Hi all!  I am new to the field of pumping concrete (so please excuse my lack of knowledge) and thought it would be great to present my situation to the forum of finding the best pump for my project.  My project (which I can not get into detail about) calls for a few requirements that is normally not seen in this industry (at least I don’t think so). 

So here is the jist.  I will be pumping a quick set concrete (largest aggregate is 3/8”) in intervals of 1 ft^3 throughout the day (probably 1.5-2 hours in between each pump) and the pump has to be roughly 100 feet away from the outlet.  One requirement is to have very little to no waste in-between each pump interval when cleaning the line.  Therefore, once the amount of concrete I need is in the line, I can not add more concrete to “push” the amount I need to the end of the line.  I need the pump to “push” the concrete to the end using just air (hopefully that makes sense).  I understand there probably is no pump that will just use air to push and clean the hose, so a small amount of water will probably have to be used.  (One of my wild thoughts/ideas was thinking if it is possible to put a ball or something similar in the hose and push that behind the concrete, cleaning the hose as it gets to the end.  But I guess when it gets to the end you have a high pressured ball shooting out.J)

The other big requirement is the size of the pump.  Preferably, the pump could fit in a 2 ft^3 box and weight no more than 100 lbs.  This can be stretched a little, but I just can’t have a huge pump.  The pump also can not run on chemical liquids like gasoline or diesel, therefore air, electric, etc. would work.

I am leaning towards a peristaltic or piston pump.  I believe peristaltic pumps can pump the remaining liquid in the line with just air, but not completely sure.  Once again I am new to pumping concrete and even using pumps in general, so any advice on the type or even a model/company you recommend would be great.

Thanks in advance,

Mike

When you do it right you don't have to have a shooting ball when you use air. With the right attitude and strategy it just comes roling out at the end :-) 

But why not use some retarder in the concrete ? Then you can just let it stand for 2 hours. Its on the edge but it goes!!

But maybe its better to call a concretepumping company... They have the knowledge. Its not so easy to just start pumping when you don't have any experiance. It's not like you can just fill up the hopper and swich on the pump...

GOOD LUCK

Grout pump!

I may have read this wrong but it sounds there are lots of liabilitys with this specific job? Being extremely green and new to the business be prepared for some extreme learning curves with this project, good luck!

I think you need to look into chemgrout pumps.

Dipstick probably said it best,call a reputable pumping company to do the job.It sounds as if there is way to many stipulations and "liability" connected to this job.This could just be an engineers wet dream and unachievable.

There are jobs out there it's best to walk away from,besides,the hero business don't pay jack.

All the info you just got is the best you can get walk away and don't look back cause if you plug and you will with quick set concrete you are asking for big trouble that type of concrete goes on Furnass or something hot, most pumping company will shy away, and if you think you are smarter than these guys on here you are going to find your self losing your shrit.

5 gallon bucket job

Sounds to me like you need a squeeze pump, no pistons to push but a rubber hose in a drum with rollers this pump is perfect for pumping 3/8 mix they make a 26m boom pump now just lay the rest with 4in line when done push concrete in the tube then put 3 balls behind the crete and fill the hopper with water to clean out simple and much less maint. then the piston pumps I starter out running a 17m squeezer great pump http://www.concretesqueezepumps.com/ check out the web site

i know were you can get  used electric pump,

mark 601-201 5194

Look at my page on you tube , precision poured concrete.com, or my web site same addy

i have a putz roline sounds to me its what you need

What pump is only 100 lbs ???

Again, Chemgrout, or a Sandpiper diaphragm pump.

Yea, there is something wrong with the math.  3/8" agg but only 1 cuft(ft^3) of total concrete.  That's not much more than a 5 gal bucket.  We wanna help but need more info.

100lb pump? If you find one, let me know. That would cut my diesel bill big time. I could tow it with my bike!!!!! I think I read it has to fit in a 2 ft area? Seems a little difficult, but I guess I can park my bike somewhere else. Just giving you a hard time, let us know what you find.