Plain Concrete for Farm Use — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
Plain Concrete for Farm Use
John Stuart Mill · en
The straight wall form may be built continuous (Figs. 4 and 5), or in
panels of a size convenient to handle, and from stock lengths of lumber
(Fig. 6). Generally the face boards are placed horizontally and secured
to studs or posts. The face boards may be 1 or 2 inches thick and from 6
to 10 inches wide, preference being given to the narrower widths, which
are less liable to cup or warp. The thickness depends upon the spacing
of the studs, the number of times the forms are to be used, and the
depth of pouring. Ordinary sheathing, if the joints are made tight, is
satisfactory for foundations of dwellings, etc., and the studs, if 2 by
4 inches, should be spaced 18 inches on centers. The studs for a long,
high form had best be 4 by 4 inches or 2 by 6 inches, spaced from 2 to 3
feet center to center. The studs of the inside and outside forms must be
tied together to prevent spreading; this is conveniently done with No. 10
wire, as shown in Figure 4, or with one-half or three-quarter inch bolts,
which is the more expensive method. Bolts should be greased to facilitate
removal. Temporary spacers of wood, 1 by 2 inches, of a length equal to
the thickness of the wall, should be used to prevent drawing the forms
together when the wire or bolt is tightened. They should be spaced at the
ties, but need not be at every wire, and are knocked out and removed as
the concreting progresses.
[Illustration: Fig. 5.--Straight wall form for level ground.]
The ties should be spaced on each stud about 2-1/2 feet vertically. If
more than 3 feet of concrete is poured at one time the ties should be
closer together, vertically, at the bottom of each pouring. The thickness
of the wall does not affect the number of ties. On removing the forms the
wires should be clipped close to the face of the concrete and punched
back, unless the surface is to be stuccoed. If a pit hole is caused by
punching back the wire it should be pointed up with mortar, which then
should be rubbed to make it blend with the general surface.
MIXING.
PREPARATION OF PLANT.
Before starting to mix, annoyance and money may be saved by planning the
location of the mixing plant with regard to convenience in depositing
the concrete in the forms and ease of access to the materials. Often the
board can be located so that by moving it once or twice the bulk of the
concrete may be shoveled directly into the forms. It is more economical
to wheel material a distance of from 10 to 25 feet than to carry it in
shovels. Eight feet is about as far as it is profitable to shovel.