The ones from the rental shop here tend to burn out mid-pour. I need one occasionally, a handful of times per year. Looking at what’s for sale, the heavy-duty stuff like Wacker is in the well-over-$500 range and can’t be justified. There are a couple of surprising options, like an 18v cordless DeWalt and even a no-name sawzall-lookin’ thing that’s just over a hundred bucks.
Anyone own one of these cheaper units?
A high-performance single-family home builder shares tips from his early experience with two apartment buildings.
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Replies
Am I the only one seeing humor in this question?
I can just hear a blond, "Eww, I think that this would be, like totally uncomfortable!"
That's foul, but I will say that if you Google 'concrete vibrator' you get some sex-toy links halfway down the page.
I guess I am a sicko, but I thought the exact same thing when I saw the topic. I knew what he was talking about, but...Maybe someday I'll know a little something.
Maybe this post should come with a disclaimer:
WARNING - do not use a sawzall for a vibrator. Serious injury or death may result.
No blade in it dude! Just a broom handle. '
Well you do have a point there...
Well, why not make a sawzall attachment to do the job? I mean the concrete vibrating job. Bolt a piece of broom handle to a worn-out blade.
-- J.S.
I used an air chisel. Brazed a piece of rebar on to an old chisel and hit the trigger for a few minutes while dragging it through the mix. Top got real wet in a hurry. Don't overdo it. Good luck!
Have also used air chisel with blunt end on the sides of forms with good results.
Well, why not make a sawzall attachment to do the job? I mean the concrete vibrating job. Bolt a piece of broom handle to a worn-out blade.
Wow that's one tough woman!
What I learned in foundations class about reinforced concrete piles:
If you have at least 7", you don't need a vibrator....slump, that is....that's not a mistake, it's rustic
and don't forget proper technique, you gotta put it in fast and take it out slow!
vibration concrete is like have sex with a ugly woman. put in and pull it out, dont waller around in there.. 2+3=7
I got one of those big one with the twenty foot whip, bought it at a pawn shop.
Real cheap ones here, no haven't used one of them.
http://www.harborfreight.com search for concrete vibrator
Edited 12/22/2005 7:02 pm ET by MarkH
I've got a Harbor Freight one as a backup. It works, but usually you have to bump it to get it started. Very short shaft, not smooth running. My primary, brand escapes me, has a 16' shaft. Shaft broke on a pour, tried rodding, ended up parging. PITA Bought the HF (~100 bucks) as a backup, hasn't died yet.PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
I have never bought a power tool from harbor freight. Bought a cheap rechargable triple head razor for 5.99 there once and while not impressive, it shaves nice and still works.
I won't buy another (non-name brand) power tool from HF. The vibrator was the only one that has continued to work, probably because it's only a backup and rarely gets plugged in. My other experiences left a lot to be desired.PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
I saw a guy return a compound miter saw where the arm had fractured in two. I don't know how it happened, but it was a scary looking sight. Probably fell or was smashed, but what if you were using it when that happened? I just look around mostly, but have found some good things there. I would not recommend ordering anything from them. This stuff needs inspected before purchase. I have two stores within 10 miles of my home on the south side and north side of Dayton Ohio.
we have a HF in town, I will only buy when can afford for it to break. Bought a bandsaw there, it look good, but china. got it home, threw the motor away, replace with one I had. It work great.. 2+3=7
Some china motors are OK. Never owned one though, but have seen them run for years on shop equipment.
Actually the metal bandsaw I got from them was sort of OK, including the Chinese motor. Loaned it to a friend who dropped it out the back of his pickup coming up our driveway. He didn't notice and dragged it close to 1/2 mile. Was not the bettter for the experience.
I bought a larger saw to replace it, but the HF one lives happily (with a new motor replacing the destroyed one) in a friend's shop. But when I first got the HF saw, one of the guide castings was mis-machined so you couldn't get proper alignment. One of those times it was best to have an open account. I told them I'd pay for it when it worked. Took them 3 months to get a replacement casting for me, while I stored their saw. That was the last tool I bought from them. Quality control apparently being too much to expect.
The bevel gears I saw in angle grinders and drills were pot metal. Very short life span, which was why I was poking around inside. I view them kinda like a rental, probably get you through a use. Long term frequent use, bad idea.
PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
Yup, the big bug is QC on metallurgy. Just looking at stuff in the store, there's no way as a customer to tell what's going to snap if you push on it. So, buy from trusted manufacturers, or take your chances....
-- J.S.
"Loaned it to a friend who dropped it out the back of his pickup coming up our driveway. He didn't notice and dragged it close to 1/2 mile. Was not the bettter for the experience."
Do you still lend him tools?
I bought a 1/2' drill at HF for mixing mud & drilling studs ~$35 works great, but feels cheap...
Treat every person you meet like you will know them the rest of your life - you just might!
Do you still lend him tools?
Of course. Especially the ones I'm thinking about replacing. <G>
He ponied up some cash and a vise I'd been coveting, to replace my loss. My new-to-me saw (used) cost 3x the HF one (new). And well worth it even when I had to drive 3 hrs to DC collect it. Used the same friend's pickup. Tied it down a little more securely, but it was heavy enough it didn't bounce much.
Sounds like an appropriate HF purchase for you. If you were doing it every week, not so advisable. I lost count of the grinders we wore out from them. They were good about honoring their warranties. But tools rarely break sitting on the shelf, usually happens when you want them to work.
I know guys who figure it's better to have 2-3-4 HF tools than 1 good one. Tried that myself with grinders, unsatisfactory. PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
I don't think I'd plug a HF tool into a non GFI outlet... but for limited use junk, they have a place. I walked around the entire store, and there wasn't much I'd put any $ towards.
Treat every person you meet like you will know them the rest of your life - you just might!
Like Brian, I bought a 1/2" drill at HF for one specific task- in my case, to plant a zillion flower bulbs for DW. I had an old, heavy, rusted, flea market 3" auger bit that someone in the distant past had welded an extension onto to make a 36" monster. The bit itself weighs about 2 lbs, but is actually perfect for boring into the ground.
It didn't look like the kind of thing I wanted to chuck into my Milwaulkie, so I spent $29.99 on the HF special. It did the job, and now I keep it around to mix mud and whatever else may come up.
Even junk has its place.
=====Zippy=====
RE cordless CONCRETE vibrators
Word from our people in the civil engineering department is that cordless is not the way to go.
A good face shield is nice to have - along with old clothing. <g>
I would love to find one with a handy switch - stick the end in, hit it, turn off, pull out and stick it in elsewhere. Saw one in the White Cap catalog.
The ToolBear
"Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.
Multiquip (the folks that own Stow) has some used Stow DI-1's with a 90 day warranty for sale $289+ shipping. http://www2.multiquip.com/03_productdetail.asp?ParentCategoryID=146&CategoryID=160
Stone Equipment is worth a look, too.
http://www.stone-equip.com/index.html?session_id=c8d5c9465982d2bc219849e8a2583583&screen_id=4472
Package is on the way! I made it to the post office today. Watch your mailbox for a HEAVY package. Chuck.
I got your note today. I'm glad that the vibrator arrived. I hope it works for you, and when you're done, pass it on to someone else .
Chuck