Traveler, I too have been mixing in a 50gal drum with the hand mixer and found it a lot of work for my 67year old body. What I found was that, for me, the hardest part was getting a thorough mixing of the cement and water only, to be the most demanding. It was hard to get all the cement mixed into the 'slurry', with no or little residue/paste on the bottom of the barrel after I poured it out. (especially since I was doing this myself) What I was thinking, was that mixing the cement in a barrel mixer, assuring that it was well mixed, then pouring that slurry into my 50-gallon drum and adding the foam at that point. I'm new to this and have only done a few test batches, but my first test batches raised concerns with me since in the future I want to add sand 1:1 for a slab and can only imagine it getting more difficult. I guess the next best thing would be to find a 'younger' helper :-) Your thoughts would be welcome.
Aloha,
Jim

I thank you both for the information. As mentioned I don't think there will be much of a load on the steps and the footer under them. I too am in Hawaii--on the Big Island in North Kohala. I want to use aircrete but only if it is 'doable'. I was reading in the some of the posts here, that the use of a 'fabric' adds the much-needed strength to the building as a whole. I'm wondering if it will add some compression strength to the steps and footing if I were to wrap them, once completed in the fabric that is set in 'airmortar'. I am very new to this and want to do more with aircrete in the future, that is why I would like to figure out a way to do this footing and set of steps using it, instead of the 'quickcrete' that I have used in the past for projects. I like the idea of a 1/2" of mortar over everything and even using tile over the aircrete seems like it would certainly disperse the compression load. Any and all comment/suggestions are more than welcome. Mahalo for getting back to me. Aloha...

I see that you said aircrete has very little compressive strength. Do you think it has enough compressive strength to be used as footers @18" wide X 5.5" thick that would be used to set steps on, coming off of a lanai? I also want to make the steps out of aircrete. Maybe from blocks that I make from forms that I pour aircrete into. I read that mixing sand in aircrete can increase its strength. Would that be sufficient in footings with a load of only steps and people stepping on them--or just stick regular concrete?