The Snowball Test
DO YOU NEED TO ADD WATER?
Start by picking up a handful of the OLBA and attempting to make a snowball. This material should fall apart in your hand either on its own or after a gentle prodding. If the OLBA holds its form already, no further water is needed. If the snowball holds its form and has a wet sheen to it, the material is too wet and you must spread it out and let the material dry.
(NO WATER NEEDED)
(DO NOT USE - MUST DRY OUT)
YES - WATER IS NEEDED
Begin by adding 1% of water by weight (you can use this cheat chart), followed by a thorough and homogeneous blending.
Perform the snowball test once again. You should see a firmer snowball. If it holds its form after a slight prod, the material is sufficiently saturated. If it still crumbles under a slight prodding, add 1% more water by weight and complete the blending cycle once again.
Once it is determined that water is needed, blend water into the OLBA in batches that can easily be replicated (ex. 5 or 10 ton batches). Spend time learning the ideal moisture content on the first batch, so that the cycle can easily be replicated once the proper water amount per batch has been established.
(ADD 1% BY WEIGHT)
(ADD 1% BY WEIGHT)
NO MORE WATER
DO YOU NEED TO ADD WATER?
Start by picking up a handful of the OLBA and attempting to make a snowball. This material should fall apart in your hand either on its own or after a gentle prodding. If the OLBA holds its form already, no further water is needed. If the snowball holds its form and has a wet sheen to it, the material is too wet and you must spread it out and let the material dry.Watch this video to see an optimal snowball
DO NOT MAKE THIS MISTAKE – TOO MUCH WATER
Adding too much water will result in a water sheen on the surface. Too much water in the OLBA will negatively impact the installation and overall performance of the material. Compacting OLBA with too much moisture in it will result in a spongy “Jell-O” type texture that will never fully be compacted.
If too much moisture is added, you must spread the material out in the sun to allow evaporation to remove excess moisture over time.
