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➤Tools/Supplies Used:
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Our Amazon Shop - https://amazon.com/shop/fixthisbuildthat
Kreg 20v Cordless Circular Saw - https://amzlink.to/az0nDR9dlwU47
Kreg 20v Drill & Driver - https://amzlink.to/az01wO2r6QU1U
Kreg 20v Sander - https://amzlink.to/az0FwPXVdxpXP
Kreg 20v Oscillating Tool - https://amzlink.to/az01aTJYSiPxg
Concrete Mixing Paddle - https://shoplowes.me/4u9fKSy
Magnesium Float - https://shoplowes.me/4wZHlbe
Finishing Float - https://shoplowes.me/3PKxZQ1
Edger - https://shoplowes.me/4dTixcq
Concrete Mixing Tub - https://shoplowes.me/4ucjLpb
Tamper - https://shoplowes.me/4fLAbkM
Dust Mask - https://amzlink.to/az0lg24nW7ScJ
Wire Remesh - https://shoplowes.me/4fQ79An
Quikrete 5000 - https://thehomedepotcreator.pxf.io/Jk...
Quikrete Fast-Setting - hhttps://thehomedepotcreator.pxf.io/Gb...
Rapid Set Concrete - https://thehomedepotcreator.pxf.io/ZV...
Rapid Set Control - https://thehomedepotcreator.pxf.io/gR...

Brad pours three different concrete slabs and uses them to compare regular, fast-setting, and rapid-set mixes for mini-split pads, focusing on workability, curing time, finish quality, and color.[youtube]

• Intro: Problem and Test Setup
  Brad introduces the question: which concrete mix is best for DIY mini-split pads, noting one slab turned into “a disaster.” He outlines the three products: Quikrete 5000 (~$6.50/bag), Quikrete Fast-Setting (~$8/bag), and Rapid Set Concrete (~$17/bag), and explains he’ll pour one 20" x 40" pad with each to compare. He mentions the test location at the side of his new Workshop Goals building, with three outdoor condensers needing pads spaced 16" apart for airflow.[youtube]

• Site prep and forming the pads
  He removes grass, tamps and waters the soil to create a stable base, checking level with a 2x4 over the area. Brad discusses adjusting the slope so water sheds away from the building, using 1/8" cardboard shims stacked to achieve a 3/8" fall across the 20" depth. He builds simple 2x4 forms, stakes them with 1x2s, soaks the base, adds about 1" of all‑purpose stone, tamps to get 2.5–3" pad thickness, and cuts wire remesh sized to sit mid‑slab.[youtube]

• Mold release, gravel, and remesh setup
  Brad applies WD‑40 as a mold-release on the inside of the forms so they’ll strip cleanly later. He adds a last sprinkle of water over the gravel to avoid it pulling moisture out of the fresh concrete and positions the remesh ready to be pushed in halfway through the pour.[youtube]

• Pouring Quikrete 5000 (standard mix)
  He details Quikrete 5000’s specs: longer set time (10–12 hours to walk on, ~28 days to full 5000 psi strength) and lower cost. Brad mixes two bags at a time in a plastic tub with about 4 pints of water per bag, warns about concrete dust, and notes the mix initially feels too dry so he adds more water for better workability. He shovels the mix into the form, evens it out, pushes remesh in mid‑depth, and uses a DIY concrete vibrator and screed board to consolidate and level, admitting he’s “just a dude on the internet mixing concrete, not an expert.”[youtube]

• Finishing and curing the Quikrete 5000 slab
  Brad mentions he over‑watered the slab and even oversprayed water from rinsing concrete off the wall onto the surface, but lets it rest 30–45 minutes until thumb pressure leaves a shallow impression. He edges and trowels the pad once it has set up, describing it as “like butter,” and emphasizes the importance of timing for finishing work.[youtube]

• Introducing Quikrete Fast-Setting (second slab)
  Next, Brad presents Quikrete Fast-Setting mix, highlighting its much shorter set window (20–40 minutes vs. ~10 hours) and only slightly higher price per bag. Because it goes so fast, he plans to mix four bags in two batches, uses more water (8 quarts), and warns viewers to mix in cooler parts of the day with cool water to avoid the mix setting even faster.[youtube]

• Sponsor plug and fast-setting mixing difficulties
  He briefly promotes shop.fixthisbuildthat.com woodworking plans as a sponsor segment before continuing. Brad tries to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations but finds the fast-setting mix extremely stiff and hard to work, anticipating poor edge quality and struggling to embed remesh properly. He admits the mix is “so dry,” adds water late, and jokes about viewers listing everything he’s doing wrong in the comments.[youtube]

• Fast-Setting slab: failed consolidation and ugly finish
  Brad attempts to screed and vibrate the fast‑setting slab, but the dryness produces large voids and rough pockets throughout. He tries adding water on top, edging, and smoothing, but calls it “the portion of the video of how not to mix quick set cement,” clearly unhappy with the finish and compaction.[youtube]

• Day‑after evaluation: standard vs fast-setting slabs
  The next day he compares the first two slabs: the Quikrete 5000 pad looks smooth and generally very good aside from a lighter area likely caused by extra surface water from the building. In contrast, the fast‑setting slab looks “an absolute abomination,” with deep voids and uneven surface, raising worries about water infiltration, freeze‑thaw damage, and long‑term durability.[youtube]

• Introducing Rapid Set Concrete and set control
  For the third pad, Brad brings in Rapid Set Concrete Mix, which is rated to set in about 15 minutes and reach full strength in roughly an hour. He explains Rapid Set is meant to be mixed very wet and can be slowed down using Rapid Set “set control” packets, each adding roughly 15 minutes of working time; used per bag, this can extend the working window to about 30 minutes but increases cost further.[youtube]

• Prep strategy and mixing method for Rapid Set
  Brad emphasizes full prep: all tools, water, and forms ready before opening bags because Rapid Set uses about twice the water of the other mixes. Following tips from Michael Builds (whom he credits), Brad decides to add concrete into pre‑measured water, mixing with a paddle and drill on low speed instead of hand-mixing, and plans for three bags total.[youtube]

• Rapid Set pour: wet mix, bucket failures, and rain
  The first Rapid Set batch comes out very fluid—possibly too wet—but easy to place and consolidate, and he sets the remesh in this layer. As he mixes additional batches with set control, his buckets repeatedly fail: the drill paddle blows holes through the sides, forcing him to mix in leaking containers and improvise while concrete and water spill out. Despite the chaos, he gets the slab filled; the mix remains soupy and workable, and he skips vibration due to the high flow, just screeding and shaping the slab.[youtube]

• Unexpected rain and tarp improvisation during Rapid Set cure
  While finishing, unexpected rain arrives much earlier than forecast, threatening the fresh Rapid Set surface. Brad scrambles for tarps, rigs a makeshift canopy, and continues floating the slab under cover, removing excess surface water and remarking that, aside from the rain, this mix is proving very pleasant to work.[youtube]

• Timing, finishing sequence, and curing behavior of Rapid Set
  He tracks time: about 30 minutes after starting, with extra set control added, the slab is still soft and workable, contrasting sharply with the quick‑setting disaster. Brad corrects his finishing technique by using the magnesium float earlier for leveling and the shorter steel finishing trowel later, which gives a superior closed surface compared with his first slab.[youtube]

• Demolding all three slabs: color and edge quality
  Returning about an hour after the rain, Brad finds that the tarp had collapsed, spreading dirt onto the Rapid Set surface but only superficially; under the grime, the concrete is solid and warm, still curing. Before stripping forms, he notes color differences: Quikrete 5000 is a light gray, Quikrete Fast‑Setting is a darker gray, and Rapid Set is almost white; he points out that mix choice significantly affects appearance for exposed pads.[youtube]

• Quikrete 5000 slab: detailed inspection and verdict
  Removing the WD‑40‑treated forms from the Quikrete 5000 slab is easy, with the wood releasing cleanly and only minimal edge cleanup needed. Brad sees relatively few side voids, a smooth top, and strong edges, concluding that Quikrete 5000 is a dependable, inexpensive “basic concrete” that provides a solid, long‑lasting foundation if you can wait for its slower cure.[youtube]

• Fast-Setting slab: structural concerns and possible remediation
  When he demolds the fast‑setting slab, large voids and poor compaction along the edges and sides confirm his earlier worries. He notes that remesh is present inside, so structurally the pad might remain usable, but invites viewers to comment whether it should be torn out; he suggests resurfacing with a concrete resurfacer to improve the top, shed water, and reduce freeze‑thaw damage.[youtube]

• Rapid Set slab: best overall performance
  Stripping the Rapid Set forms shows dense, well‑filled edges and minimal bug holes, which impress Brad. He reiterates that the video is not sponsored, but personally judges Rapid Set as the best performer for this application—easiest to work (when mixed wet with set control), very fast cure, and excellent edge quality, albeit with a higher price per bag.[youtube]

• Final recommendations and outro
  Brad’s bottom-line recommendation: for DIY slabs where speed and workability matter and budget allows, Rapid Set with set control is his preferred choice; for cost‑conscious projects with more time, Quikrete 5000 remains a solid option; fast‑setting should be reserved for post‑setting or very small pours due to its unforgiving working window. He closes by pointing viewers to another video showing how he used gravel instead of concrete for a shed foundation and encourages them to “get out there and build something awesome.”[youtube]