Electric Cement Mixer

Electric cement mixer

I always thought that I would have no need for a electric cement mixer until I actually got one. We were going to build a planter bed to grow vegetables in and we started off mixing cement by hand which was not fun. So we went shopping for a small cement mixer.

Like any purchase we gave some thought to what we were actually looking for, there is no point buying a electric cement mixer just because you like the color. You have to think about what you want to use it for and how often you will be moving it. In my opinion a portable cement mixer is essential as you will end up using it in different places. You won’t set it up and then leave it there. Our mixer is stored in the shed and then comes out whenever we need it, it has large solid wheels and a very easy to use handle so it is easy to move.

Just because it is called a cement mixer that does not mean you can not also use it as a concrete mixer. We used our electric cement mixer to mix the cement to build our garden block wall and then we used it to mix up all the concrete to fill the blocks in. You could also use it to lay a concrete path if you wish, as you look around your property you can probably spot any number of jobs that would be a lot easier if you had a concrete cement mixer.

Which electric cement mixer should I buy?
The worst mistake you can make when buying a cement mixer is to buy one that is too small for your needs. If you are working alone to lay a concrete path you want to fill the electric concrete mixer up once and leave it running. It will increase the time it takes you to finish the job if you have to constantly stop and fill the mixer back up. If you are only going to mix one bag up and never do it again then you may as well do it by hand in the wheelbarrow, be warned though it is back breaking work and unless you clean the tools thoroughly afterwards you could actually damage them.

Size Matters
The smallest electric cement mixer will be 1.5 cubic feet, this will allow you to put in one 60lb bag of cement at a time. This may sound huge and if you are just mixing cement for laying bricks or blocks on a small job in the garden then it will be plenty.

The next size of cement mixer is 3.5 cubic ft and this is a lot more useful if you are working alone and want to fill it up once and then work all day. Just make sure that you do not turn it off while you go to lunch.

The largest cement mixers are 5, 6 or even 8 cubic ft. This is huge and is ideal if you are mixing concrete or you have a team of stone masons coming in to work for you. These will fit around five 80lb bags of cement or concrete at once. This will be enough to keep you busy the whole day.

You will only be buying a cement mixer once so buy the best one you can afford and look after it. No matter what size of mixer you get you must remember to clean it out after every use, if you leave it full of cement or concrete it will gradually eat into the paintwork and your mixer will rust overtime. Since you are working with electricity and there will be water you must make sure that you use a good quality extension cable and it is a good idea to use a power breaker so that if anything happens no one will get electrocuted.