I kinda figured you as a straight to the point woman. No sense wasting time diddling around!
Hitachi Magic Wand or DeWalt* concrete vibrator?
*Warning- Not for use with women with osteoporosis or otherwise fragile pelvis or hips!
The most powerful ones I have seen on big pours sometimes are two man affairs - one holds the AC powered motor hooked to the diesel power generator
And the other manages the long flex shaft.
We were placing a message sign post footing in wet sandy conditions in January a few years ago up on what I think of as the 400 extension, north of Barrie.
Bore the 36" diameter casing in and use rotary bore drill inside it to bring muck up.
Took us a while to realise the sand muck coming up was flowing in at the bottom of the casing at this site
It Was the last of 8 footings in the contract, and the 7m long casing steel, though worth $5k, was pretty banged up by then.
I suggested the contractor maybe think about leaving the casing in the hole this time, if he wanted any hope to get this thing in today.
Hang the 6m long anchor cage at the right height on the kelly bar hoist line and use the drill head mechanism with chains to hold onto the casing and push down for most of the pour.
And keep pouring concrete until the level comes up right.
Normal pour was is 7cum of concrete for these footings
First concrete truck comes, drops 8cum in, vibrate and bang, the concrete drops out of sight.
Second truck was on the way because the super knew it would take some more.
Drop its load in, vibrate and some of the first load starts coming up on the outside of the casing.
Not what we want to see.
Third concrete truck ordered, Dump first 4cum of its load in the void around the outside of the casing and vibrate ouside casing until level is stable.
Wait 10 minutes, then add about 3cum in to top up the casing and this time the level stays up where we want it.
Hoist the casing a bit to get the right top elevation. Adjust the cage, wait 5 minutes, pull all the supports
Vibrate the 1.2m long anchor bolt cage in. Lay vibrator on the top keeper plate and let it walk the bolts down
Unchain everything as last concrete goes in, wash up tons of stuff with the concrete truck wash water.
What a day.
Dress off the top with trowels, add wet burlap, gobs of straw bales, rope around tarps to protect concrete while still hydratiing against frost.
Left home at 6am. A hole that started 9am. Pour that was supposed to finish about 3pm.
And it was 9pm before we pulled the last of the cones and started heading home. Got in the door at midnight.
Late dinner, no alarm clock set when I went to bed.