Mixing cement

Guill

Hi all,

During the first lockdown I started building a stone wall around my yard. It was slow going as I was still working full time and work stopped around October when the evenings got short.
In general I enjoy it. It's slow heavy work but after a day you can really see what you've done but I find almost half my time is spent mixing the cement in the wheel barrow. I really hate that part.
So I've about 30 meters done with another 35 to do (that's only the back, have the front to do also).

I'm thinking of purchasing an electric mixer in order to have one mix in the barrow and one on the go the whole time, hopefully making things slightly less back breaking and definitely quicker.
What should I be looking for in an electric mixer?
Anyone have any experience with the likes of this:

https://www.screwfix.ie/p/134-ltr-concrete-mixer-230v/10107

I'm going electric for price reasons only btw.

Connavar

I dont know much about cement but have you considered renting one instead of buying.


Might be able to get a better one and if its only the wall you need to do it could save you money too

listermint

Guill wrote: »

Hi all,

During the first lockdown I started building a stone wall around my yard. It was slow going as I was still working full time and work stopped around October when the evenings got short.
In general I enjoy it. It's slow heavy work but after a day you can really see what you've done but I find almost half my time is spent mixing the cement in the wheel barrow. I really hate that part.
So I've about 30 meters done with another 35 to do (that's only the back, have the front to do also).

I'm thinking of purchasing an electric mixer in order to have one mix in the barrow and one on the go the whole time, hopefully making things slightly less back breaking and definitely quicker.
What should I be looking for in an electric mixer?
Anyone have any experience with the likes of this:

https://www.screwfix.ie/p/134-ltr-concrete-mixer-230v/10107

I'm going electric for price reasons only btw.

Why in the Jaysus would you but a petrol one . They are noisey, they don't work any faster and they need maintenance.

Go to adverts and look for a reasonable second hand Belle electric mixer I bought one for 200 recently and it will last decades. Borrowed my uncles one last year for a few months he built half his house using it twenty years ago. Still in perfect nick. Also a Belle

Set up an adverts alert. Be quick they go fast.

You can get parts or new drums easily for it as it's not some random cheap brand .


Also I bloody hate mixing by shovel on the ground or via wheel barrow heart breaking stuff and ruins the rest of your work.

rje66

For what you are doing thst mixer will be ok. When second mix is ready turn off mixer, if you leave it running it gets very creamy/soft .

Calahonda52

listermint wrote: »

Why in the Jaysus would you but a petrol one . They are noisey, they don't work any faster and they need maintenance.

Go to adverts and look for a reasonable second hand Belle electric mixer I bought one for 200 recently and it will last decades. Borrowed my uncles one last year for a few months he built half his house using it twenty years ago. Still in perfect nick. Also a Belle

Set up an adverts alert. Be quick they go fast.

You can get parts or new drums easily for it as it's not some random cheap brand .


Also I bloody hate mixing by shovel on the ground or via wheel barrow heart breaking stuff and ruins the rest of your work.

Unless he edited the post, he is already going elec, no mention of petrol

listermint

Calahonda52 wrote: »

Unless he edited the post, he is already going elec, no mention of petrol

I was talking about only going for electric for price reasons.

Electric is cheaper and better frankly.

GreeBo

If mixing a smallish amount in a barrow if much, much easier to use a hoe rather than a shovel.
You can stir with a hoe so you are pushing the mixture around rather than trying to lift it constantly with a shovel.
Takes way less energy



But for 60 yards I'd buy a mixer and then flog it on!

keepalive213

I have one of those electric mixers, 2 years and a lot of work done on diy projects, mixing plaster and morter. I'd definitely recommend it.

Guill

Connavar wrote: »

I dont know much about cement but have you considered renting one instead of buying.


Might be able to get a better one and if its only the wall you need to do it could save you money too

My available time will be hot and miss. I'll need something that can be just there when I need it. Thanks though.

Guill

Thanks all.

I won't get to start until the weather picks up (raynauds) but wouldn't matter at this stage anyway. Click and collect is gone as is delivery of large items like mixers.

I've created an Adverts alert just in case too.

Woodie.ie

Can't go wrong with one of those, renting only works if you're building full time