Hi Gang
I’m in search of a mini/small cement/mortar mixer. Most of the “small†mixers available are 2 to 3 cu/ft machines. I’m looking for a mixer that is small and very portable that can mix 1 cu ft or so at a time. I recall once seeing a model that was based on a 5 gal pail but I cannpot recall the brand/model. I currently use a large paddle mixer on a drill BUT I need full rotational mixing for special mixes. Any suggestions or web links would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks and Best Regards
Don
Replies
how about one of the "foot powered" models?
Just threw away a catalog that had one....basically a container with a lid that ya rolled on the ground. Looked like it had some interior ribs that helped with the agitation.
Jeff
Buck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
My dad bought one of those roll 'em around jobbies. Worked pretty well, but slow. Unless you need it to be really light weight, I would suggest the Harbor Freight 1/3 Hp 3.5 cu ft mixer. Goes on sale for about $180 periodically. I've mixed quite a bit with mine and it works like a champ. Don't be put off by the stated size of the larger ones. This one only really works well with 2.5 cu ft or less. I guess the stated size is a maximum.
Mike Prisbylla
Pittsburgh PA
I helped pour a small concrete walk way. We used a tub built for the purpose, sloped ends with vertical sides and a hoe with holes in the blade. The sloped ends made sure there were no spots the hoe couldn't get to. Add Portland, sand, gravel and a bit of water we would mix up two bags at a time.
Not long ago I was going through HD and saw they carried a slightly smaller, polyethylene version of what we used so long ago. A regular hoe should work well enough but the ones with the two holes, about 1.5" diameter each, make the mixing more thorough and a bit faster. I think this would work well for one cubic foot loads your mixing.
This setup should also save quite a bit of money, works without power and gets you some exercise. If your like me you can use the extra work out. Its not back breaking work. Just enough to raise a bit of a sweat. The manual rig may also give you more control and help get the mix just right.
As an aside we once used the tub as a small boat on a local lake. Try doing that with an electric model.
You'd be amazed at how fast and thoroughly you can mix a small batch of cement by rolling the wettened ingredients around in a square piece of housewrap.
Lee Valley has those foot powered 1cu, foot mixers.
HD used to sell a plastic mixer called Red Lion, from Canada. It says "3.5 cubic ft.", but that would be the capacity if you turned the drum on its back and filled it all the way full. It's sort of like peak horsepower and 2x lumber actually being 1 1/2", the amount it can comfortably mix is more like 5 - 7 gallons at a time, which should be right in your ballpark. The one peculiarity of the Red Lion is that they wanted to be very environmental, so you're supposed to lubricate it with vegetable oil, which drips out of it all over the place.
-- J.S.