Cemented

Things I learned about cement:

• Cement looks like a lot of fun to play with and is, in fact ... a lot of fun to play with. No, really.


• It is, however, even messier than it looks


• When the directions say "soak surface before applying", don't forget that step.


• Bringing a bucket of slop water in which to rinse things sounded like a good idea, and was


• Just mix it with your hands. But don't forget to wear rubber gloves!


• If you rinse them frequently, the rubber gloves will not only be salvagable, but basically clean and suitable for non-cement-mixing tasks.


• This also applies to most other implements -- trowels, etc. -- involved


• Whatever you actually mix the cement in, however, will be so trashed that not only can't you use it for anything else, you're not even going to want to use it for mixing more cement after the second or third batch.


• Fast-drying cement heats as it hardens. If you get any on your skin, wash it off before it gets to that part.

( There's more, but it doesn't bullet as well )