Masonry Magazine July 1965 Page. 23
UP
UP
&
UP
WITH MORTAR
The efficient handling of mortar is one of the major projects of the MCAA Material Handling Committee. This year's committee chairman, Herman L. May, decided to try out some new ideas on the construction of the Southwest Bell Telephone Company's new 12-story office building in Houston.
The new idea was pumping mason's mortar 185 ft. straight up. The relatively simple procedure kept 15 masons supplied with mortar, with no more lost time waiting for buggies of mortar to arrive via hoist. Not only were the masons supplied, but also two men were freed for other tasks and the hoist was freed for other trades and materials. Conventional mix proportions of 1:2:9 (one 94 lb. bag portland cement, two 50 lb. bags air entraining masons lime, and 9 cu. ft. of sand) were most successful. Other mix proportions didn't pump as well and had a tendency to separate. No stiffening of the mortar was experienced due to pumping as the mixture was forced up through a 2 in. aluminum pipe by an efficient mortar pump. Pump pressure was maintained at 150 to 175 lbs. psi. A total of 75 tons of air-entraining masons lime, in job-mixed mortar, was moved by this pump system, quickly and economically.
The new method has now become a conventional system for the Herman L. May Co. On any structure over 5 stories the full cost and time saving potential can be realized.
Mortar is discharged into a hopper. A 1:2:9 mix proved best for pumping.
Twelve floors up the mortar reaches the mortar board in minutes. A 2" aluminum pipe transports the mortar for 15 brick layers.
Mortor pumped from the ground floor under 150 to 175 lbs. psi spurts into a buggy. Constant supply keeps the bricklayers on schedule.
(Courtesy Red Topics Magazine, United States Gypsum Co.)