Buying a Cement Mixer

Choosing a Cement Mixer

Introduction:

In the old days DIY home owners mixed cement by hand. This was a painstaking and tiring process, especially for large tasks. Hand mixing cement in a wheel barrow or cement box is arduous work and the cement may not be perfectly mixed, causing weaknesses and flaws.  The task of mixing cement changed with the coming of modern cement mixers.

Modern cement mixers are light weight and come in a variety of sizes and are reasonably priced. I mixed cement the old fashion way for years until I realized that I could purchase a cement mixer at a reasonable price.  Buying a cement mixer that is right for you is a difficult choice because there are so many to choose from.

Electric cement mixers are the most practical mixer to purchase because it is light weight, portable, inexpensive, and some can either set on the ground or mounted on a stand that raises it approximately three feet off the ground. These are drum type mixers that can hold 180 – 200 pounds of mixture or a complete 80 pound bag of premixed concrete. They have a 1/2 to 1.0 house power electric motor that operates on standard single phase 120 volt power. You can use it as a regular concrete mixer or mortar mixer.

A drum cement mixer consists of a rotating drum mounted on a motor driven spindle. They mix cement, quickly, and efficiently. The mixing process is helped by integral blades fixed to the inside of the drum that insure a thorough mix. These small light weight portable cement mixers come in a wide range of types and models to meet your needs. The drums are made of plastic polymer for its light weight and resistance to rust and corrosion.

When determining the size and capacity for a DIY homeowner consider the size of the job you will be working on. A 2 – 4 cubic foot mixer is an ideal choice for most homeowners. Larger mixer capacities may make the job go faster but they are more expensive and are more difficult to move around and operate because of their size. In addition, you don’t want to mix anymore cement at one time than what you can work with as it will dry out and will require additional mixing or it will have to be discarded.  

The large gasoline and diesel power cement mixers are commonly used by professional masons on job sites where there is no electrical power available. They are great mixers but require a tow vehicle to move them around. They are not practical for a small DIY home improvement projects.

Choosing the right concrete mixer is determined by what tasks you need it for and the size of your budget. The light weight modern cement mixers are inexpensive and will work well for most DIY cement projects.

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Mixing Concrete and Mortar

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Polishing Concrete Floors

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