose is nice also but you have to get the mud around the balls into the cylinders instead of straight into the cylinders with the "S" tube. I had to run a screen vibrator and a pencil vibrator just to get the mud into the cylinders. Now I had 300' of 2.5 hose out and the nozzleman had dust on him from shooting. I like my Olin and do not like shotcrete, too hard on any equipment. Very abrasive.

Here is a no brainer I just thought about. Get the Reed dry process machine. I have one for restoration work but have shot cement and sand mixed in a mortar mixer and ran through the hose and water added at the nozzle. There is a company here that has the same set up except with a volumetric mixer. Never a plugged hose or any kick and YOU adjust the consistency of the mix instantly. Very sweet deal.

Why would one want to be so limited? At least one could fill in idle time renting the machine out doing smaller slabs/walls.I know,a noval concept,called making money.

I personally love ball valve pumps, with the compensator they give a smooth, gentle nozzle action. However, when it comes to the mix design, if it in not spot on ... it's a danger zone. As ball valves cannot be reversed to relieve a blockage .... you have a major problem.

Now for good reliable shotcrete with no real concern for the mix design you cannot beat an S-tube. Transcrete sells the Alpha P25 S-tube model for not a lot more than an 88 or P30 ball valve machine.

The Alpha was designed to replace the ball valve machines.

Give George Clingerman a call (323) 662 9615.

their

We do quite a bit of shotcrete projects and we use SCHWING 750-18X and they have all the power you want with a high YPH. We have one for sale right now its an 03 with 2400 hrs on it and its in immaculate condition. Let me know if this might be something yoour interested in.

How much for the syhwing 750.          Clay 903 293 1800

I got a p88 and was want to lean how to shoot my ptojects

This thread is from nearly 5 years ago, doubt that machine is still for sale. Bht hey you never know, good luck

i like the putz for pumping , I think it pumps a tight mix better , but is a nightmare to chip out the s-tube, the schwing will get the job done and its easy to remove the back plate and chip the rock valve out , if I was doing nothing but shotcrete , I'd have to go with the schwing , I have no experience with a REED so I cannot say one way or another.

shot a pool last month with the TK-40 stiff i was hitting high pressure. would not use anything less than this scale of pump

Yeah a Colombian gentelman bought it with cash a few years ago. His only requirement was that it could do Shotcrete. Always wonder if he was doing tunnels for drug runners but who knows.

I never worked with a ball valve before..What is this with ballvalve pumps not being able to revers? Sounds like an unacceptable issue to me. So if you plugg and there is some air in the line you're basicly f*cked?? This by its self should be a reason why ballvalve pumps shouldn't be sold...

You can never be sure that you don't plugg.

I see. But some plugs like a finfish you can not beat out. And why not a trap door? Doesn't seem to difficult to me to make one.. Sure its a good pump for the right patient type of guy but it sounds horrible to me

I pumped yesterday with the p88. First load that was on a four slump pumped good. Second load was a six and it did nothing to stop o

up. Does that sound right 

Sounds like the job went like it is supposed to.

I have been driving all kinds of crazy sh*t the last years and always try to see the good sides of any pump and stay possitive, think prize/quality ratio and a lot of the cheaper brand are actualy not so bad. 

But when I end up on a Putz or Schwing its always this ''ahhh finaly a propper pump again'' feeling..

Must admit I never drove a REED or any Ball pump so can't judge those..

On my p88 I notice the cylinder with main piston is moving and my piston is tight