fandomhigh | Shop, Period 5, Week 9

"Hey, class!" Tim said as he bounded in, still expecting the students to clap at him. Silly Tim.

"Today, we're going to do a popular home improvement. We're going to lay a slab of concrete. Now, there's a lot of uses for this," he said, as he wheeled out a portable cement mixer that was churning cement. "You can use this as a patio, foundation for a garage or a tool shed, save the cost of hiring a contractor to pour a driveway, or even for something simple such as securing posts for fences. They don't make good shoes, though," he said with a ~~totally annoying~~ laugh.

"Now, cement and concrete have been used by centuries. Thousands of years. Which means that the road constructions started during the Middle Ages are almost done, right?"

Tim came from Detroit. There were no freeways in Detroit that weren't under construction or reconstruction or repaving. Smart Michiganders invest in the companies that make orange construction barrels and that reflective tape for lane switching.

Tim went through a brief overview on cement and concrete and how to mix for large or small projects.

"Okay, there's two projects here. One is to secure the posts in the ground here," he said, pointing to a line of holes with fenceposts in them pre-leveled. "The other is a team effort to fill in this slab for a tool shed," he said, pointing to a 6x10 foot rectangle made with boards clamped together as a form for the slab.

"So. Grab some safety goggles, a bag of cement, and get started!"

[OCD coming up]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

And grab some clothes to get concretey in. It's gritty stuff.

Peter Parker

Naomi Wildman

Luke Skywalker

Abigail Whistler

A.J.

"Now, some people will just fill the hole with cement and pour water in, but the correct way is to mix first and pour," he said, demonstrating by pouring the cement out of the 5 gallon bucket...and mostly in the hole. And on his shoes. And pants. And possibly the people closest.

For this, there's the portable cement mixer. It's small, it's portable, and it'll need constant attention. "For this one, mix the cement in the mixer, pour it in the frame here," he pointed at the wooden frame set on the ground, "and then move it around a bit with the shovels," he said, pointing at some long and short handle shovels. "Once you've got it to the right thickness, then you can smooth it over with a board so it's flat, and maybe cut grooves in it for traction or for looks," he said, pointing to a trowel with grooves (http://www.biblelife.org/floor-v-notch-trowel-big.jpg). "This will save your keister on a cold day when you're trying to get the snowblower out and the concrete is icy. Make a few swirls before it dries, and instant traction. Augh augh augh!"

Talk to Naomi once she's here.

Naomi was there if she was needed.

Yes, you can build a cement birdbath for extra credit.

Tim Taylor prevents world ending through safety.

Shop, Period 5, Week 9

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OOC