If you guys recall I asked for stroke advice for large grocery store pour couple weeks ago, well yesterday was the day. Left my house at 2:30 am with first mixer trucks to arrive at 5am, every piece of equipment and security fencing was of course in the way, started setting up anyway, laid out 120' of rubber 3" and three sticks of slick line off the pump, 3" of course because contractor assured me it's peagravel color mix, mmmm butter pumping. First truck was inspected, no color, no allowable, out tumbled 3/4 rock at about a 3" slump, it's for a wall. I said " what the fuck is this" about 4 different guys run over and tell me trader joes higher ups wanted big rock, so I say if I'd know that I wouldn't be here, this is a 4" job for speed. Well after fighting every entity to wet the first load to even prime, I got my way, not before they had to break every hose and shake it twice

By now its been an hour and I've got 6 trucks stacked, no biggie I'm use to pressure, the poor lazer screed guys are rolling their eyes and sittin bored on the machine (king concrete) they start mentioning its the wrong mix as well, then a few union guys start chirpin that it should be at least a 7 sack mix and what's up with the big rock, remember this is a colored floor for a grocery store, ok well I got it going and all the meat heads are happy, so the 4 greenhorns running the hose have never seen a hose, they had their little ropes tied around it yellin an fighting back biting, super fun to watch, so I keep mentioning " don't kink the hose" so I've got the pump getting up to speed on the second truck it's laying down fast enough for the screed to start doin it's thing, the boys are all slack jawed watching the screed when they get screamed at to move the hose, all of a sudden..... Kink kink kink, the fellas kinked it in multiple places at the same time and release, welcome to concrete pumping I mention to a kid that I really think pissed himself, so now their scared to death of my pump. Ha ha. The mud by this time is two hours old and its steaming, thank god for the pros on that screed, they also brought two riding power trowels, sixth truck went off, 7 gallons of plastic couldn't keep it alive and fresh truck number seven is stuck in traffic, so much for 8 minute spacing. Sent the truck away and blew my pump out, told the kids to break and shake every line, of course the truck showed up as they were half way in it, oops ha ha. So the rhythm was found I didn't bother cranking the pump up to insane speed since they couldn't  move everything that fast anyway, other than the occasional fin plug it was business as usual, I loved the King concrete guys, they were fun on that screed, saved the job in my opinion, that floor is beyond perfect, after I left and got cleaned out, I came back and was walkin on a flat shiny floor. So heres the rundown turned the pump on at 5am and off at 1:30 pm with 210 yards pumped. I absolutely love the chaos, wish I started pumping 20 years ago, now to see if some pix will load off my phone

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The beano hino! i use to run that ol' girl for the pumps previous owner, she's a good pump for sure.  i see you running around from time to time and Rick and his crew know how to lay down the mudd fast i've poured a lot for mudd with the king boys

if you know its not going to pump you shouldn't have even tried!!

this looks like a 5" slick line full volume kind of job off the back of a pump :-)

Of course he should of tried it! You think the contractor is just going to believe you that it won't pump? Try it and show him. As for 5 inch line I don't know what kinda crap concrete you guys run but in the northwest 4 inch is plenty big enough for some decent volume. 

high volume jobs work much better with large line. we usually use 4 inch in northwest Pennsylvania but If its high yardage 5 inch is the way to go I think

Everyone knows booms are dangerous, that's why I choose safety line pumping, snicker. The volume was fine, just lots of delays, I even had time to run next door and buy slushys for one lucky driver and all the finishers, it was easily 75 degrees in there with terrible ventilation 

75?

haha! bisley I was thinking the same thing....

75, 30% humidity, no air, my finger on the switch was totally worn out... Pant pant

ok fine I'm a pussy

Here in Tx we are lucky if we see a low of 85 this time of year.

I am in Louisiana ,stay covered up and lots of water.Good for the body..........

Great story and awesome pics I always love seeing other line pumps They wanted Pea Gravel for a grocery store floor ? i woulda thopugh they wanted rock or atleast 50/50 ?Finishers love pegravel mix here is California and in Florida from what Im told Who was the ready mix supplier ?

only operators like us can understand the pressure once the trucks start lining up, nice job