How to choose a concrete mixer for the house: device types,

When a person realizes that mixing several cubes of concrete with a shovel is a dubious pleasure (and he understands this rather quickly!), The question immediately arises as to which concrete mixer to choose. The range of these devices on the current market includes many models, and therefore before buying, you need to carefully consider the possible options.

In our article we will tell you what to focus on when choosing and which models are best suited for home use.

Basic device types

Gravitational

According to the principle of operation, concrete mixers are divided into two categories:

• Gravity devices.
• Force devices.

Gravitational миксеры для бетона являются предпочтительными для применения в частном строительстве. Для этих аппаратов характерен подвижный барабан, внутри которого размещаются жестко закрепленные лопасти. При вращении емкости раствор постепенно смещается и под собственным весом перемешивается, а лопасти не дают цементно-песчаной массе разделяться на слои.

According to the principle of the drive unit, gravity mixers are divided into two types:

• Crown rotates due to the gearing with a gear rim (crown), covering the body of the container around the perimeter. This design often fails, but it is easy to repair yourself.

Note! Want to get a machine with a margin of safety - choose a model with a cast-iron crown. The price will be slightly higher, but almost no repair is necessary.

• Gear mixers provide the transmission of torque through gears, which, in principle, should guarantee a greater safety margin. However, this is true only for branded models: Chinese-made mass products break no less than crown devices, and repairing the gearbox is much more difficult than repairing the crown engagement.

That is why, deciding which concrete mixer is better - the crowned or gearbox - it is worth soberly assess your financial capabilities. You can buy a quality machine - take the gearbox, but for the economy segment the choice in favor of the crown is obvious.

Forced action models

To perform a large amount of construction work you need a lot of concrete.

If this is your case, then it is better to purchase a model with a forced effect:

• In such concrete mixers, the solution is not mixed due to the rotation of the container, but due to the movement of the blades placed inside the fixedly fixed body.
• Bladed models are most common, but screw mixers can also be used in production. The working screw, which is responsible for the processing of the material, best copes with dense concrete mixtures containing a small amount of water.

• The main advantage of forced-action mixers is the high thoroughness of mixing solutions. They are used where it is very important to achieve maximum homogeneity of the composition, as well as with the introduction of various modifying additives.

The cost of such devices is much higher than that of gravitational. For this reason, they are not worth buying for private use: in extreme cases, the unit can be rented.

Key selection options

Sizes and volume

So, the main types we have understood, now it's time to go to the review of key criteria.

Here it is important to take into account all the details, since the purchase of a concrete mixer is a serious investment.

• First, you need to pay attention to the dimensions of the device. Usually for large volumes of solution massive mixers are used, which provide sufficient stability of the loaded capacity.
• On the other hand, it makes sense to look at compact models: of course, the portions of the finished solution will be smaller, but they are much easier to move from place to place.

Note! If you plan to build a house in two floors and above, then it will be difficult to manage without a small concrete mixer on wheels.

The next parameter is the volume of the drum:

• Devices with a body of 40-60 liters are used either in research laboratories or on high-rise buildings when mixing masonry mortar directly in place. For private construction such performance will not be enough!

Note! The amount of the finished product is approximately 2/3 of the volume of the mixer drum. If the seller declares that you will receive at least 110 liters of concrete in a single operation from the machine for 120 liters - do not believe it!

• The best choice - concrete mixers with a capacity of from 70 to 200 liters. At one time, they are able to prepare an acceptable amount of building material, and they are relatively inexpensive. Among the models worthy of mention, we can highlight Altrad Liv MLZ 145 (145 l), LIMEX 165 (150 l), Rostec BRT 1252 (125 l), etc.
• If you are planning a large-scale construction, and the need for a solution is about 5 cubic meters per day, then you can think about purchasing a larger device. The models IMER SYNTESI 350 (280 l), Prorab ECM 230 C (230 l) and their analogues are suitable here.

Engine performance

In addition to the actual volume of the case, the capacity of the apparatus is limited by such a parameter as the engine power:

• Typically, mass models are supplied with low-power units that can not cope with the load during continuous operation throughout the day, and therefore often come into disrepair. That is why, if you plan to work intensively with the device, purchase a model with a performance margin of the motor part.
• For example, if you need a 120 l concrete mixer, then the engine will fit it from 700 kW and more. However, to obtain a large volume of solution, the mixer must work constantly, therefore, the lower bar should be raised to 1 - 1.2 kW.

Note! If you buy a powerful device, it is better to take one that allows work from a three-phase source of 380 volts, even if it costs more.

• In addition to the most popular electric models on sale you can also find mixers for concrete, running on a gasoline or diesel engine. Of course, they are less economical, but when working at remote sites without access to the power grid, such a device is much more convenient than a pair of “regular concrete mixer + gasoline (diesel) generator”.

• Finally, selecting the device, do not forget about such a parameter as the volume of work. Of course, it is possible to fully evaluate the acoustic properties of a particular model only after a full load start, but test switching is usually enough to understand the situation.

Tip! In order not to experience discomfort during long-term work with a noisy mixer model, you should take care of special headphones.

Conclusion

Of course, the above improvised instruction for selecting a concrete mixer for private use may vary depending on the purpose for which you are purchasing the machine. As we have repeatedly noted, the range is quite wide, and with a responsible approach to find a suitable model is not difficult. Moreover, the video in this article will help to understand a number of difficult moments.