bricklaying headaches

Hi all,

I recently started work building a brick barbecue. The concrete base turned out perfect, but I didn't get much further than that. I'm having a lot of trouble mixing good, easily workable mortar. The mix I tried is 6:2:1 (sand:lime:cement). Since I'm just getting started in laying bricks, I need to take my time adjusting the bricks into place. This seems impossible with the mortar I made. No matter how much water I put in it, the mortar dries fast and doesn't stick to the bricks (bricks that have been layed 24hrs ago can easily be removed by hand). What am I doing wrong?

Try using a 3:1 'plastering sand':'cement' mix which should work fine.
Ensure the mix is neither too dry or too wet before laying your bricks.It it's you first time - don't mix too much or it will go 'off' before you can use it and you will weaken the bond by watering it down again...

Thanks for your answer. I'll get back to work on saturday. Fingers crossed.

I don't know where you are located but many home centers sell a product that has the sand and mortar in it.....you just add water. Mix only as much as you can use in a half hour or so. You want type"S". The brick will pull some of the moisture out of the mortar so you need to make sure that the brick are a little damp when you lay them. Damp not wet. Wet brick can roll in or out after you lay them due to the weight of the wall above. If it is going to rain cover the portion of the wall that is completed and your brick stockpile. This should help you.
Good luck

I hosed the bricks down the night before laying them and poured some liquid soap in the mortar mix. Everything went more-or-less smoothly. How long does it take for the mortar to cure? I need to lift the work top (a nearly 200kg concrete slab) on top of the brick walls.

In good weather - a couple of days should suffice..