How To Make Concrete Harden Faster

There are a few things that make concrete harden faster. Covering concrete with plastic can help it set up more quickly because it traps in the heat made by the chemical process of the drying concrete. Using concrete accelerants will also speed up the time it takes concrete to harden. The actual curing of the concrete will still take a month, but it starts sooner when the initial set up of concrete is sped up. Calcium chloride is a common, if not the most common, concrete accelerator and is widely used.
Warm water added when first mixing concrete will assist in a quicker initial set time. Once the concrete has dried and hardened to the touch, wetting it down with water will help cure and strengthen the finished concrete product. This is one of the best things you could do for your curing concrete. Applying water to the concrete for a few days after initial set up will allow the chemical process of hardening to continue with enough hydration for a complete cure and optimal strength.
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#CreatingConcrete #diyconcrete #concrete

[@UrimThummin]

thanks for the educational video.

[@teslastones]

Easier just to use self curing cement that is full strength in one day ( with no curing routine )
( not Portland cement )
Portland is a binder-- it is not the ONLY binder and it is not always the best binder
We choose the binder ( cement ) and the fillers to achieve the performance parameters needed

[@geadup]

If the concrete is in a mould do you mean wet the outside of the mould?

[@ahmadali-qv9pd]

Hi can you pls let me know where to get calcium chloride and how much i need to add and when .? i mean with the water or after i star mixing. thank you

[@amerrashed6287]

Calcium Chloride ..u mean like gypsum powder?!!

[@InDeath]

How much water do i use through out the day?
Do I wet it once a day or like 3 times a day?

[@creatingconcrete]

Any time it looks dry. In direct sun that could be multiple times per day. Especially the first 3 days. Basically the idea is that you can not overwater it with wet curing.

[@InDeath]

@@creatingconcrete Thanks! Got it.
One last question. What ratio would be great for dumbbells?
1:2:4, 1:1:2, etc etc.
For more context, using buckets as the mold, and metal pipes for the handles.
More accurately, what grade would make me some durable dumbbells?

[@lachlanitis2311]

Instead of wetting it over and over a better method is to wet it and cover it with Hessian and plastic to keep the moisture in.
On a hot day the water disappears quick and you're back to square one.

[@creatingconcrete]

@@lachlanitis2311 definitely direct covering would be great but if this is a decorative concrete piece you need to be careful about allowing anything like plastic, burlap or otherwise to touch the surface of the concrete as it will leave a visible discoloration in this spot.

[@lachlanitis2311]

@@creatingconcrete well use curing oil then, like I said unless you are watering it constantly with a sprinkler. Pointless.
How do i know this? I'm a concreter with 20 years experience in all aspects and I know what works and what doesn't.

[@kylebarvel]

🗿