Portable Cement Mixer - What Size and What Style

[Beltzington]

I need to mix some several bags of concrete to create a small foundation for a well house and I was planning on buying a PTO Mixer until I read many comments from fellow TBN members. I foresee using this many times over the years so durability and function are important.

Most of the threads are several years old so what are folks buying today? The two-wheel roll around looks like it removes the wheelbarrow from the mix , but the stands they sell with it look unstable and poorly considered. Also, what size in cubic feet?

Right now I am considering a 3.5cuft wheel-barrow type poly drum with a 3/4hp electric motor. However you can get these in either direct drive or chain driven or gas engine.

I have a portable generator so I see no need for a gas engine but appreciate your comments.

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[quicksandfarmer]

Before you commit to mixing your own, see if anyone near you offers mobile mix concrete. Also known as Short Pour or Fresh Metered. The truck brings the ingredients for concrete to your site, measures out the exact amount you want and mixes it right there. A guy near me does it for less than I can buy the ingredients for. It's sold in half yard increments with a one yard minimum.

 

[beeforty]

Go to Quickcrete: QUIKRETE® - Quantity Calculator and they have a chart as to how many bags of 60 or 80 lb. bags you will need for 4 or 6 inch slab. Anything different you just have to figure the equivalent in volume. I'm looking at about 48 60lb bags for a 8 x 8 slab that I can't back a towable trailer into to dump from the supplier. I have an older mixer my wife's grandfather had that stands upright and you can spin around to dump. Once you start mixing bags you have to keep going so you don't have cold joints.

 

[Threepoint]

Are you sure you want to buy one for such a small job? If so, I'd just run down to your local HF in Augusta and pick up one of these: Cement Mixer - 3-1/2 Cubic Ft. Cement Mixer I borrowed my neighbor's a year or so ago to pour a small slab, and it worked great.

 

[Beltzington]

Are you sure you want to buy one for such a small job? If so, I'd just run down to your local HF in Augusta and pick up one of these: Cement Mixer - 3-1/2 Cubic Ft. Cement Mixer I borrowed my neighbor's a year or so ago to pour a small slab, and it worked great.

Found out my local Home Depot rents these exact mixers for $50/day. I'll go that route for this job, it will allow me to pour the foundation and try out the mixer to see if I like it. Only going to be about 9 bags and no one local will deliver such a small load. The mix on site is a cool idea but again no one local. Thanks.

 

[Western]

Are you sure you want to buy one for such a small job? If so, I'd just run down to your local HF in Augusta and pick up one of these: Cement Mixer - 3-1/2 Cubic Ft. Cement Mixer I borrowed my neighbor's a year or so ago to pour a small slab, and it worked great.

Just bought the exact one Saturday, registered on their site and got another 20% off. Can't complain for only $154 OTD. So fr mixed 6 bags and it worked good.

 

[tcreeley]

I bought HF cheap mixer some years ago. Still there, still works.
This looks like it is good to go: Cement Mixer - 3-1/2 Cubic Ft. Cement Mixer
View attachment 408784
not a high volume setup- but it will always work.

 

[rtimgray]

I lucked into buying a harbor freight mixer at a flea market for $50. It was used, but not much. I had to put a few bolts in it and tighten a few existing ones, but after that, all I've done is plug it in and add aggregate and water. I've used it for a lot of small projects, both using kwik-crete and gravel/sand/cement with no problems. I've also used it for mixing mortar for brick and block laying - it's not ideal for that, but works good enough.

For a one time use, I would probably rent one, if it's convenient. If you think there's any chance of using it again, buy a HF model. If you don't use it much, you can probably sell ilt on Craigslist and make most of your money back.

Good luck and take care.

 

[EddieWalker]

Mine sits around for years at a time, then when I need it, seems like we are using it every weekend. Mine is all steel with direct gear drive. I bought it from Home Depot about a dozen years ago and don't have any complaints. If the concrete builds up on the inside a little, I just smack it with a hammer and it comes right off. It's one of those must have tools living out in the country. Just too many little things that come up where it's nice to mix a couple sacks of concrete and not have to deal with renting, or mixing it with a shovel or drill.

Eddie

 

[MossRoad]

Are you sure you want to buy one for such a small job? If so, I'd just run down to your local HF in Augusta and pick up one of these: Cement Mixer - 3-1/2 Cubic Ft. Cement Mixer I borrowed my neighbor's a year or so ago to pour a small slab, and it worked great.

I also have that Harbor Freight mixer. We needed to put in a sidewalk extension, using about 1 yard of concrete. At the time, concrete was $50 a yard, so $50. However, they had a 4 yard minimum, so $200. I got the mixer on-sale about 15 years ago for $100 and the ready mix in bags was about $50 so I had $150 in it and got to keep the mixer. I've used it several times since then. Its typical Harbor Freight. Cheap but works. I've used it to mix potting soil, wash walnuts, mix compost, give the cat a ride.... :confused3: