Electric Cement Mixer

[BB_TX]

Dave - I do have a few of those cans sitting around, probably enough for 2 coats of miscellaneous colors. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif. Browsing Harbor's web site I just found out that they have a store about 20 miles away. Looks like a trip this weekend. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

My dad bought a used electric mixer years ago, I turned 47 today so I know it was yeeeaaarrrsss ago.../w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif this thing has mixed more cement than I would care to remember. They are great to have around, would like to find one myself as mixing cement by hand isn't my idea of a fun day.

 

[Rch]

BB_TX, I used one like the picture on NH Tools. One thing, start it rotating EMPTY. I filled it with the drys then plugged it in. The motor couldn't start it and started smoking in short order.

 

[BB_TX]

OK, y'all convinced me that electrics will do the small jobs just fine. Harbor has a 3 1/2 cubic foot model on sale for $199.99 (regular $249.99). Called the local store. They said print the web page and bring it in and they would honor the price. Guess I'll have a mixer Saturday.

 

[herbenus]

I've also got one of the primer red Chinese mixers from Harbor Freight. They were running a special a year or two ago: $179 plus free shipping. Good deal. Have had some problem with it not wanting to start under load. I just grab an edge and start it turning. Beats heck out of a shovel and wheelbarrow. And heads up on assembly: the instructions look like they were written by a very non-technical, and then translated by another non-technical. Steps are out of order to the point I had to go back and reassemble 1-2 times. But you'll get it. Back then they didn't have a storefront close by but now do.

 

[MDNick]

BB,

A friend of mine and I went in on a cement mixer from Lowes.

A Bearcat mixer. Sorry the attached pic is so small, it's the best I could find. It holds about 120 pounds of bagged cement. $250. I used it to mix mortar. It did OK. Mortar mixers have paddles, like a pastry mixer, cement mixers are just a drum with paddles bolted to the side. I think the mixer would work real well for cement. The aggregate would help roll the material away from the sides. It worked and when I needed one, I needed one NOW. Couldn't wait to get a better or cheaper version. This has a heavy gauge plastic drum. I'd recommend it over a hoe and mortar tub any day.

Nick

 

[Bird]

I'm not sure, but think my brother got his from Home Depot; pretty cheap looking, but worked just fine for two 80# bags at a time, and got quite a bit of use building sidewalks, flower bed borders, etc., and he got most of his money back from selling it in a garage sale when he sold his place in the country last Spring. We always washed it really good when we finished a job, so it still looked good when he sold it. And my paternal grandfather probably used his more than anyone I know of and thought it was great 50 years ago! So they're not exactly a new thing.

 

[rocky2]

Ah Bill, you brought a chuckle to me reminding me of the instructions. I did the same thing, put it together, take it apart, put it together. Sitting on the garage floor cussing the Chinese, the translator, the UN.

 

[herbenus]

And does a 1/2 bolt mean 1/2" diameter or 1/2" long? I saved one screw from mixer as a souvenir. The threads go completely around bolt and meet up - like it was machined on a lathe with no feed. I don't know how you can even make a screw this way. Machine still works but sounds like it will fall apart any minute. I've gotten a lot of use out of it but I have to admit: it's one of the biggest pieces of junk I've ever bought. If I had it to do over I'd probably go an extra hundred and maybe get the HD machine.

 

[MossRoad]

Well, you heard the other's comment about the instructions and paint. Mine was actually painted, but the instructions were quit hard to understand. But even I was able to do it. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

And like Bird said, be sure to wash it out well after each use. And grease and oil it as well.