Electric Cement Mixer

[rancar]

Great Bill....let us know how the job works out. I've used my mixer on small jobs, watching those small jobs become even bigger jobs until it reaches the point that I wish I had contracted to just have a truck come in to do a pour. I'd be interested to receive your feedback as well as those of others on mixing own concrete in relation to size of the job and knowing where the personal threshold is where one decides it isn't worth it and instead makes more sense to contract the job.

....Bob

 

[RanchMan]

BB_TX -

Really strange timing as I literally came in a few hours ago after setting a few posts with my Harbor Freight mixer. I didn't mix much (only about 500 lbs worth) but after many years of mixing small batches by hand, believe me when I say that I will ***NEVER*** mix by hand again!

I haven't ever had any trouble with my mixer. I have a 5000 watt generator I use to run it. When its full and I first start it the generator will "bog down" for about half a second, but the mixer has never failed to start spinning right away - and it doesn't take long to mix a batch either.

Sometimes they will drop the "sale" price to $179 instead of $199, but you'll have to get the right flyer to find it and it doesn't happen often. The free shipping would save you some more money, but you'll have to wait a couple of weeks for it to get to you.

Even at the $200 price, I suspect you will be very happy with your purchase. (Just don't pave your whole back yard! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif)

 

[wroughtn_harv]

Just above HWY 121 on FM 160 is a perpetual yard sale. They had the mixer you're wanting yesterday. It might still be there today. I haven't stopped, they don't have my kinds of stuff on sale, but they had a small brush hog for two hundred the other morning and one seventy five that evening.

A little perspective for you. Those are usually about two and a half cubic feet max. That means you can pour an average of two feet of sidewalk three feet wide each load. Consider the time it takes to mix a batch and then muliply it out. You might decide having to finish while mixing and not getting either done quite right worth a hoot.

I have a nine cubic foot concrete mixer. That's three six cubic feet wheelbarrows full enough in the wheelbarrow that the average man will lose two years sex life pushing it fifty feet. When it comes to slabs I'm for concrete truck. Finishing is so much easier.

Renting a nine cubic foot mixer used to be about fifty dollars a day. A compromise is a six cubic footer but they usually find homes where they're a legacy and are passed down via a will.

 

[BB_TX]

Harvey - Do you mean State Hwy 160 (toward Whitewright)? I don't recall a FM 160, at least in my area of 121?
Right now I only have plans for concrete facings for my culverts, setting some fence posts in the near future, and some other small projects. The one I am looking at is advertised as 3 1/2 cubic feet. If I plan on any large slabs, I will definitely rent something larger or hire it out. Too old already to start shortening my sex life. /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif
Bill

 

[BB_TX]

RanchMan - Thanks for the input. I found out that there is a Harbor Freight store only 20 miles away. They have the mixer in stock and will honor the web price so I can just go over and pick one up.
Pave the backyard? I don't think so. Had enough of pavement. I just want to look out over open green pasture and trees now. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[EdDekker]

I have a Kushlan 3.5 Cu Ft mixer <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=6970&langId=-1&catalogId=4006970&PHOTOS=on&TEST=Y&productId=616&categoryId=149>this one</A> from Northern Tool.

I have had no luck (that should read 'skill') using it. When I mix a batch of cement I get a hard layer on the bottom of the mixer with about half the dry powder. The only way this hard lump mixes in is when I dig into it with a shovel and force it to mix. The effect is more work than just mixing the cement in a tub. I have used several types of Quickcrete premix bags (normal, sand mix and fiber reinforced) with the same results.

I have tried:
adding the cement first than the water with the motor on
adding the cement first than the water with the motor off and turning the motor on
adding the water first than the cement with the motor off
adding the water first than the cement with the motor on (makes a big cloud of cement dust)
adding the water first and throwing the entire bag paper and all into the mixer motor on (a mess getting the paper fragements out)
mixing one bag at a time
mixing two bags at a time

In all cases I get the lump of mostly dry powder at the bottom and need to dig into it to force it to mix.

Can someone with the skill and experience suggest what I should try next time I mix some cement?

 

[rdbrumfield]

The only way I have ever mixed cement is to have a pile of gravel-sand and bags of cement. I shovel the gravel in with the motor running, add water, then shovel cement. By counting shovelfulls of each, you get an even mix. With it going in evenly it mixes without layering. Have a box, or use something to dump the cement into so you can shovel it out easily, trying to put it in by the bag would be cumbersome I would think.

 

[herbenus]

I have experienced the improper mixing as well. I found that tilting bucket closer to horizontal mixes better, forcing off bottom. Also, sometimes mixing more works better then mixing less. But I'm not an expert. Usually I have to relearn each time I plug it in and usually only figure it out when I'm about done. I do know it helps to precisely measure water. Forget the water hose. Get a measured bucket or pitcher. What works good for one bag will work for the next. Also, maybe switch brands. I've had best luck with the yellow bags from Home Depot -"Sarkrete" or something. The white bags I got from Ace were coarse sandy and I was unhappy with mixing. Sorry I don't remember brand name. Hope this helps.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

<font color=blue>Harvey - Do you mean State Hwy 160 (toward Whitewright)? I don't recall a FM 160, at least in my area of 121?</font color=blue>

Yup. That's the town of Desert. Here's picture of the mixer. He claims it was used once by an old couple. It looks like that might be the truth.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

Here's another.