Postcrete Problem.

[Iamcazzy]

I'm planning to erect a rotary clothes line later today. I've got a bag of postcrete and the rotary line along with the ground spike and a builders bucket. I've got to put the spike in a bucket as it's difficult to site the rotary line permanently in the garden. I'm unsure of the best way to go about this as the poscrete instructions discuss digging holes in soil and fence posts etc. What would be the best water quantity? Do I put the water in the bucket first as you would do with a hole in the soil for a fence post?
I'd be very grateful for any advice.

Thank you.

[Atheist]

I'm not sure that a bucket of concrete would be heavy enough to support a rotary clothes line full of wet washing. What's the ground spike? Is it a socket that you normally bury in the ground, which then accepts the rotary pole? Are you proposing to carry the bucket down the garden every time you want to use the line? Wouldn't it be easier to fit the base socket properly in the ground, and just carry the rotary out to the socket when needed?

[Iamcazzy]

Ideally, I'd love to put the ground spike in the garden soil, but I don't have the room with the garden layout as it is. There are too many obstacles in the way of allowing the rotary line to rotate. It wouldn't be really wet washing in this weather in any event.
The ground spike is a tube that's been compressed on it's lower half into a star-shaped profile and the whole thing is galvanised. The tube top takes the rotary line pole and there are inserts to accommodate different diameter poles depending on the make and model of the rotary line.
I'm not planning on moving the bucket more than a foot or so around its usable position.

[Canary42]

I fear the bucket will blow over, landing your washing in the dirt.

Regarding the mixing instructions*, I would suggest putting a third of water in the bucket then proceed as per the instructions. But this is only a guess, as water in a hole in the earth will be absorbed somewhat.

I recommend contacting the Tarmac help desk:-

For further information
Technical helpdesk
Tel: [phone]
E-mail [email protected]
Customer services & sales
Tel: [phone]
E-mail [email protected]

* https://tarmac-bluecircle.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Postcrete-V2-approved-08_10_18.pdf

[gingejbee]

I'm also of the opinion that washing on a rotary "spinner" would be top-heavy...too unstable to stay upright even without any wind.
I'd be putting the spike in the ground where you're expecting to place the bucket and remove the spinner when not in use.
I fear that your original idea is not going to have a happy ending.

[Atheist]

I think the postcrete instructions suggest putting water in the hole until it stops draining away, and I seem to recall that you fill the hole one third full. The bucket won't drain, so I suggest that you fill it the same as you would a hole in the ground after it has drained. I'm still dubious about the project, as has been stated above. Best of luck.

[Iamcazzy]

Thank you all for your advice. I did give it a go using 4.6 litres of water in the 14 litre bucket - instructions said to fill one third of the "hole" with water. Added the postcrete with the spike being held upright in the centre of the bucket. Checked horizontal and vertical levels with a spirit level. Mix started stiffening in two minutes and the spike stood on its own in the mix in three minutes. Set like a dream. I left it for three hours to continue to strengthen. Finished height was an inch below bucket rim.
Played about with the pole inserts to accommodate the pole and hung some a few damp clothes on it after the three hours. No problems encountered so far but I do appreciate it's been a virtually windless day. I'll try not to hang a huge amount of washing on it.

[Canary42]

Thinking about this, on a windy day you could always rig up some guy ropes - might restrict the revolving capability but that's no great hardship.

[Atheist]

Iamcazzy. Glad that your postcrete worked OK. I've used it twice and I think it's great. Hope your line stays up when used. If necessary you could always sink the bucket into the soil for extra stability.

[Tilly2]

There's a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza.

Put the bucket in a hole.