I have a 1/4 yard mixer that I have only used one time. I want to get rid of it, but still be able to mix occasionally when I need concrete. I have the tractor, the barrel turner and the barrel, so nothing to buy. I use the barrel turner to pick up 55 gallon drums of sawdust and empty them. I also got it for about $25. This idea just came to me while reading this thread and if it works, it gives me a way to mix concrete without needing the mixer I have or renting one. It also is easier than mixing by hand. I allows me to mix gravel, water, and cement without buying the more expensive bags of ready-mix. I have a pile of gravel to use in mixing concrete, so with what I have, all I would need to buy is the bags of cement. I am 72 years old and will probably not be mixing a barn floor (like I did many years ago), but I do have a use for concrete for footings or sidewalks occasionally. I have been debating between getting the 1/4 yard mixer setup properly so I can use it, or selling it and making my wife happy. With this concept (if it works) I can sell the old mixer and still have mixing capability. The best of both worlds. I bought the 1/4 yard mixer to put in a 5' wide and 150 foot long sidewalk, but have since changed my mind and don't need it for anything that large. It is towable but had a cracked spring. Old enough that the rusted wheels were not replaceable, so I had a new Caravan axle put put under it a couple of years ago and converted from an old 6 HP engine to a 2 HP electric motor. Wrong gearing and I would need to fix that. Now, I just take the motor off and sell as is. Only $350 to buy it, but $850 to put the new axle under it. I probably won't get my money out of it, but making the wife happy is worth a lot too.
The barrel turner will sit on the forks I have for the tractor. It clamps around the 55 gallon drum (and has an adapter for a 20 gallon drum) and then a geared turning arrangement operated with a pull chain, like a chain-fall. So, by just pulling the chain, I think I can turn it over and back a couple of times and have a decent mix. I don't think I will need to roll it on the ground, but that would be an option if necessary. Like I said, I never thought of this until I read this thread and am thinking of specifics as I type. I tried looking on line to see if anyone had something on this, but have not found anything so far. I guess I will try it (when I get the barrel turner back from my son in NC) and see how it works.