Choosing a concrete mixer for home, cottage + reviews

During construction or repair work, concrete is required: to reinforce fence posts, to mix mortar for masonry or to pour the foundation for a pergola, shed, etc. Knead in the trough long and hard physically. Therefore, it is better to consider buying a concrete mixer. It is worth saying that the solution prepared in a concrete mixer is 50% stronger than manually made, with the same composition of components. It remains to understand the question of how to choose a concrete mixer.

Designs of concrete mixers

To choose a concrete mixer, you need to familiarize yourself with the basic designs. There are two types of mixers: with forced mixing and gravity. Forced consist of a stationary container, inside which rotate blades-mixers. Due to the peculiarities of the design, they work only with mortars – without coarse aggregate, also require more powerful motors, and, accordingly, more electricity consumption.

For domestic use, gravity concrete mixers are more suitable. This is a barrel-shaped container, inside of which strips-blades are welded. The tank rotates around its axis, can change its position relative to the horizon. With an inclined tank, the most intensive mixing occurs. This design allows you to make a mortar cement + sand or concrete – cement + sand + gravel or other coarse aggregate.

There are two types of drives – gear-driven and crown-driven. Gear-driven ones are more reliable, but they can be difficult to repair. The crown design breaks more often, nevertheless, the replacement of the crown is a matter of a couple of hours and a relatively small amount – 1000-2000 rubles, depending on the material of the crown. This has led to the popularity of gravity concrete mixers of the crown type.

What to pay attention to when choosing a crown concrete mixer

Choosing any tool is not an easy task. And in the concrete mixer there are three different nodes that affect the performance and durability: the bed, the tank and the motor. And it is necessary to consciously choose all these parameters, and also take into account a lot of nuances. Then it will be easy to choose a concrete mixer.

Tank for mixing (pear)

The first thing you have to decide on is the volume of the mixing tank. The range is very large: from 30-40 liters to 200-300 liters. The most popular among developers concrete mixers with a volume of 130-160 liters. But this is far from a dogma. Someone prefers to have two concrete mixers of 80 liters instead of one big one. But in general, for home use or for dachas buy mainly concrete mixers with such tanks. They are optimal in performance, weight, allow you to do more extensive work – pouring foundations, and more modest – concreting fence posts, for example, or mixing mortar for bricklaying, etc.

Determining the size of the tank, take into account that actually you will get concrete about half of the declared volume. The whole point is that when mixing the tank must be tilted. And the more dense you need a solution, the greater will be the angle of inclination – standing concrete mixer almost nothing mixes. It is called gravity, because the solution sticks to the walls of the inclined barrel, is picked up by the blades, and then, under the influence of gravity, falls down. This is how mixing takes place. It is clear that you will not load the inclined container completely – half of it will simply fall out. The specific size of the load is determined later, when working. And you can be guided by average figures: thick concrete will be about 50% of the total volume, more plastic about 65%. The mortar and even less (because of the presence of crushed stone concrete is better mixed).

When you already choose a concrete mixer “live”, pay attention to the thickness of the walls of the tank. It is clear that it is better – thicker walls. But a thick-walled tank is a higher weight. So you will have to decide what is more important – easier handling or a more reliable tank.

Motor power

After you have decided on the volume, you need to decide what power of the motor will suit you. Actually, the power of the motor also depends on how much concrete you get at a time. The more powerful the motor, the heavier the tank it can turn. On average, you can count like this:

Approximately on these figures and can be guided. In any case, for long-term operation of the motor should start the concrete mixer empty, or almost empty – with a very small mass. And load the components in the already working. Many people unload the mix without stopping the work. This is also correct and contributes to longer operation.

Gear and ring material

Gear should be unambiguously from metal, maybe – from cast iron, but steel – better. Also pay attention to the shaft to which the drive gear is attached. It should be powerful enough (some cheap Chinese models have a very thin shaft), and also have a very small backlash. The smaller it is, the better.

There is a debate about what material crowns are better. Crowns – these are teeth on the circumference of the tank for kneading, to which the belt clings. They are made of steel, heavy-duty plastic (polymers) and cast iron. The most common are cast iron or polymer. If you believe your feelings, cast iron should be stronger. But in fact polymer ones are at least not less reliable and durable. This is said by almost all owners of concrete mixers with a plastic crown. In favor of polymers there are several other arguments:

But to choose, after all, you. And if you do not trust polymers, buy with cast iron or steel teeth.

A few recommendations for use, which will prolong the life of the crown of any material:

• Crowns are worn down because of sand, cement, dust falling on them. To protect them you can make a visor (made of rubber, for example), which covers these very teeth.
• Periodically clean the tines with a clean, dry brush.
• Do not lubricate them with anything. Sanded grease is an excellent abrasive and is guaranteed to abrade any material.

Rotating device

As already said, when working with a concrete mixer, it is necessary to change the position of the tank often. It is more convenient if the rotary mechanism is made in the form of a wheel, not a lever. Also pay attention to the number of positions in the tank. The more there are, the easier it will be for you to find the mode.

Construction details

To finally choose a concrete mixer, we go to the details of the design:

• The concrete tank is mounted on a bed. The bed should be sturdy, stable.
• The concrete mixer often needs to be moved around the site. Most models have wheels. It is clear that the larger they are, the easier it will be for you to drag it from place to place.
• The shape of the blades inside the tank. Simply welded flat plates – not a good option, better – curved.
• The material of the protective cover of the motor. It is made of plastic or painted metal. Metal, understandably, is more reliable, but it is not often found.

How to make a concrete mixer with your own hands read here.

Prices and quality

In general, these are all the main points that will help you choose a concrete mixer exactly under your requests and needs. There is still the question of price. As with any other product, there are three categories:

1. Cheap Chinese concrete mixers. If you pay attention to all the details described above (especially the thickness of the shaft and gear backlash, as well as the thickness of the metal of the container), it is quite possible you will be lucky, and it will work without breakdowns. As a last resort, it will be necessary to mill out the worn parts. The main thing is that it should be repairable. The best option – if you find a model with an exchange during the warranty period. This also happens. Usually all the “joints” come out in the first year, so the option is really not bad.
2. Medium-priced Russian brands. Usually quite reliable, maybe a bit clumsily processed. Quite a popular group among those who seek to get reliable equipment for moderate money.
3. European brands. All are good, except for the price and the fact that it is not always easy to solve the problem with spare parts – you have to wait a few weeks until the right one is delivered. But we must say they are the most reliable.

المراجعات

To choose a concrete mixer by parameters – this is not all. It is still necessary to decide on the brand, and you can do this mainly by reviews. Only in this way you can get an idea of how reliable or not the units of a particular manufacturer. Brands of concrete mixers too many and for each brand to bring reviews is simply unrealistic. We have collected the most popular because of optimal quality and price.

SBR Lebedyansky plant

I decided to save money when buying, and bought a concrete mixer BSM (what numbers exactly do not remember). When buying made a major mistake. I chose a small volume – something like 50 liters. I had to knead often. Not work, but a continuous flour. And I also did not like the design: it was hard to turn even a small tank full of solution. Then the drum also fell off. Three times welded, then bought a new – SBR Lebedyanskogo plant. The volume has already taken 130 liters, and could be more. It has been working for 5 years. So far there have been no repairs.

Not everyone speaks so highly of concrete mixers SBR. There is a negative experience.

I bought SBR-170 (350$). After 10 mixes of mortar (not concrete, but mortar) slipped the landing place of the plastic pulley. I bought a new pulley (about 8$), put, enough for another 10 mixes. Removed the shaft and gears, gave the turners to turn out a steel shaft and put the gears on the keys. While tokaya worked bought a Czech stirrer – 70$ more expensive than SBR. The pulley is also plastic, but with a larger diameter. So far from problems – the strap has caught up. Both have a cast iron crown, you need to keep it clean. Neighbor, by the way, also SBR reanimated by replacing the pulley on a homemade and better fit gears. So I have a negative attitude to this concrete mixer.

There are positive reviews of the same SBR Lebedyansky plant:

I have a concrete mixer Lebedyansky plant has been plowing for 7 years. Brand and volume I do not remember, but something more than 100 liters. No problems with it. Once the foundation was poured from 7 am to 11 pm. Plowed almost without a break and nothing, withstood. During this time, a small gear on the engine was worn out, but it still works.

As you can see, the situation is ambiguous. There are two options. The first – unstable quality of factory production, the second – incorrect operation of the concrete mixer (start with a loaded tank, not pouring into the spinning).

ProRab (Prorab).

Far from always “cheap” means necessarily bad. For example, about a very budget line of concrete mixers Prorab expressed mostly positively. This does not mean that this tool has no shortcomings. There are, but they are not critical and they simply close their eyes, since the price is quite small.

I bought a cheap Chinese mixer Prorab (PRORAB) ECM 125. Worked a season. In principle, I was lucky. It works fine. Only the full load is not given, pour a little more than half, and that sometimes you have to push by hand. I was scared at first. It almost did not spin, but it turned out that the voltage was 120-140 V. I put a stabilizer, it went normally. Already poured the entire foundation, which is under 55 tons, so it worked out its money (about 180$). There were some difficulties in the beginning: had to tighten the belt as it was almost dangling. But since everything is bolted on, loosening the motor mount and the pad it attaches to, I got everything aligned so the tension is perfect. Tightened the bolts, gave it a good tightening and that was it.

I have a ProRab 160. It has been working for more than a year. During this time, poured the foundation for the shed, warm floors in the house, constantly made mortar under the masonry. Total cubes of 30 turns out. Only recently began something to snarl in the teeth, but so far does not stop. And in general, in the service saw almost new, even with untarnished paint – their engines are on fire. So who’s lucky.

Rarely take a cheap tool, but guided by reviews bought in Leroy concrete mixer Prorab. Despite the cheapness, it works well. Only at full load when unloading the solution can stop. I adapted and fully load it is not loaded, and if I see that the motor barely pulls, push when unloading a little hand. This is already on automatic and there are no difficulties. Of course, it makes a lot of noise, but it doesn’t bother me much, and it is also desirable to give it time to cool down – about 10-15 minutes. Since I work “one-handed”, this mode is natural for me.

In general – the reviews are positive. There are certain shortcomings, but they are removable. An excellent inexpensive option for home or dacha.

Profmash

If we generalize, the concrete mixers of the Profmash plant are reliable, but heavy and not always convenient to work. Some models have “nicknames”: Maxim, Boomer, Behemoth. There are models of geared and crown type. The crowns are cast iron or polyamide.

I have a concrete mixer Profmash B130R-MAXIM. Good machine. The tank is thick, attached to the cone, the motor power is 850 W. For such a small volume (130 liters) is more than enough. I tried to stop the tank during mixing with my hand – it does not work. The stated amount of solution received (80 liters). But I use it not only for concrete. I also mix fodder. Works great. What do not like: painted without putty, the paint has already peeled off in places, inconveniently located start/stop button. You have to bend over and look under the motor.

I am engaged in construction and I have a team of builders working for me. I buy tools for them myself. I bought a B-165 and do not regret it. It lasts longer than all the others, despite the hard mode of work. And they treat it not in the best way: the mortar is stuck – they beat it with a sledgehammer or a hammer. And nothing. It is bad that it is heavy and the wheels are small, even the dimensions are large – in the car climbs with great difficulty. But reliability outweighs the disadvantages.

Before the start of construction, I bought a B180 Profmash. In principle, it was fine, but it was too heavy to carry it alone around the site. The support leg is of some unsuccessful design, I always cling to it, the wheels are small. In short, transportation is not for the weak. It is also hard to turn the tank alone. There’s something wrong with the alignment. I thought I’d load it from one side, dump it on the other. It doesn’t work – there’s no way to turn the tank upside down. Another thing: it is stated that you can make 115 liters of kneading. I have never managed to do so, I get no more than 80 liters. In general, the assessment – on 4.

Whirlwind

This brand has not the best reviews. What is strange, the “sores” are all different.

I bought a Vikhr BM-125. Immediately the problems began: 30 minutes works and turns off for about 20 minutes. Again it is enough for 30 minutes. And this – with far from a full load. Gave to repair, waiting for a miracle.

This is my first concrete mixer Vikhr BM-125. What to say. Works, and that’s good. But the problems began when assembling. The one who completed it seems to have been drunk: half of the fasteners were missing. I had to go shopping and pick them up. Not only that, there are extra holes in the sealing cutter that is put between the two halves of the tank, but there are no necessary holes. I had to make new ones, and through the extra ones, water leaks in until everything is mixed. Still, it is much easier to make concrete this way than by hand. Therefore – I do not regret.

I have a BM 160. After two months of periodic use of the tank on the axle began to rock. Apparently the bearing is loose. Now the headache – where to fix.

As you can see, not the best choice.