How To Use A Concrete Mixer
Concrete mixers are fantastic pieces of equipment to use on projects of all sizes. If you're a professional builder/contractor, they are an essential tool, and even if you are doing a bit of DIY, such as laying your own patio area, they can be a really useful piece of equipment, to save time, energy and help to ensure a high quality, long-lasting concrete finish.
Most concrete mixers operate in a similar way - spinning at a consistent speed to mix your concrete to the ideal consistency. The advice in this blog is relevant to most regular mixers. However, you should still always read the instructions and take care with the mixer, to ensure correct and safe use.
Choosing the right concrete mixer
For larger professional construction applications, you may need a much larger mixer, capable of mixing the kind of volume of concrete that you will need. Large diesel concrete mixers are the best choice for professionals taking on big jobs. These mixers have the power and size to handle large volumes of concrete, and they are usually mounted on wheels for easy moving around the site.
You can hire a diesel concrete mixer from many companies around the country. Concrete mixer hire is ideal if you only need it for the one-off job, and if it would be more cost-effective for you to hire a concrete mixer than to purchase one.
For most small-medium sized jobs, a 'tip-up' concrete mixer will suffice. These mixers are smaller, more convenient models, and feature a simple tipping design which allows the concrete to be poured out easily once it has reached the correct consistency.
Again, these concrete mixers can be hired from many companies around the country. You can hire a petrol concrete mixer for medium sized jobs; or, for smaller jobs, you can hire an electric concrete mixer - both 110v and 240v are usually available.
Safety Precautions
Whilst using a concrete mixer, you should always wear long sleeves and trousers, closed-toed shoes or boots, work gloves and safety goggles. Never put your hands or any tools inside the mixer whilst it rotating.
When using the concrete mixer, work in a clear area with barriers and signs that warn people that the concrete is wet. Do not use the concrete fixture until the freshly laid concrete is completely dry.
How to prepare the concrete mixer
Before you start using a concrete mixer, it must be set up on an even, solid, level surface - preferably near a water supply.
Before starting the mixer up, you should read the instructions that came with the concrete mix, so you know the quantities you are dealing with before you begin the work.
Switch the concrete mixer on and add the correct amounts of concrete mix and water, as the mixer is running.
Warning - Do not overload the concrete mixer. This is dangerous and could ruin the concrete, so it is much better to mix the concrete in smaller batches that fit the mixer’s capacity.
Mixing the concrete correctly
As you mix the concrete, remember that the concrete should not be too wet or too dry. If the concrete isn’t mixed correctly, it won’t form to the correct consistency, won't dry correctly and will not prove to be a strong, long-lasting concrete slab.
The ideal concrete mixture should move easily around the drum of the concrete mixer, though it shouldn't slosh around or crumble as it moves. To mix the correct consistency, you may need to add more water or concrete mix to achieve achieve the right balance.
Top Tip! To determine whether the concrete mixture is at the right consistency, you can pay attention to how the concrete moves as the drum turns. If it reaches the top of the mixer before it falls, the mix is too dry. Though, if it doesn’t even reach the side, it is too wet.
Pouring the concrete
Once you have mixed a batch of concrete to the correct consistency, you are ready to pour the concrete. Depending on the type of mixer you are using, and the type of project you're working on, you will either pour the concrete directly into a concrete mould, straight on the surface you are concreting, or into a wheelbarrow, which can be wheeled to wherever the it is needed on a site.
It is advisable to have the help of another person when it comes to pouring the concrete, to ensure safe, controlled and steady pouring. One person should hold the wheelbarrow or assist with a shovel as the concrete is poured, while the other person tips the mixer. Tipping the mixer shouldn't be too difficult, given the convenient 'tipping' design of modern concrete mixers, and as long as you haven't overloaded the mixer.
Tip the mixer slowly, at an angle which allows the concrete to run out of the drum steadily. Avoid pouring it too quickly, in one lump, as this could lead to a loss of control of the mixer or the concrete, and the concrete could splash messily on to the surface, which could damage your project.
Once the concrete has been poured and laid on to the surface, work the concrete into the area with a shovel. Make sure that the concrete mixture is smooth and free of air bubbles. Cover the whole area evenly, leaving no gaps in the concrete.
If you are pouring concrete on to a surface for a path way, foundation, patio or other structure that needs to be perfectly smooth and level, you can use use a concrete finishing tool. You can hire a concrete finishing tool relatively cheaply, and they really help to ensure an even, high quality finish.
Concrete mixer cleaning & maintenance
You should clean the mixer quite soon after use, so the concrete does not dry and solidify within the drum.
To clean the mixer, add water and a small amount of sand to the mixer and turn it on. Let the mixer run like this for a few minutes and the sand & water will wash the concrete from the sides of the drum, so it is much easier to clean.
Turn the mixer off, empty it, and then run it again just with clean water.
Finally, turn the mixer off again, empty it and disconnect it from the power supply. If needed, you can use a brush to clean any concrete left in the drum.