Mixing concrete in the FEL Bucket

[jaxs]

That's a larger version of this.

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Bruce

I have one of those little roller buckets and it works much better,or should I say wears you out less than shovels and hoes. I mostly used it for setting a few stones or bricks because it's easy to transport to site. Any more than 6-8 cu ft and I use a little electric mixer that takes up to 4 80 lb bags. I think I paid about $200 and it has been wort every cent. In general,people put too much water in concrete. You can hardly mix with a shovel unless exrta water is added and I'd say impossible with a power paddle. The second most serious mistake is not adequately troweling. Even broom finish should be troweled before brooming to prevent dusting,spalling and other defects.

 

[Jstpssng]

I had an old 5 cubic foot mixer which had gears so worn that it only would run backwards, and I had to grab the belt to help it get going. When a friend gave me a smaller mixer I scrapped it, and have kicked myself in the tail ever since. I'm sure that I could have done something about replacing the gears... I'm pouring another slab this summer and it's going to go a lot slower with the smaller mixer. I buy sand and Portland cement... it will be interesting to see how long it takes.

 

[2manyrocks]

I have one of those little roller buckets and it works much better,or should I say wears you out less than shovels and hoes. I mostly used it for setting a few stones or bricks because it's easy to transport to site. Any more than 6-8 cu ft and I use a little electric mixer that takes up to 4 80 lb bags. I think I paid about $200 and it has been wort every cent. In general,people put too much water in concrete. You can hardly mix with a shovel unless exrta water is added and I'd say impossible with a power paddle. The second most serious mistake is not adequately troweling. Even broom finish should be troweled before brooming to prevent dusting,spalling and other defects.

I have one but I wonder if they are no longer made because there are eBay listings over $100 for them. HF has a small electric mixer for $199. https://www.harborfreight.com/1-1-4...ore=&msclkid=64d4f56f36b91cf3f4fd97e12845b7fb

If someone mixed much small job concrete, they could probably mount the mixer to a FEL quick attach mount to not only move the mixer, but dump the mix directly into their concrete forms.

 

[dodge man]

I did a few bags in the end loader bucket when I had a Kubota BX. It works fine.

 

[2manyrocks]

FEL bucket sure beats a wheelbarrow. It's just the mixing part is no fun.

This guy mounted a HF mixer (the bigger one that's $249) to a pallet and then moved it with his pallet forks on his tractor.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

they used to mix it in a mortar boat, a 3x4x1' pan. I've done 80 cu ft by hand in a wheel barrow (when I was younger). from cement, sand a gravel. I agree, mixing in a loader bucket might be too much to mix well.

These days, I would find a project to use additional concrete and just get a mixer truck to deliver a minimum load ;-)

Ken

I mix small batches like that with a wheelbarrow and garden hoe too. With bags of premix, I add enough water to make it easy-mix soupy, then add more dry to stiffen it up so the water doesn't destroy the strength. A large wheelbarrow helps.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

I find the key being save the last bag until all the rest is mixed with water. If you add all the water and all the concrete, it's a bear to mix.

 

[beowulf]

It will be in the 90s for a few days, so I will wait until Monday when it is supposed to be a bit cooler and then will tackle this. I will take and post pictures and report back on the experience - the success or lack of success, the celebration or the regrets.

 

[CADplans]

My friend poured a HUGE foundation and retaining wall for a new barn.

He put the cement and sand in the HF concrete mixer,, (ONLY cement and sand!!, no stone) added water and let it mix.
Then he would scoop up an appropriate amount of crushed stone in the loader bucket.

The contents of the mixer were then dumped on the stone in the loader bucket.

A few swipes with a hoe, the concrete was mixed, then he used the loader to dump the concrete in the form.

He ended up with really nice, and low labor concrete,, poured in a location that a concrete truck could not reach.

Since there was no stone in the HF mixer, a HUGE batch of sand and cement could be mixed,,,

 

[Jstpssng]

My friend poured a HUGE foundation and retaining wall for a new barn.

He put the cement and sand in the HF concrete mixer,, (ONLY cement and sand!!, no stone) added water and let it mix.
Then he would scoop up an appropriate amount of crushed stone in the loader bucket.

The contents of the mixer were then dumped on the stone in the loader bucket.

A few swipes with a hoe, the concrete was mixed, then he used the loader to dump the concrete in the form.

He ended up with really nice, and low labor concrete,, poured in a location that a concrete truck could not reach.

Since there was no stone in the HF mixer, a HUGE batch of sand and cement could be mixed,,,

That's a good idea. Does anybody remember the episode of Mash 4077, where they poured the concrete floor and Klinger got the mix wrong? I'm not sure but believe he had too much sand and not enough gravel, which wouldn't have kept it from curing as shown in the movie.