On medium-sized job sites, an electric concrete mixer can be used occasionally or even frequently. They’re usually single-phase 220V with 500 to 1,500 watts of electricity. They are three-phase 380V for more power.
There are numerous advantages to using an electric concrete mixer:
- Low operating costs: low selling price, minimal maintenance, and no consumables (oil or gasoline).
- They begin immediately, regardless of the outside temperature.
- They are convenient to use indoors due to their small size.
- Concrete mixers using combustion engines are heavier and less agile.
They also have a few drawbacks:
- An on-site power supply is required.
- Not recommended for long-term use.
How do cement mixers get their power?
A concrete mixer (also known as a cement mixer) is a machine that mixes cement, aggregate (such as sand or gravel), and water in a uniform manner to make concrete. A spinning drum is used to mix the components in a standard concrete mixer. Portable concrete mixers are frequently utilized for smaller-scale projects so that the concrete can be mixed on the job site, allowing the workers plenty of time to use it before it hardens. Concrete can also be mixed by hand as an alternative to using a machine. Normally, this is done with a wheelbarrow, but several companies have recently started selling customized tarps for this purpose.
Gebhardt Jaeger, a businessman from Columbus, Ohio, designed the concrete mixer.
Is it worthwhile to invest in a cement mixer?
The first thing you should consider is the scope of your project. You don’t need a concrete mixer if you’re undertaking a simple crack repair or pouring concrete in a limited area. You can mix your concrete with a wheelbarrow or bucket, potentially saving hundreds of dollars. Consider using a concrete mixer if your project is substantially larger. This will make it easy to not only mix but also pour your concrete, as mixers generally have both capabilities.
Concrete mixers are available for hire from concrete companies and some home improvement stores, such as Home Depot and Lowes. Because not all home improvement stores rent this type of equipment, ask ahead to confirm that they do. Depending on where you live, you may have to go out of your way to find a concrete mixer, so keep that in mind, especially since you’ll most likely be renting it for a day. If you need it for more than one day, you’ll have to pay a lot more, which may not be worth it.
If you’re not sure what kind of project you’re working on, go to a concrete expert to see what they propose. They may even provide you with a quote that is less expensive than renting the machine, purchasing concrete, and the time you will spend on it. If that’s the case, use a concrete business to save you time, energy, and money.
Is power required for cement mixers?
Electric cement mixers offer a variety of benefits over gasoline-powered mixers. To begin with, they are less expensive and require little to no care. You won’t need any oil or gasoline; all you’ll need is an electrical outlet. They start up instantly, regardless of the temperature outside, and are lightweight, making them easier to manage.
The majority of electric cement mixers run on 220 V single-phase power (500 to 1500 W). Three-phase electricity is required for more powerful models (1500 W and more) (380 V).
Mini electric cement mixers are also available and are easy to transport (for instance between the floors of a building or into a basement). Their barrels are very small, with capacities as little as 65 litres. Smaller, indoor jobs are best served by these mixers.
In a mixer, how long does it take to mix concrete?
Always use eye protection and waterproof gloves when dealing with cement-based products. A barrel-type mixer should be used to mix machine-mixed concrete.
Half of the water indicated for the number of bags to be added to the mixer should be poured into the mixer (each 80-pound bag will require about 3 quarts of water). Add the liquidcement color to the mixing water if you’re using it.
Toss the dry mix into the mixer and turn it on.
Allow for a minute for the concrete to mix, then add the remaining water as needed.
Mix the concrete for 3-5 minutes, or until it reaches a homogeneous, workable consistency. Add little amounts of water sparingly if more water is required. When squeezed in a gloved hand, properly mixed concrete should like thick oatmeal and keep its shape.
NOTE: The more water added to the mix, the weaker it becomes; adding one additional quart of water per 80-pound bag will diminish the concrete’s strength by up to 40%.
Continue to run the mixer and pour the concrete into a wheelbarrow to transfer to your work area.
How long may concrete be left in a mixer?
On project sites, deciding whether to pour an old concrete truck or send it back is a regular dilemma. Concrete contractors used to try to slip old trucks into the pour, but now we have third-party testing businesses who test the batches of concrete. So, here’s the question…
- Yes, concrete discharge must be completed within 90 minutes of mixing water with cement and aggregates, according to ASTM C-94.
- These constraints can also be waived if the slump meets mix design parameters without the addition of water, according to ASTM C-94.
Is it possible to leave cement mixers outside?
Cement mixers, concrete vibrators, angle grinders, and a variety of other construction machinery and tools are expensive to buy or replace. When you’re running a larger company with a lot of different projects at various levels of completion, knowing how to store things properly is crucial. There will be times when you are highly busy and have a tool scarcity because all of the different sites demand them, and times when you are waiting for things to cure or when business has slowed and you are left with equipment hanging about unused.
Proper tool storage can solve both of these issues, since you’ll have a huge inventory of pristine machinery to work with when business picks up, and you won’t have to worry about pricey equipment being exposed to rain or other factors during downtime. Larger gear, such as cement mixers and compactors, will now have somewhere to go when not in use, rather than lying unprotected until they are needed again, which will cut your overall maintenance expenses in the long run. A good storage practice will keep these devices cleaner and more efficient, which will help to mitigate the impact of the higher expenses associated with large-scale storage.
When to Store Cement Mixers and Other Machinery
The best time to store your machinery is determined by a number of factors. The first and most evident of these considerations is whether you primarily rent or own the tools and equipment that you utilize in your endeavors. If you only possess tools like spades and pickaxes and prefer to rent larger equipment like cement mixers and concrete vibrators that you return to their providers when not in use, you may not need to worry about storage and instead focus on protecting and maintaining your tools.
Keeping this equipment in storage will just lengthen your rental period and increase your costs. It is preferable to return rented equipment to the supplier when it is not in use and rent it again when it is required. If you find yourself doing this regularly and for extended periods of time, it may be in your best interests to consider purchasing the machinery or leasing it with the option to buy it after a set length of time.
Even if you’re renting machinery, you still need to keep an eye on your own tools. If you get complacent, you may end up spending more money on tools that should have lasted much longer than they did. Debris should always be taken from tools at the end of the day, and they should never be left out in the rain since rust and splintering will occur quickly.
The second aspect is how much you possess and how often you have surplus lying idle if you own the tools and equipment yourself. If you have a limited quantity of machinery that needs to be moved between sites and projects, it’s a good idea to invest in portable protection like tarpaulins or huge containers. If you have a huge amount of tools and machinery that is sometimes fully utilized and sometimes left idle, investing in a permanent, off-site storage facility is well worth it.
Whether large or small, the machinery and tools you purchase for your business can quickly add up. If left out in the open, weather and other natural forces can drive up maintenance and repair costs. By cleaning and storing them properly, you can assure that they will be completely functional when they are needed again, and that they will not need to be replaced nearly as frequently as machinery and other cement mixers that are left outside, even after the same amount of use.
The next consideration is what is causing the machinery to require storage space at this time. It’s definitely worthwhile to find a semi-permanent space to store your equipment for long periods of time off from work, such as the Christmas holidays when estates don’t allow work, periods when your project load is very low, or unplanned circumstances like the nationwide lockdown that forced all construction to stop. This would be a storage area that can also be utilized as a permanent storage space, but you instead sign a shorter contract that will finish roughly when your work resumes.
This will help you to keep your equipment safe while also allowing you to experiment with the advantages of good storage. If you discover that the benefits outweigh the costs, you can prolong your storage facility leasing contract. If not, you may easily recover your equipment at the conclusion of the rental period and go back to your previous solution.
Larger enterprises with multiple projects in the works will almost certainly need to consider a permanent storage option for cement mixers and other large machinery. Your workload will never be completely full, and you’ll need to prepare for periods of inactivity. If construction came to an abrupt halt and all machinery was left on-site for months on multiple distinct projects in various places, practically all of it would need to be replaced when work resumed, at a significant expense.
Where Can you Safely Store Cement Mixers
If you just wish to keep your equipment on-site when not in use, whether due to travel costs or necessity, you should still preserve it as much as feasible. A tarpaulin or perhaps a gazebo should be placed over the area where the equipment is being housed if you live in a rainy or humid environment. This will ensure that it lasts a long time and continues to function effectively.
The size of your organization and how often your equipment are on standby will necessitate more permanent storage solutions. Although costly, investing in space that can accommodate all of your equipment will prove to be more cost effective in the long run for large-scale enterprises. This will help you prevent greater costs over the holidays or unexpected work closures when more storage is required.
It would be beneficial to have a storage room where more than half of your equipment might be stored for smaller operations where your workload fluctuates. This will provide enough space when the activity slows and fewer cement mixers and tools are required, while also saving money over a full warehouse. Extra storage can possibly be gained at your current facility on a short-term contract to avoid extra transport costs during sudden closures when all sites are no longer operating, or less permanent solutions can be erected on-site to cater for the overflow during sudden closures when all sites are no longer operating.
Other Types of Equipment You Will Need to Store
Aside from the above-mentioned tools and equipment, such as cement mixers and compactors, worker PPE is always required on a construction site and should be maintained. This will assure not only efficiency and cost savings in the replacement of equipment, but also that the highest safety precautions are taken to protect personnel. If worker PPE is not stored properly or for an extended period of time, it can lose its durability and effectiveness.
You should check what your specific requirements are for the project you’re working on at the moment, but in general, all employees require protective headwear, such as a helmet, and protective gloves. Anyone in the vicinity will need hearing and eye protection in the shape of earmuffs and safety goggles if any loud or dangerous machinery, such as angle grinders, is being used. A full face cover, which may be used for grinding and dangerous chemical operations, is a superior option.
Respiratory protection is also required for any working in the area of chemicals and even dust-producing machinery. Harnesses and fall safety equipment and measures will be required if employees are operating at heights. During the times when they are not in use, all of this equipment must be stored and protected from the elements.
Equipment that has been improperly stored may decay and fail while in operation, which can be extremely dangerous. Respirators lose their efficiency over time, helmets may lose their durability if not properly stored, and safety harnesses may snap when they are most required. All equipment must be properly stored and, if applicable, expiration dates must be followed.
With the spread of the coronavirus, masks and other protective devices, such as sanitizers, are in high demand. It might be more cost-effective to buy these things in bulk and stockpile them rather than buying them as needed and risking running out. Unless you expressly acquire reusable masks, your employees will need to be given new disposable masks. If reusable masks are given out, there should be enough space to clean and sanitize them.
Should You Sell Your Cement Mixers?
Proper storage solutions can help you save money on upkeep, but like everything else, there is still a cost. If your cement mixers and other machinery have been lying idle in a warehouse for months, it may be time to take a step back and consider if the scale of your enterprise actually requires the maintenance and storage expenditures that come with owning heavy machinery. Although owning a cement mixer frees you from the shackles of rental agencies, the costs do not end when you drive your gleaming new cement mixer out of the store.
If your machinery is continually used, you’ll have to clean it out and fix it on a regular basis to keep it running smoothly, and as previously stated, there will be times when it won’t be needed. If you expect your workload to be less than it formerly was for an extended length of time, you might consider selling some of your extra machinery. Duplicates can be sold and the burden transferred to a single machine, and even if you sell everything, rental and leasing agencies are still available.
It’s a tough balancing act, but you’ll have to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of quick cash flow from selling versus constant costs of renting, or constant costs of storage and maintenance versus the flexibility of owning your own cement mixers whenever a pour is required or compactors when new sand needs to be flattened. Because every organization is unique and has varying workloads throughout the year, one solution will not work for everyone. You can never go wrong in building as long as good quality and safety are always your top priorities.
What is the cost of installing a cement mixer?
Begin by filling the drum with 7 litres (1.5 gallons) of water. Depending on the mixture necessary, you can add more or less. To keep your cement from sticking, add a small amount of aggregate beforehand. You should always stick to the ingredient ratios required for the project you’re working on.
Which cement mixer is the finest to buy?
There are a plethora of do-it-yourself tasks that involve some concrete effort. Concrete is used in a variety of projects, from building decks to installing a new mailbox, to guarantee that your project is safe, sturdy, and securely anchored. However, unless you have the greatest cement mixer for your project, producing cement mix can be difficult.
- Kushlan 3.5 cu. ft. 3/4 HP 120-Volt Cement Mixer is the best overall.
- F2C Pro 1600W Adjustable 7 Speed Cement Mixer: BEST BUDGET
- VIVOHOME 110V 1600W Electric Handheld Cement Mixer: BEST HANDHELD
- Kobalt 4-cu ft 0.5-HP Cement Mixer: BEST LIGHTWEIGHT
- Kushlan 6.0 cu. ft. 3/4 HP 120-Volt Cement Mixer: BEST FOR HEAVY USE
What happens to excess cement in concrete trucks?
Although having an excess of concrete is not a common practice among concrete producers, Cunningham confirms that any excess concrete is recycled. It can also be used to form concrete blocks, which can be used for retaining walls or barricades.