Need opinion on mixing conrete

[ek4 hatchback]

Hi, I joined the Garage Journal for few years with very limited posts. Currently I am trying to decide if I shall cut the tiles and dig out the earth to embed the scissor lift or just leave as is, please see below,

I have no experience in concrete but I have read a few post in DIY. There is a few issues that I am not sure and I would like to see if you expert could help answer.

1. If I do it, I plan to cut open 8ft x 6ft and probably 8inch deep. Also use some rebar to lay on the bottom. The question is do I have enough time to mix concrete and pour in the pit at the same time, it seems that I will be too slow to mix and pour, any of you expert can help comments?

Some back grouund of myself, i live in Hong Kong and I can not / know anywhere I could borrow equipments as in the US. Thanks in advance!

 

[pcmeiners]

8x6'x8" thick concrete is a lot to mix by hand, can't mix fast enough with only one person. If you have a couple workers doing the mixing it is doable.

 

[EOC_Jason]

Are you saying you want to make the concrete 8" thick, or you want to recess the lift down 8" ???

I would think there should be *some* equipment rental place there in HK, even a small concrete mixer would make the job a LOT easier for one guy.

As pcmeiners said, having a couple people helping would make it much easier by hand mixing.

 

[Bretny]

Here home depot rents a large towable mixer for almost $100 a day. A yard of concrete is roughly that pricedelivered.

 

[Stuart in MN]

You may have already seen these, but here are a few previous discussions on installing scissors lifts in the floor that may be helpful.


https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35433
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=383717
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=405051
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=280126

 

[johnnyradiant]

Research will help

 

[Cobra5150]

Here home depot rents a large towable mixer for almost $100 a day. A yard of concrete is roughly that pricedelivered.

Long way to tow a towable

 

[ItsNemo]

I've mixed sixty 30kg bags in one pour (6x12 pad 5 inches thick, roughly)...with an electric mixer, 2 bags at a time, and with 4 guys doing the work...it went ok but it wasn't fun and I would never do a bigger job than that. It was also just for a shed so the concrete didn't need to be absolutely perfect.

My scissor lift I had a truck come in and a concrete contractor do the pour. I did the demo, forming, rebar, etc. but left the critical time sensitive work to the pro. Was worth the money and it turned out great, there's no way I could have got the pits as level/smooth/filled as he did. He had all the right floats and a concrete ******** and such to ensure it was done right.

 

[ek4 hatchback]

8x6'x8" thick concrete is a lot to mix by hand, can't mix fast enough with only one person. If you have a couple workers doing the mixing it is doable.

Are you saying you want to make the concrete 8" thick, or you want to recess the lift down 8" ???

I would think there should be *some* equipment rental place there in HK, even a small concrete mixer would make the job a LOT easier for one guy.

As pcmeiners said, having a couple people helping would make it much easier by hand mixing.

Here home depot rents a large towable mixer for almost $100 a day. A yard of concrete is roughly that pricedelivered.

I've mixed sixty 30kg bags in one pour (6x12 pad 5 inches thick, roughly)...with an electric mixer, 2 bags at a time, and with 4 guys doing the work...it went ok but it wasn't fun and I would never do a bigger job than that. It was also just for a shed so the concrete didn't need to be absolutely perfect.

My scissor lift I had a truck come in and a concrete contractor do the pour. I did the demo, forming, rebar, etc. but left the critical time sensitive work to the pro. Was worth the money and it turned out great, there's no way I could have got the pits as level/smooth/filled as he did. He had all the right floats and a concrete ******** and such to ensure it was done right.

Thanks for all your reply, it is great to heard you experience and i got the answer. It would not be doable for me and i would need some helping hand or paying someone to do it.

 

[ek4 hatchback]

You may have already seen these, but here are a few previous discussions on installing scissors lifts in the floor that may be helpful.


https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35433
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=383717
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=405051
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=280126

Research will help

Thanks for the link, doing more reading.

 

[Bretny]

Long way to tow a towable

I was not suggesting you rent a mixer. I was saying that some times renting a mixer is a waste of money when you can make a call and havr it delivered.

Remember even if you rent a very low cost mixer you still have to buy the cement.

 

[firebirdparts]

Here in the US delivery is cheap and that’s the best way.