Overheard a guy at the supply yard say my mortar mix was too wet, he was right

I was grabbing sand at the yard in Columbus on Friday and this older fellow looked at my bucket and said 'son, that's soup, not mortar.' I got defensive at first, but then I checked my joints after a few hours and they were slumping bad. Has anyone else had to unlearn a habit they picked up from watching YouTube videos over real job feedback?

1 comments

1 Comment

waderamirez2d ago

The 'soup, not mortar' line hits hard because it's true in ways the video never shows. Cameras flatten everything, so you can't see how the mix actually behaves when it's on a trowel or against a brick. I learned more from one grumpy mason at a job site about water content than all the tutorials I watched. That slump you saw after a few hours is the real test, not the shiny demo on a screen. Your mileage may vary, but I'd rather trust the guy with calluses than the guy with a ring light.