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Post by mixerkid on Apr 16, 2008 15:35:21 GMT -5
I am new to the industry and need a little help with the slump guage. I am at a new plant where we dry mix the loads and we have to add water to get it to the desired slump. Can someone give me a general rule on what each inch of slump should read on the gauge? A co/woker told me today that a 2250psi on my slump gauge was a 1 1/2" slump. I though that would have been more like a 3" slump. Any suggestions will help greatly.
Thanks.
1"
2"
3"
4"
5"
6"
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gant
Junior Member
Posts: 12
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Post by gant on Apr 16, 2008 19:19:37 GMT -5
its not an exact science.. but usually around 1800 at full charge while mixing is a 4.. 1200 while in full charge but at idle is also a 4".. I usually go up or down 200 PSI to figure out what it is..but look and listen to your loads.. thats the easiest way to tell how wet/dry it is.. we have a dry batch plant as well.. after I'm loaded I sit under the plant and let it mix for a nother min or so.. then I throttle it down and see what its reading.. then ask the batchman for water as needed.. if I need more than 10 gallons I'll ask him for it.. but anything less than that I can get it when I was my fins down before I leave
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Post by mixerkid on Apr 16, 2008 19:38:16 GMT -5
So what is the proper way to read a slump gauge, full charge reved up or at an idle?
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Post by concretejoe on Apr 16, 2008 20:45:20 GMT -5
So what is the proper way to read a slump gauge, full charge reved up or at an idle? With a grain of salt. Remember that a slump gauge is just a guide. Nothing takes the place of eyeballing the load. A specific answer to your question would be to read it at idle. The slump gauge is actually reading the amount of hydraulic pressure it's taking to spin your drum. A stiffer mix wil require more pressure than a looser mix. Also different mixes will read differently. Readings can also vary from truck to truck. My advice is to get the results of any slump test that is performed and note what your meter was reading. From that point you can gauge your meter. A higher reading will be a stiffer mix. A lower reading will be a looser mix. |
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gant
Junior Member
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Post by gant on Apr 18, 2008 6:54:12 GMT -5
^^^ I dont know about the inspectors where you are, but the inspectors on our jobs are a punch of idiots.. I had my load tested a few weeks ago.. I was reading a 4.5 on my gauge.. the guy said it was a 7.. i told him theres no way, retest it.. it came out a 7.5... i said nope lets get someone else to do it.. i had another guy do it and it was a 4 and 3/4
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Post by cfconcrete on Apr 18, 2008 18:33:00 GMT -5
Gant, Didn't we already have this discussion about inspectors & their wheelbarrows?
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Post by Crazy Mudder Trucker on Apr 27, 2008 12:32:12 GMT -5
all readings are while idle...hopes this helps
6" 900-1100 on the meter
5.5"1200-1300 on the meter
4.5"1400-1500 on the meter
4"1600-1700 on the meter
3.5"1800-1900 on the meter
3"2000-2100 on the meter
2" 2200-2300 on the meter
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Post by LEAD DOG on Apr 27, 2008 19:24:12 GMT -5
all readings are while idle...hopes this helps 6" 900-1100 on the meter 5.5"1200-1300 on the meter 4.5"1400-1500 on the meter 4"1600-1700 on the meter 3.5"1800-1900 on the meter 3"2000-2100 on the meter 2" 2200-2300 on the meter  , GOOD, CLEAN LIVIN'?  NOPE!  A DAILY REGIMENT OF CHECKING SLUMPS!!! AND YOU GET PAID TO DO IT TOO  !!! |
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Post by cfconcrete on Apr 27, 2008 22:08:33 GMT -5
If I could close my eyes and imagine what you must look like, Lead Dog, I don't see "Fit n' Trim.......... ;D ;D
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Post by fishwrecker on Apr 28, 2008 13:43:30 GMT -5
Hate to dissagree since I'm a noob to this forum, but doesn't anybody here agree with me that most truck's slump gauges read differently? At my plant I run all terex advance, (2004 models) front discharge. Even they have a small difference. We have one 20o2 oshkosh front discharge, and it reads way different. I batch my loads on around a three inch slump, and it gives the driver some room to wash in. (rinse his charge hopper and fins off). Plus, if you're using super plasticizer, the load will read dryer than what it is..... also, different stone sizes... etc. Like someone said in an earlier post, it's better to look down that drum, or have the batchman take a quick peak if you're not sure. Hope I don't stir up some stank on here by dissagreeing, but hey, isn't that what forums are for? If my driver washes a load in to wet, I fine him $100 of his bonus..... The deal is, if he backs out of the batcher, and that load is wrong, it's his baby. If he tells me it's wrong while he's still under, it's mine. Fair enough? They think so.
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Post by LEAD DOG on Apr 28, 2008 20:33:49 GMT -5
If I could close my eyes and imagine what you must look like, Lead Dog, I don't see "Fit n' Trim.......... ;D ;D  |
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Post by concretejoe on Apr 30, 2008 20:03:58 GMT -5
Hate to dissagree since I'm a noob to this forum, but doesn't anybody here agree with me that most truck's slump gauges read differently? At my plant I run all terex advance, (2004 models) front discharge. Even they have a small difference. We have one 20o2 oshkosh front discharge, and it reads way different. I batch my loads on around a three inch slump, and it gives the driver some room to wash in. (rinse his charge hopper and fins off). Plus, if you're using super plasticizer, the load will read dryer than what it is..... also, different stone sizes... etc. Like someone said in an earlier post, it's better to look down that drum, or have the batchman take a quick peak if you're not sure. Hope I don't stir up some stank on here by dissagreeing, but hey, isn't that what forums are for? If my driver washes a load in to wet, I fine him $100 of his bonus..... The deal is, if he backs out of the batcher, and that load is wrong, it's his baby. If he tells me it's wrong while he's still under, it's mine. Fair enough? They think so. I think most of us agree that the gauge is just a guide and nothing replaces a calibrated eyeball. And yes, every truck is different. That's why I suggested that he gauge his own meter. As far as backing out with a wet load. I think you ought to give them till they wash down at least. It takes a while to fully mix sometimes, even with a central mix plant. Now, if a guy is consistently wet then he needs training on how to wash down and the batchman needs to learn to hold out water from guys who are consistent. |
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Post by concretejoe on Apr 30, 2008 20:05:32 GMT -5
Gant, Didn't we already have this discussion about inspectors & their wheelbarrows? They don't have enough bandwidth to even crack the surface of that one. |
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Tom
Junior Member
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Post by Tom on May 4, 2008 12:58:48 GMT -5
We tend to get it about right from the yard, and slump it down when we get to the job, we know what there requirement is and water it up accordingly.
As for our slump gauge, well every truck reads differently best to have a look in the drum, well that’s what we do.
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Post by LEAD DOG on May 6, 2008 20:48:09 GMT -5
We tend to get it about right from the yard, and slump it down when we get to the job, we know what there requirement is and water it up accordingly. As for our slump gauge, well every truck reads differently best to have a look in the drum, well that’s what we do. ( catch yer breath). down the ladder  . |
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gant
Junior Member
Posts: 12
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Post by gant on May 7, 2008 6:22:41 GMT -5
and I ran a wheelbarrow over by about a quarter the other day.. I was driving a different truck and when I hit the stop switch for somereason it throttled the truck up in disharge lol.. I had to run up and kill the truck..
and tom we have to get our loads just right before we leave because we cant add water on the job.. the contractor has to order a 4" slump but wants a 6 or a 7 with some HRWR
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Post by Mort on May 17, 2008 18:14:46 GMT -5
and tom we have to get our loads just right before we leave because we cant add water on the job.. the contractor has to order a 4" slump but wants a 6 or a 7 with some HRWR Boeing was doing that for a while. Some engineer though it was a superb idea, probably not knowing anything about concrete. It didn't last too long, especially when the inspector wasn't there. |
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Post by lafargeslave on May 30, 2008 19:48:32 GMT -5
yah really. honestly lately it doesnt seem to matter around here. even the DOT work is not even serious about controlling water. went to pour a footer for an over the road sign post. Told the dispatcher that the counter was not working. loaded anyway. pour the job and the state DOT inspector comes to the door. whats the counter read? 3. (as a wise ass) I tell the guy I am pretty sure it had more than 3 revolutions on it. Guy blows his stack. tells me hes going to call the company.? and? I remind him that he is supposed to check the counter before I pour, you skipped the step and got burned. how about we call your boss and ask him about you not following the rules and letting suspicious loads pour out anyway? got pretty quite after that. our consistancy is really taking a nose dive. we have people now, other than the QA guys to be at important pours to adjust everyone before pouring out. generally a driver makes twice as much as the batchman/dispatcher. I think they are catching on and are just dumping whatever they want into the trucks. today we have a guy get the priming grout back at a job, they dump the bucket back into the truck. he takes it back to the yard to be loaded on top. he reminds the dispatcher about the yard of grout. normally they would put 8 yards on it going right back to the same jobsite since they are inconviencing us, but no not today, they drop 2 yards on him and try to send him on his way. he calls on the radio, asking the ding dongs what kind of slump they think he has. oh were sorry back back under for a dry up. so now the guy gets an extra yard, witch will be more than the customer needs, so an unpaid trip the dump is in the cards before the guy even leaves the yard.
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Post by Crazy Mudder Trucker on Jun 8, 2008 18:06:23 GMT -5
that sucks luckily we have enough room at our plant to spin off left overs. Even when the crusher is there we stil manage to spinoff.
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Post by Mixer Driver 69 on Jul 2, 2008 16:48:58 GMT -5
Remember to mix the load up real good before you read the meter. Even when ya load on the wet side it'll appear dry until it's well mixed. The meter reads best at full charge in idle. If it's not to hot a day, leave the plant with your load a little dry. You can always add water at the jobsite, and most times, they'll want you to. On really hot days, leave the plant just a little wetter than the contractor asks. It'll get dry fast on your way to the jobsite.
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gant
Junior Member
Posts: 12
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Post by gant on Jul 2, 2008 18:34:45 GMT -5
Remember to mix the load up real good before you read the meter. Even when ya load on the wet side it'll appear dry until it's well mixed. The meter reads best at full charge in idle. If it's not to hot a day, leave the plant with your load a little dry. You can always add water at the jobsite, and most times, they'll want you to. On really hot days, leave the plant just a little wetter than the contractor asks. It'll get dry fast on your way to the jobsite. On most of the jobs we are on we cant add water on the job.. so we got pretty good at leaving just right.. we are allowed a 4 plus or minus 1.. I usually get there around a 4 or a 4.5.. we are allowed up to a 5 or 6 depending on the mix...we go to these guys so much we know how they like it and they are always happy with our product.. |
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Post by Crazy Mudder Trucker on Jul 2, 2008 18:42:15 GMT -5
Remember to mix the load up real good before you read the meter. Even when ya load on the wet side it'll appear dry until it's well mixed. The meter reads best at full charge in idle. If it's not to hot a day, leave the plant with your load a little dry. You can always add water at the jobsite, and most times, they'll want you to. On really hot days, leave the plant just a little wetter than the contractor asks. It'll get dry fast on your way to the jobsite. On most of the jobs we are on we cant add water on the job.. so we got pretty good at leaving just right.. we are allowed a 4 plus or minus 1.. I usually get there around a 4 or a 4.5.. we are allowed up to a 5 or 6 depending on the mix...we go to these guys so much we know how they like it and they are always happy with our product.. I love jobs like those. It makes it so much easier for both us and them. eventually they get a little lenient. What I do is I look at where I am going, the mix design,what they want it, how long it'll take me to get there (lots of traffic out this way) If they want it at a 5" I'll leave at 6-6.25 and by then time I get there 95% of the time I dry up to slump ordered and half the time they'll add water anyway. The only time I NEVER do this on is on hospitals, schools and highway b/c they are strict and always by the book. |
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Post by Mixer Driver 69 on Jul 2, 2008 18:57:48 GMT -5
Also wanna look at the PSI of the mix. 2500, no problems. 3000 or higher, there'll be an inspector. Show up on the money!
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chads
New Member
Posts: 6
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Post by chads on Jul 11, 2008 16:08:31 GMT -5
Reading your gauge depends on the mix you have on. If you have big-rock footing mix and want a 3" and puke it out at 1500 it will be pretty loose. If you have a 3/4" 3000lb footing mix at around 1500 then it will be around a 3. After you do it long enough you'll know how about 20-30 mixes react and how each customer wants them, but never assume anything!! Let them add water! If in doubt pull the load up and look at it!
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Post by muddshooter on Dec 9, 2016 22:05:01 GMT -5
All though I'm new to the industry all this info is pretty accurate for what I have experienced and I was wondering about when your truck isn't fully loaded like with a call back for 4 yards will say....how can u break it down on the slump gauge to help with an approximate starting point for slump
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Post by c0nkreteoutlaw on May 5, 2017 7:24:25 GMT -5
I am new to the industry and need a little help with the slump guage. I am at a new plant where we dry mix the loads and we have to add water to get it to the desired slump. Can someone give me a general rule on what each inch of slump should read on the gauge? A co/woker told me today that a 2250psi on my slump gauge was a 1 1/2" slump. I though that would have been more like a 3" slump. Any suggestions will help greatly. Thanks. 1" 2" 3" 4" 5" 6" |
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Post by c0nkreteoutlaw on May 5, 2017 7:32:33 GMT -5
your meter will read different depending on load size. Remember when you get down under 5 yards the slump meter might not read accurate.In Advance/Terex mixers, anything let than 3.5 yards we put the meter reading on 1000. For 3 yards, that is a 4 inch slump. 1-2 yards we put on 1000 til we get bto the job and look at it. Then add what is needed from there. If its a State load and you cant add water on the job site. 2 yards should be between 800-900 for 3-4 slump. The small loads are harder to get right than the larger loads.If the concrete is a interior or exterior mix can also change things.The slump meter is a guide only. If you are on a job with strict inspectors, go a .5" dry because weather conditions have been known to change the way a hydraulic slump meter works.
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, GOOD, CLEAN LIVIN'? 
NOPE! 
A DAILY REGIMENT OF CHECKING SLUMPS!!! AND YOU GET PAID TO DO IT TOO 
!!!
.
