Need ideas for getting concrete/mortar into pool hole

[PeterT]

I am putting in swimming pool, about 5 foot deep (about 30x20 feet). I did cynder block walls.

Now I want to do a portland/vermiculite floor. I have a good mortar mixer, but how to get the material into the hole.

I see some youtube videos of guys with the mortar mixer right up against the pool wall and dumping into a wheelbarrow. Obviously I could shovel it down either using 5 gal buckets of directly into wheelbarrow.

Do they make a magnesium 'ramp' or 'trough' ? That I could use/rent?

Any recommendations would be appreciated.

 

[Fluxion]

My Dad used to own a pool company years ago and I worked for him over the summers and we just handed down the vermiculite/cement down into the hole in five gallon buckets.

 

[ADSR]

No idea, but please post a build thread with pics.

Sounds like fun!

 

[Guster]

I once saw someone repurpose a kids slide for just this reason. Not for a pool but for putting down a concrete floor in a terraced house and having to get the concrete to the next level 8ft below. They found the kids slide on the roadside and set it up so they could just tip the mixer down it and the floor mix was runny enough to work.

 

[PeterT]

Thanks for the suggestions, I might try and take 2 corrugated roofing metal panels and build a chute. The portland mix won't be runny so I will need a good sharp angle. If that doesn't work, I will resort to the 5 gal pails. I was really hoping to avoid the 5 gal pails, up and down the ladder.

 

[johno]

If it wont slide down your chute rent a ******** and clamp it to the underside of chute that should get it moving.

 

[ADSR]

If it wont slide down your chute rent a ******** and clamp it to the underside of chute that should get it moving.

That's a great idea!

 

[Lippyp]

Rig up a simple frame and pulley out over the edge and then you can lower the buckets on a rope. A simple hand winch would make it simple or some kind of climbing friction device to slow the rope down.

 

[pdq67]

I have poured refractory castable that is vibrationless and self-leveling in the past. And it doesn't separate while pouring!!

The stuff mixes up like a 1/2 melted milkshake.

I don't know if you can buy a mix like this or not that is made out of portland cement??

The stuff I poured was made by APGreen Refractories, Mexico, MO and is called "EXPRESS" castable,.

APGreen is now part of ANH Refractories out of Pittsburgh.

I figure that you could set a mixer up top and pour it and the castable would flow everywhere fine!!

pdq67