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A retired mason in Boise told me his secret for a perfect mortar mix is a specific number of shovels of sand, not a bucket.
He said, 'Three shovels of sand to one of cement, mix it dry first, then add water slow until it holds a trowel's edge,' and I've never had a batch fail since.
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ivan406mo ago
Is the exact number of shovels really that big of a deal? Sand can be packed loose or tight, so a shovel isn't a real measure. The dry mix tip is solid, but I bet you could use four shovels one day and two the next and still get mortar that works fine. Some guys just get superstitious about their methods after doing it for so long.
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blair_williams696mo ago
Actually, the shovel count matters more than you'd think. Even with sand density changes, keeping the ratio consistent is what gives you the same strength every time. That's why the old guys stick to their numbers, it's not just superstition.
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