FAQs

Primers

Should the concrete that comes in contact with primers be left in the pour? 

Enviro-Systems has conducted lab studies showing that Slick Willie 2 and EZ Prime do not have chemically detrimental effects on concrete. Nevertheless, Enviro-Systems recommends “priming out” before continuing with a pour when possible. 

What is the difference between Slick Willie 2 and Prime-A-Pac?

Slick Willie is a polymer primer that has been designed to be used in boom pumps. 

Prime-A-Pac is a primer composed mainly of pulverized bentonite clay. This mixture has been shown to have an effect on the tensile strength of structural concrete. This primer has been designed to work extremely well in systems composed of horizontal or down-hill runs usually pumped with a line pump.

Do pump primers affect the slump of the concrete?

Concrete pump primers vary in chemical content, but most synthetic polymers will not have an effect on the slump of concrete. Nevertheless, Enviro-Systems recommends “priming out” before continuing with a pour when possible.

How do I use Slick Willie 2?

Use Slick Willie 2 the way you would use any concrete pump primer, and always follow the printed directions.

How do I use Prime-A-Pac?

Use Prime-A-Pac the way you would use any concrete pump primer, and always follow the printed directions.

What are the advantages to using Slick Willie 2 vs. Portland Cement to prime a pump?

There are several reasons to use Slick Willie 2 over Portland Cement:

• The cost of Slick Willie 2 (disregarding the time savings) is a fraction of the cost of Portland Cement, grout or slurry. For example, the priming of a 44-meter concrete pump will need only one bag (225 g) of Slick Willie 2. A traditional grout mixture will require 3 bags of cement and 1 ½ bags of sand to prime the same size equipment / system.

• A minimum 25-30 minutes is required to mix concrete-water-sand slurry at the construction area. Comparatively, only 5 minutes is needed to mix Slick Willie 2.

• It is very difficult for operators to carry heavy, bulky bags of cement on their vehicles. Poor weather conditions can make mixing up cement on site very difficult. However, one box of 50 packs of Slick Willie 2 can fit easily on most pump trucks.
  
  
• Mixing Slick Willie 2 every time creates the same high quality mix every time. This consistency is much more difficult when using cement-based priming methods.

The Delay-Set / Retarder

When would I use Slow Willie at a pump site?

Slow Willie should be used anytime a significant delay or hold up occurs during pumping on a jobsite. If concrete has been introduced into a pump system, it is only a matter of time before set up begins to occur. If a delay is forecast to be significant, Slow Willie should be added to the mix and then re-circulated through the pump.

How do I use Slow Willie and how much is needed?

Pour a one-pound bag directly into the pump hopper for each yard of concrete that is to be delayed for up to three hours. Agitate at high speed for five minutes, and then continue to cycle the concrete through the system and hopper.

How does it affect the slump of my concrete?

Slow Willie will not affect the slump of a load.

How can Slow Willie save me money on a job?

Slow Willie prevents the loss of a concrete load, prevents damage to equipment from concrete set up and aids in customer retention for the pump operator.

Support Products

Is Crete-Buster considered an acid?

Crete-Buster is acidic.  It is, however, an effective but much safer acid to use for removing concrete from equipment than acids such as muriatic acid for instance.

How does Crete-Buster affect the paint and metal on my pump?

It does not affect paint and metal.

How do I use Crete-Buster?

Crete-Buster should be applied full strength with pump-up sprayer equipment.

Can I use both Crete-Buster and Willie Shield on my equipment?

Yes. The performance of these products complements each other.

How do I use Willie Shield?

Willie Shield should be applied to equipment before use on a workday. It should be applied with a pump-up sprayer to all external parts of machinery that can come in contact with wet concrete.

How long will the Willie Shield protect my equipment?

The amount of time Willie Shield will protect equipment depends on the amount of material coming in contact with the treated equipment. The effectiveness of Willie Shield is diminished as concrete and water come in contact with the treated surfaces.

What are the advantages of Willie Shield vs. diesel/hydraulic oil formulas?

Willie Shield is environmentally sound and will not violate any regulations with its use.

What makes Willie Shield an environmentally safe product?

It has no solvents, phosphates or petrochemicals in its formula.

EnviroSac Bags

What is this bag, and why is it used?

The EnviroSac™ bag is a construction site tool that simplifies cleanup procedures for concrete ready-mix trucks and concrete pump trucks. It helps prevent environmental damage from water runoff and facilitates recycling excess delivered concrete.

How does wet concrete harm the environment?

Water runoff from wet concrete on a job site typically has a pH of 12 and additionally has a very high sediment content. Both of these conditions can be detrimental to the environment if this runoff enters the waterways. Trace amounts of hazardous chemicals found in this concrete waste can leach into groundwater and/or contribute to construction site runoff.

Is the EnviroSac™ bag waterproof?

Yes. There is an internal lining that keeps all concrete completely contained. This prevents concrete waste water and washout water from entering the waterways adjacent to construction sites.

What materials do you use to make the bag?

The shell and support straps are made of woven polypropylene fiber, and the waterproof liner is made of polyethylene.

How much concrete is typically wasted in a cleanup procedure?

This varies. During concrete delivery procedures, there is almost always excess concrete. This concrete needs to be removed and cleaned from delivery equipment at the end of a job. This process consists of dumping excess concrete and washing down the equipment with water. Our EnviroSac™ bags come in various sizes for each job. Standard sidewalk concrete weighs over 4,000 pounds per cubic yard. Each bag is designed to hold its volume in concrete AND maintain a safety factor of 3 or 4.

Please contact us for more information.