Truth About Fast-Setting Concrete Mix // Setting Fence Posts

Truth About Fast-Setting Concrete Mix (for setting posts). A review of Quikrete, Sakrete and Mastercraft quick-setting/instant concrete mixes. Comparing the pros and cons of fast setting concrete mix vs the usual inexpensive concrete mix.

I've used fast-setting concrete and regular concrete to set fence posts, and a mailbox post. From my experience both types of concrete mix work great for setting posts. The compression strength of both types of concrete is generally about 4,000 psi after 28 days of curing. If you'd like to save money and don't mind mixing concrete, I'd recommend using regular, cheap concrete. If you are in a time crunch and need to get a fence up or other project finished within a day, I'd recommend using instant or fast-setting concrete mix.

[KammeO]

Peagravel, tamped as the hole is filled, works immediately & as the ground swells & moves with the dry & wet weather, settling even more, tightening itself around the posts.
Using concrete makes a Qtip out of posts.
I've used this and it seriously WORKS way better than attaching a fixed "rock" to a post. 👍👍👍👍👍

[effinpistov]

Thank you! I had been fretting about what to use and how for a backyard project and this really helped to set me straight in making the right decision!

[justmeagain]

I prefer premix in a wheelbarrow. It's not that difficult. I tried the method he spoke of once. It still had many dry spots and i pulled it out of the ground with my bare hands days later.

[JimmyJaxJellyStax]

They both work great, really depends on the budget and schedule.

[Snowbirdin]

"How can I start out the video?" I think I'll just lay down next to a bag of concrete :)

[nikfish]

It's interesting, because everywhere in Australia the quick set is virtually the same price as a regular bag of concrete.

[metoo]

Followed directions to a T, didn’t soak up the water, had to mix and redo

[nigelclark]

Thanks, your way of doing
it is the best l think.
Good video.

[paulcoffman]

T0 mix concrete fast and easy, get large strong plastic bag. Put the dry mix into bag. And the water. Roll around the bag and dump out. Thats it.

[ericdrisgula]

Deciding to use normal concrete or fast set depends on largely how you intend to install and mix or not mix the concrete

[Charliemmafan]

I've been using the regular 50 lb fence post concrete as well as 60 lb and 80 lb high strength concrete and I try to put as little water as possible so that my concrete is as strong as possible so that my fence posts don't go anywhere and last a long time hopefully but my experience is that the concrete is never completely wet unless I put basically the absolute highest amount of recommended water that's prescribed but they say it's not as strong that way but when I put a lower amount that's actually more recommended my concrete is never fully wet when I mix it so this is why I'm thinking about using the fast setting concrete instead because you don't have to mix it ahead of time and I would just basically put 1 gallon of water inside the hole per bag and supposedly it's strong because you can put more water in the fast setting concrete compared to the non-fast setting for whatever reason that I'm not really sure about so this is why I'm thinking of using the fast setting kind not because I really need it to be faster but because it might be stronger and allow you to put a little bit more water in comparison because I'm worried that the non-fast setting concrete when I use it I'm probably putting too much water because when I put less it's never fully mixed and a lot of it is dry so this is my problem could you help me with this because when I use thec80 lb high strength bags which is what I use the most it seems like I have to use 1 gallon of water plus about 16 oz more so that all my concrete is wet but you're actually supposed to use a fair amount less water than that to have your concrete be fully hard after 28 days or whatever so if the fast setting kind would allow you to put 1 full gallon of water per bag and each bag is only 50 lbs even though it's a lot more expensive for the amount of pounds that's actually a lot more water for the amount of concrete that you're using but I'm just worried that the concrete that I'm using never gets to the 4, 000 PSI or whatever they call it because I want it to be as strong as possible but also fully mixed because isn't that important to have it strong that it's all wet basically at least some? so would the fast setting be stronger since I put more water than I should be with the high strength nonfast setting that I'm using? I don't need it to set quick but I'm worried about putting too much water in the concrete that I'm using because the fast setting allows you to put quite a bit more water basically for the amount of concrete and you also don't even need to mix it obviously either so I wouldn't need to worry about dry patches I'm assuming because the fast setting doesn't seem to have a problem with dry patches of concrete that aren't wet or I haven't heard of anybody worried about that since you just pour a gallon of water in the hole after you put each bag of the fast setting concrete in around each post so could you help me out with this problem potentially?

[astrocross]

Thank you so much for your information because that's what I wanted to do but for my canopy that I use to park my car under I kind of just wanted to use some cans or buckets to just do that it's already there except the lift them up put the post all down into it and then pour it all in like you said and I really appreciate it because when you don't have a man around you got to learn to do it on your own thank God for YouTube and thank God for people like you thank you very

[MrSeezero]

Was it okay to use Quikrete Non-Shrink Precision Grout to hold up a wooden fence? It comes in a white package.

[jasonpoolo]

This is this antidotal butt every time I've taken post out that used fast setting concrete they just chipped away and I could easily break them off and pull the post out whereas the cheap high strength concrete was a pain in the ass to get the post out

[hikariscissors]

Thanks for the video. I always wondered about using regular concrete vs fast setting concrete in a post hole without premixing. On the concrete websites, it says to only use the fast setting concrete for post holes if not premixing. But maybe because it cost more? I'm not in a hurry and want to save money but I'm worried because on regular types of concrete it says to premix. What do you think? Thanks!

[Jamie-zsyc]

Your only negative regarding fast set is price?

[aintright]

Thanks for sharing, I personally don't mind mixing the concrete mix with water because I've taken out hundreds of posts that used both methods, and the dry placement meathod literally falls right off the posts. Best advice IMO is regular cheap concrete mix then just add a half or full shovel of pure Portland cement to your mix. It will harden quicker and its there for life. 😉

[juliawilkins]

What kind of accent is that? It is so intriguing.

[nobrizzle]

Just look up videos on dry vs wet mix concrete strength. No bueno on the dry set up

[amyself]

Good video, had wondered. But I doubt water gets to all parts of the concrete in right proportion to be very strong, too much too little and that area is weak. But for a post hole that is fine, wind on a fence and post is like 500 pounds pushing sideways along entire 2x25inch post so really foam or even balsa strength could withstand it ha .. I see some people laying slabs with dry method, and with respect that is just dumb, they are leading astray all their viewers, concrete is not magic it has a recipe with I used that foam stuff last time, that was easy.