I purchased one of these with a 30% off coupon. I put it together with some red locktite and made sure I had an assortment of spare nuts and bolts, just in case. I have used it for making a sidewalk utilizing 80 LB bags; which will take two bags quite nicely. So far, I have mixed a good 160 bags through it and it’s holding up! Remember to locktite the critical gear nuts and have some good silicone sealer for the drum seal. Best $160 I’ve spent in awhile.
If you purchased this from H.F. you did not get NO 30% off,Central Machinery is an item excluded from all discount coupons(fine print items excluded).Believe me I've tried numerous time to purchase this exact same item,Have NEVER been allowed to apply any discount coupon
Not true, at least once a year, sometimes twice, Harbor Freight allows the coupon to used on EVERYTHING! Or the actual ad will say so or it will specifically have a highlighted coupon for the cement mixer. I will try to find the receipt. But, I’m know what I paid for the item. Thank you very much
What a great idea - love it!!! - I'm going to try that to mix some peat moss and sand, soil mix! Thanks for stopping by - be sure to like and subscribe!
This thing has gone up a hundred dollars since this video was made. Right now, HF is using this video on its website and he mentions the 150 price a few times. Well, it's now 250!!!
Thank you for taking the time to review this CENTRAL MACHINERY 3-1/2 Cubic Ft. Cement Mixer from Harbor Freight. As of Thursday, May 16th, 2024, it's currently listed at $269.99 on the website. I was checking out the BAUER 4 cu. ft. Cement Mixer, which is listed at $329.99 as a Member-Only deal with a $50.00 off. It has a capacity of about 1/2 cu. ft. larger than the Central Machinery cement mixer. According to Harbor Freight's website, the Bauer "cement mixer can mix up to two 80 lb. bags of concrete, stucco, or mortar."
Because it’s so cheap some might scrimp on cleaning out well after use If you’ve tried to remove cement or concrete from a dried mixer it’s almost impossible
ShakespeareCafe I made the mistake of mixing some “fast set red bag concrete” at 3:30pm on a hot summer day!!! Hahaha Seriously couldn’t get it out of the mixer before it dried up ROCK HARD! HAHAHAHA You could literally hear it crackling in the mixer as I was trying to pour it out! Haha I ended up having to chip it out with my roto hammer! My hammer is a BOSCH by the way 😎 some tools you just can’t skimp on! 🤣😂
Cut the bag as you did on top of the mixer but do it on the ground or better yet on a makeshift table. Pull the bag up from the middle and "saw" through the remaining half from the under side with your hand creating two halves. They're much easier to handle and allow for adding to the drum partially filled with water while rotating. Water needs to be first in the drum!!
I have some project including a small sidewalk, I will buy new and just keep it and my family can use it as well, excellent video, thanks for taking the time to make it !
I bought this mixer about 2 years ago for the $150 he mentions in the video.. one of the best $150's I have ever spent. It is not going to take much abuse, but for someone who is a bit careful with their tools it very much does the job. Best with (1) 80# bag of concrete mix at a time, more than you need to work harder to keep it in the barrel or get it to mix properly.. or small batches I mixed a lot of sand/gravel/portland with it. Paid for itself and then some. Good video figured a lot of guys would watch this to make a decision!
Do you have a recommendation on the best wheel barrow to use with this- Basically one that is short enough to fit under the mixer? I am going to be pouring about 50 cubic feet of new floor in my basement
I have one of these mixers. After using it the first time I could see the center of the drum was doing a poor job of mixing. So, I did what a few others suggested and flipped the 2 blades end for end. Small end at top and big end at the bottom. Now the center mixes well. Thanks
Thanks. Good video, clear, well-organized and presented. This really helped make my decision on renting/buying or just having concrete delivered to my farm site outside Columbia, TN. I’ve got 4 projects pending, maybe a fifth, roughly 100 bags of concrete to mix and not all on the same day so delivery, waste, washout, etc., would add up pretty fast. I ran one of these one summer in high school before I joined the Army many years ago, can’t see that the “science” has changed much at all. Just gotta find a coupon.😊
I have used one of these. Good for the price. The electric motor is weak, wears out fast, but is easily replaced with a higher quality motor. FYI wood post in concrete and dirt causes rot from water damage and gives termites a easy path to the wood. Best to pore concrete then use air gap spacers to attach the wood post above the concrete with concrete bolts ect.. will last longer and termites have a more difficult time getting to the wood
Haha! Glad someone else didn't align the arrows when building theres. The internal blades seem to be correct (pretty much). Gonna try mixing some Sakrete tomorrow. We'll see how it goes.
I'm almost 68 and was recently diagnosed with COPD; never smoked in my life. I've been a contractor since '88 and always wore protection for serious actors, but often ignored dusts. Be sure to get good masks as a basic 'dust mask' may not seal out well enough to save your lungs or those of your crews. Best regards.
Am I the only one that actually measures the amount of water I use?I use two containers. One container holds the ideal amount of water to use (I believe it's 3L per 80lbs bag) and the other container holds another 1.7 liter of water which is the max that should be used in addition to the 3L that is used.That way I never use more than the directions say.
Try filling sand bags with a dry mix of cement, sand, and aggregate. After the moisture in the ground hits it, you won't want to be the one on a jackhammer.
No, you're not. I fill a 55-gallon drum with water, put it near the mixer, and mark a few 2-gallon buckets with the required water level. Takes the guesswork out of it - compressive strength goes down sharply with added water over design amounts, and it's one less thing to mess with when I'm trying to slam out a patio slab or something.
It's a bear to put together but after assembling I used it to mix around 15 60lbs bags of concrete an it did a really nice job. Roughly ten to twelve minutes to mix two bags at a time took about just over two hours to mix, screed, finish, and broom after it setup a little over 5x4 4" pad....with a couple of water an beer breaks.
Lol just went through that whole align the arrows to align the internal paddles my dang self. Had everything lock tighted and all before i realized had to take it back apart.
good video and well done. when I do fence posts I used to mix the concrete but you can put some water in the hole empty the bag of dry concrete add more water jam a big crowbar in it up and down come back the next day and it will look just like you mixed it in the mixer. fence guys told me they do not even add water the concrete will suck in enough from the soil to harden it
I've seen folks do this as well. I guess I'm a little particular about it! I'm using the mixer for other projects as well, but your point is well taken on the fencing type work! Thanks for stopping by!
Not true. That all depends on how much water is drawn. Most of the time the center of the powder pile, the area where the beam is located, is still powder and thus not doing what it should do, keep the beam in place. I’ve heard of people just pulling the beam right out of the ground because they did it the last way I.e. not mixing the concrete
Very informative. I'm getting one for mixing soil for soil blocks. I also saw a way to rig it up to sift rocks. Also, I think it's funny how some people on here say you're using too much water and some say not enough. Everyone's a critic
Its a good mixer for the price ,and yes instructions for assembly suck fortunately another you tuber made it easy , there are many videos out there mine still works bought in 2010
Wear your hearing protectors with this beast, but does an awesome job, 1 80# bag at a time is what I do. Have run over a hundred bags over the last 3 years and still goin.
Concrete in the bags are already mixed (Just add water). Water the hole, pour the mix in dry, then mix in-hole thrusting a stick or metal rod for about a minute, add water as needed. This is a lazy method but okay for ordinary fence posts. We put up fence posts quickly this way on acreages to keep dingoes out. For shorter perimeter suburban fences, do the same using quickset pre-mixed concrete bags. Use a mixer if mixing your own ratios using portland. Very informative video. Thanks.
Been researching mixers for a couple days now. After reading reviews and assembly videos, I think this is the one I'm gonna get. On the issue of water, I've always thought it was supposed to be the consistency of a milk shake (like the way this guy has it) . But I've recently heard that the most common mistake is too much water. When I saw the video on what it SHOULD look like, I was surprised. Its really supposed to be thicker. Good video, but I hate the intro music!
I have a question about the 3.5 cu ft capacity. An 80lb bag of quikrete makes .6 cu ft of concrete. My math says it should hold about 6 bags. Is that 3.5 cu ft dry mix before water or after? Or is that the volume of the drum in which case you wouldn't use more than about 2-3 bags? I need to mix about 75 bags for a walkway. No access for for a concrete mixing truck.
I have this mixer, it bogs down with an 80 pound bag of concrete. Not sure why as some of these videos show it working well. I like the mixer, saved me a ton of work, but I wish I could figure out the 80 pound bog down on the motor.
the 2 arrows you talk about on mine where both stuck on the top potion of the drum, so that didn't help me at all. I agree with the bolt labeling.... they could have done better by laying all the bolts out and including a picture with the number above them. So you know which is the all-tread and what was for other uses.. The hardest part I had was getting that damn handle down with the spring in it to get the bolt in.. that spring was tuff to compress!!!!
Your video helped me on deciding to get this mixer. I am thinking of repainting the drum with epoxy based appliance spray paint be for i assemble the drum. I wounder if it would make it easier to clean? BTW/There is another video on how to assembly the mixer, and how inaccurate the instructions are. Luckily i saw that video and understand about the arrows.
How do you come up with Three and a half cubic feet of concrete? An eighty pound bag is .6 cubic feet. Two of them would only be a little over a cubic foot.
Remember you have to add water. Quikrete Instructions: Allow at least 1 cu ft (28 L) of mixer capacity for each 80 lb (36.3 kg) bag of QUIKRETE® Concrete Mix to be mixed at one time. Also if you over fill, you won't be able to tip the mixer out without spilling it everywhere. You can't really fill it to the max capacity.
I'm not buying one but I'm renting one similar to it. $54 dollars for Saturday and returning it Monday so I could use it Sunday if I needed to. Thanks for the video.
I have one. I am happy and satisfied with all of my purchases from Harbor Freight with the exception of the cement mixer. Worse purchase I have made there. It is awful!!!!
Reviewer: Assembly was quite difficult Me: ok I'm out also if you use the valve on the side of the bag you don't need to cut it in half and it slows down the dust
Of all the many many things I purchased at Harbor Freight, the cement mixer is the only thing I hate or unhappy with. I just hate it. I would rather spend more and get a better mixer. Honestly, don’t waste your time on it.
I bought one of these for a major pour I am doing hoping it holds up as it's going to get a major workout. I expect to mix and pour 14 yards of concrete for a garage floor. Some may say why don't you just use concrete trucks. Well in my area it's become very exspensive to buy premixed concrete plus I don't have the help nor money to hire a finish crew to handle that much concrete in a day. What I do have is all the free sand and gravel I need as well as water only need to buy the Portland. So I can pour at the pace I am able to work with very little cost. I can get this project done for a couple hundred dollars versus $3 to $5 thousand it would cost me to contract it in and pay labor.
That's right..I am doing the exact same thing except I am doing concrete around the sides of my house and extending driveway... Saving thousands that I don't have...
@@rcppop3090 I hope too and you are right because of some health issues I have had to delay. Like alot of big projects seems always something that takes priority. But I do hope things start going my way I really need my shop built. Got my house full of tools and they need there own home.
Ken Jett 14 yards with a mixer just sounds like torture man. Not to be an asshole but you’re gonna get healthy enough to do the project and put yourself right back into the hospital! 😜
Nice video. Im still not sure if i put screws in right place. I hate the instructions. Can you tell me when do you use concrete with rocks versus concrete without? I want to make pavers and smooth walkway. Thank you
Hi PamE - thanks! Yeah, the instructions leave alot to the imagination :) You can make a mortar mix for pavers with cement and sand an no rock - or add any type of aggregate to make it stronger. Pea gravel is common in lots of mixes. For walkways, a bigger rock would help it be stronger. Around here they call it 57 gravel - it's about 1/2-3/4"" crushed rock. The ratios are important as well...
Thank you sir I have a new house it’s all dirt in my backyard. My first project is do a 3 feet walk way around my house then patio etc. This mixer would help a lot I’ll do the form around the house and pour concrete by section that way I don’t overwhelm my self. Thanks again sir! What’s the ideal size and inches thick of my walk way, anyone has a suggestions please? To save money and make a good decent project DIY.Thanks!
Ek79 E. Hello! 3 inches is a good thickness for a walkway. Some recommend up to 4, but if you’re not moving heavy machinery it’s better to save the money and stick to 3 inches. 2.75 inches also works, but 3 is better in the long run.
Yep got the same mixer from harbor freight. I like the mixer but better use common sense and the picture don't go by the instructions cause they will loose u on the bolts. 🤔
I'm thinking about getting a MudMixer and getting rid of this on Craigslist. Anyone interested in the MudMixer and want a review?
I Have owned the Exact Same Mixer for 10 Years ..left out side ...Still works like a Charm !...paid for itself Long ago !
I purchased one of these with a 30% off coupon. I put it together with some red locktite and made sure I had an assortment of spare nuts and bolts, just in case. I have used it for making a sidewalk utilizing 80 LB bags; which will take two bags quite nicely. So far, I have mixed a good 160 bags through it and it’s holding up! Remember to locktite the critical gear nuts and have some good silicone sealer for the drum seal. Best $160 I’ve spent in awhile.
If you purchased this from H.F. you did not get NO 30% off,Central Machinery is an item excluded from all discount coupons(fine print items excluded).Believe me I've tried numerous time to purchase this exact same item,Have NEVER been allowed to apply any discount coupon
Not true, at least once a year, sometimes twice, Harbor Freight allows the coupon to used on EVERYTHING! Or the actual ad will say so or it will specifically have a highlighted coupon for the cement mixer. I will try to find the receipt. But, I’m know what I paid for the item. Thank you very much
I googled “Harbor Frieght concrete mixer sale” and their are numerous guys like me, whom got a killer deal. Doesn’t happen often, but it does happen.
I bought a HF mixer for mixing potting soil for use in my greenhouse, it sure takes a lot of the work out of the mixing process.
What a great idea - love it!!! - I'm going to try that to mix some peat moss and sand, soil mix! Thanks for stopping by - be sure to like and subscribe!
Awesome idea - my new mixer is now duel purpose - thanks!!!
Maybe that is what I should use mine for. It should be good for something.
This thing has gone up a hundred dollars since this video was made. Right now, HF is using this video on its website and he mentions the 150 price a few times. Well, it's now 250!!!
@@tarstarkusz everything I need to run my homestead has gone up in price and some things are not available and have not been available for months.
Thank you for taking the time to review this CENTRAL MACHINERY 3-1/2 Cubic Ft. Cement Mixer from Harbor Freight. As of Thursday, May 16th, 2024, it's currently listed at $269.99 on the website. I was checking out the BAUER 4 cu. ft. Cement Mixer, which is listed at $329.99 as a Member-Only deal with a $50.00 off. It has a capacity of about 1/2 cu. ft. larger than the Central Machinery cement mixer. According to Harbor Freight's website, the Bauer "cement mixer can mix up to two 80 lb. bags of concrete, stucco, or mortar."
New coupon just came out. With coupon it brings the Central Machinery mixer down to $199. Probably going to pick one up tomorrow for some projects.
assembled mine yesterday Instructions are crap thanks for the video.
Because it’s so cheap some might scrimp on cleaning out well after use
If you’ve tried to remove cement or concrete from a dried mixer it’s almost impossible
ShakespeareCafe I made the mistake of mixing some “fast set red bag concrete” at 3:30pm on a hot summer day!!! Hahaha Seriously couldn’t get it out of the mixer before it dried up ROCK HARD! HAHAHAHA
You could literally hear it crackling in the mixer as I was trying to pour it out! Haha I ended up having to chip it out with my roto hammer! My hammer is a BOSCH by the way 😎 some tools you just can’t skimp on! 🤣😂
Didnt you watch Mythbusters? All it takes is a stick of dynamite.
I love mine. For little it beats renting and you can do the project on your time and not on the rentals time
I just bought one of these and assembled it today. Since this video, manufacturer added a sheet to help you sort out the confusing hardware.
We have other no drum mixer machine much more convenient.
Glad to hear that. It was a bit of a bear to get it together, but mine's still going strong.
@@jellyluo1182 What is a no drum mixer machine?
SH: How has your mixer worked for you?
Dallas Beus could you send me your email or WhatsApp?i send more informations for u
With a full sized wheelbarrow, it helps to set the mixer on 3 concrete blocks.
Great tip!
Cut the bag as you did on top of the mixer but do it on the ground or better yet on a makeshift table. Pull the bag up from the middle and "saw" through the remaining half from the under side with your hand creating two halves. They're much easier to handle and allow for adding to the drum partially filled with water while rotating. Water needs to be first in the drum!!
Jack, Thank you for this tip. I'm about to do 30 80 lb bags and was dreading it.
Amen on the instructions…. The motor started to struggle and cut out towards the end of pouring a 12x10 slab
I have some project including a small sidewalk, I will buy new and just keep it and my family can use it as well, excellent video, thanks for taking the time to make it !
Same here. Tired of mixing by hand and have several hime projects. Cant wait to try it
Mine works great. It paid for itself on the first job I did. Saved $2,000. Definitely worth the money.
I have one of these and have worked it non stop setting fence posts for about 3 months now. Not a minute of trouble once we got it assembled.
I bought this mixer about 2 years ago for the $150 he mentions in the video.. one of the best $150's I have ever spent. It is not going to take much abuse, but for someone who is a bit careful with their tools it very much does the job. Best with (1) 80# bag of concrete mix at a time, more than you need to work harder to keep it in the barrel or get it to mix properly.. or small batches I mixed a lot of sand/gravel/portland with it. Paid for itself and then some. Good video figured a lot of guys would watch this to make a decision!
Do you have a recommendation on the best wheel barrow to use with this- Basically one that is short enough to fit under the mixer? I am going to be pouring about 50 cubic feet of new floor in my basement
I like your teqnique, starting with the bucket turned upright.
I have one of these mixers. After using it the first time I could see the center of the drum was doing a poor job of mixing. So, I did what a few others suggested and flipped the 2 blades end for end. Small end at top and big end at the bottom. Now the center mixes well. Thanks
Thanks. Good video, clear, well-organized and presented. This really helped make my decision on renting/buying or just having concrete delivered to my farm site outside Columbia, TN. I’ve got 4 projects pending, maybe a fifth, roughly 100 bags of concrete to mix and not all on the same day so delivery, waste, washout, etc., would add up pretty fast. I ran one of these one summer in high school before I joined the Army many years ago, can’t see that the “science” has changed much at all. Just gotta find a coupon.😊
I have used one of these. Good for the price. The electric motor is weak, wears out fast, but is easily replaced with a higher quality motor. FYI wood post in concrete and dirt causes rot from water damage and gives termites a easy path to the wood. Best to pore concrete then use air gap spacers to attach the wood post above the concrete with concrete bolts ect.. will last longer and termites have a more difficult time getting to the wood
Haha! Glad someone else didn't align the arrows when building theres. The internal blades seem to be correct (pretty much). Gonna try mixing some Sakrete tomorrow. We'll see how it goes.
Stockton Accelerated I’ve mixed 2 60# sacks at one time it gets a little sloppy if tilted too much but you can do it.
I did Change out the Wheels for Blowup Tires !
Robert Burton fantastic idea. One of mine is bent. I guess that’s one con I didn’t mention. The wheels are garbage.
I mix 8 yards in my shop by my self with recycled concrete and cement...and the machine still running 🏃♀️ 🏃♀️
Silica is no joke I force my crew to wear masks on all of our sites. Great video!
Agreed! Safety glasses should be worn, as well. Get it in your eye once and you'll never do it again..
I'm almost 68 and was recently diagnosed with COPD; never smoked in my life. I've been a contractor since '88 and always wore protection for serious actors, but often ignored dusts. Be sure to get good masks as a basic 'dust mask' may not seal out well enough to save your lungs or those of your crews. Best regards.
Am I the only one that actually measures the amount of water I use?I use two containers. One container holds the ideal amount of water to use (I believe it's 3L per 80lbs bag) and the other container holds another 1.7 liter of water which is the max that should be used in addition to the 3L that is used.That way I never use more than the directions say.
After learning that I've been mixing it too thin all these years, I'm gonna start measuring.
Try filling sand bags with a dry mix of cement, sand, and aggregate. After the moisture in the ground hits it, you won't want to be the one on a jackhammer.
It's very amateur to measure the water.
No, you're not. I fill a 55-gallon drum with water, put it near the mixer, and mark a few 2-gallon buckets with the required water level. Takes the guesswork out of it - compressive strength goes down sharply with added water over design amounts, and it's one less thing to mess with when I'm trying to slam out a patio slab or something.
Ya you’re the only one.
If you remove the paddles tumble your rusty chains it will clean them up an also clean the mixer.
That's a great idea - I'll have to try that!
I'm buying one on Monday...I'm so excited!
Whoa fella...it's just a concrete mixer. Let's not get carried away! :)
Where you still excited when you opened the box and saw how much of a pain in the ass the assembling was with the poor instructions if any
It's a bear to put together but after assembling I used it to mix around 15 60lbs bags of concrete an it did a really nice job. Roughly ten to twelve minutes to mix two bags at a time took about just over two hours to mix, screed, finish, and broom after it setup a little over 5x4 4" pad....with a couple of water an beer breaks.
My uncle bought one of these, drilled a bunch of holes in the drum and uses it to wash oysters lol
Lol just went through that whole align the arrows to align the internal paddles my dang self. Had everything lock tighted and all before i realized had to take it back apart.
Besides the price of buying one I just don't think I can afford to buy one based on the storage space it would take up/time to sell one used.
good video and well done. when I do fence posts I used to mix the concrete but you can put some water in the hole empty the bag of dry concrete add more water jam a big crowbar in it up and down come back the next day and it will look just like you mixed it in the mixer. fence guys told me they do not even add water the concrete will suck in enough from the soil to harden it
I've seen folks do this as well. I guess I'm a little particular about it! I'm using the mixer for other projects as well, but your point is well taken on the fencing type work! Thanks for stopping by!
Not true. That all depends on how much water is drawn. Most of the time the center of the powder pile, the area where the beam is located, is still powder and thus not doing what it should do, keep the beam in place. I’ve heard of people just pulling the beam right out of the ground because they did it the last way I.e. not mixing the concrete
Very informative. I'm getting one for mixing soil for soil blocks. I also saw a way to rig it up to sift rocks. Also, I think it's funny how some people on here say you're using too much water and some say not enough. Everyone's a critic
The old adage 'don't believe everything you read' applies in spades on the internet! Thanks for stopping by!
Gotta admit, I'm in the "too much" camp. Or at least, the add it in slowly camp. Alot easier to add more water than add more concrete.
The amount of water is paramount to the strength and durability of the concrete. It's the most important factor. Don't take it lightly.
Thanks for showing this. I didn't know they were out there. This would be right up my alley. Small enough and not to big.
Glad it was useful! It's been working great and cheaper than renting (for me anyway)
...great machine.... the water first and after the cement
300K views - think you probably helped a few people out by now!
Huge tip with getting concrete off your hands with vinegar. Thank you.
Excellent video exactly the info I was looking for, thanks
Its a good mixer for the price ,and yes instructions for assembly suck fortunately another you tuber made it easy , there are many videos out there mine still works bought in 2010
Yeah, the instructions were confusing. I did get mine together eventually.
Wear your hearing protectors with this beast, but does an awesome job, 1 80# bag at a time is what I do. Have run over a hundred bags over the last 3 years and still goin.
Concrete in the bags are already mixed (Just add water). Water the hole, pour the mix in dry, then mix in-hole thrusting a stick or metal rod for about a minute, add water as needed. This is a lazy method but okay for ordinary fence posts. We put up fence posts quickly this way on acreages to keep dingoes out. For shorter perimeter suburban fences, do the same using quickset pre-mixed concrete bags. Use a mixer if mixing your own ratios using portland. Very informative video. Thanks.
If you just have a small project - go with a five gallon bucket, a stir stick and your big, strong muscles.
Put grease on the gears on back and the noise will go away almost.
Good review. Useful. Thanks
Good , informative video...
Well spoken , Thank You..👍👍
Great video and I learned what I need to know. Appreciate it. Very cool.
Awesome!!! Very beneficial to me.
Very Informative, thanks!
Been researching mixers for a couple days now. After reading reviews and assembly videos, I think this is the one I'm gonna get. On the issue of water, I've always thought it was supposed to be the consistency of a milk shake (like the way this guy has it) . But I've recently heard that the most common mistake is too much water. When I saw the video on what it SHOULD look like, I was surprised. Its really supposed to be thicker. Good video, but I hate the intro music!
So are you happy with it??? I seriously hate mine. I wish I had paid more and purchased a good cement mixer.
@@politicalpartyagnostic268 sell the mixer and buy what you really want.
Correct, bolts packages made no sense, had to watch video fo inside panel
theyre now 269!!! good bye old days!!!
Great video, thanks for posting!
I have a question about the 3.5 cu ft capacity. An 80lb bag of quikrete makes .6 cu ft of concrete. My math says it should hold about 6 bags. Is that 3.5 cu ft dry mix before water or after? Or is that the volume of the drum in which case you wouldn't use more than about 2-3 bags? I need to mix about 75 bags for a walkway. No access for for a concrete mixing truck.
Dan Burch 80lb. Bag makes 0.66 cu ft
would you know how many bags Dan can use ?
Anyone have recommendations on the best wheel barrow to use with this- Basically one that is short enough to fit under the mixer?
You can mix 2 packages or just 1.
Great experience and a good video, thank you✌
Been wanting one of these. Thanks.
I’m just a new subscriber and I’m really enjoying your channel. Great work
I have one of these it works great but really noisy. I did weld the motor bracket to where it bolts to the stand because it was really wobbly.
Thanks for the video :) It did help a lot putting the mixer together.
I have this mixer, it bogs down with an 80 pound bag of concrete. Not sure why as some of these videos show it working well. I like the mixer, saved me a ton of work, but I wish I could figure out the 80 pound bog down on the motor.
Easy. If you don't have at least a 3/4 horse motor on it it is going to bog down.
Dam good video
Glad you enjoyed!
I think you need to add more water , I don't think you added enough.
Howie is a jackass with a picture of a jackass
the 2 arrows you talk about on mine where both stuck on the top potion of the drum, so that didn't help me at all. I agree with the bolt labeling.... they could have done better by laying all the bolts out and including a picture with the number above them. So you know which is the all-tread and what was for other uses.. The hardest part I had was getting that damn handle down with the spring in it to get the bolt in.. that spring was tuff to compress!!!!
Agree! Putting the thing together was a pain in the arse. I wish I video'd it - I think I made up a few new swear words.
will the round handle help in some way?
Your video helped me on deciding to get this mixer. I am thinking of repainting the drum with epoxy based appliance spray paint be for i assemble the drum. I wounder if it would make it easier to clean? BTW/There is another video on how to assembly the mixer, and how inaccurate the instructions are. Luckily i saw that video and understand about the arrows.
Thanks TT. I'm about to purchase this mixer.
It’s quieter than the Yard Max.
How do you come up with Three and a half cubic feet of concrete? An eighty pound bag is .6 cubic feet. Two of them would only be a little over a cubic foot.
Remember you have to add water. Quikrete Instructions: Allow at least 1 cu ft (28 L) of mixer capacity for each 80 lb (36.3 kg)
bag of QUIKRETE® Concrete Mix to be mixed at one time. Also if you over fill, you won't be able to tip the mixer out without spilling it everywhere. You can't really fill it to the max capacity.
I'm not buying one but I'm renting one similar to it. $54 dollars for Saturday and returning it Monday so I could use it Sunday if I needed to. Thanks for the video.
Awesome - that's the way to go if you can get it done in a weekend! Sounds like a good price!
I have one. I am happy and satisfied with all of my purchases from Harbor Freight with the exception of the cement mixer. Worse purchase I have made there. It is awful!!!!
Great review, thank you!
I just assembled mine, but with nothing inside it, it spin very slow...any idea on what I did wrong? Great Vid, Thanks!!!
Very informative..thank you for your time..I'm sold
Glad it was helpful!
Reviewer: Assembly was quite difficult
Me: ok I'm out
also if you use the valve on the side of the bag you don't need to cut it in half and it slows down the dust
Of all the many many things I purchased at Harbor Freight, the cement mixer is the only thing I hate or unhappy with. I just hate it. I would rather spend more and get a better mixer. Honestly, don’t waste your time on it.
"Sale" price is now $200...
Thanks!
Very helpful! Thank you much, brother.
Thanks for stopping by!
My wife and I put one together this week. I would NOT buy it again. There are direct drive at HD for less than $300.
When you mixed one and before you put and other one, way you not live machine runing end put water first supos too do it correctly
Thank You.
Baby oil will help remove the white skin staining too....
I bought one of these for a major pour I am doing hoping it holds up as it's going to get a major workout. I expect to mix and pour 14 yards of concrete for a garage floor. Some may say why don't you just use concrete trucks. Well in my area it's become very exspensive to buy premixed concrete plus I don't have the help nor money to hire a finish crew to handle that much concrete in a day. What I do have is all the free sand and gravel I need as well as water only need to buy the Portland. So I can pour at the pace I am able to work with very little cost. I can get this project done for a couple hundred dollars versus $3 to $5 thousand it would cost me to contract it in and pay labor.
Way to go Ken! My hat's off to you for doing it yourself! Yes, you will get a workout!
That's right..I am doing the exact same thing except I am doing concrete around the sides of my house and extending driveway... Saving thousands that I don't have...
Ken Jett dude POST A VIDEO OF YOUR PROJECT! 🤣 I bet you haven’t done it yet! Haha
@@rcppop3090 I hope too and you are right because of some health issues I have had to delay. Like alot of big projects seems always something that takes priority. But I do hope things start going my way I really need my shop built. Got my house full of tools and they need there own home.
Ken Jett 14 yards with a mixer just sounds like torture man. Not to be an asshole but you’re gonna get healthy enough to do the project and put yourself right back into the hospital! 😜
Thanks for the vid and review...but as said before thats a buckton of water...makes for brittle concrete down the road
Good video. You need to have like a night tales show with that voice.
lol
thanks for sharing this
Glad you liked - thanks for watching!
Nice video. Im still not sure if i put screws in right place. I hate the instructions.
Can you tell me when do you use concrete with rocks versus concrete without? I want to make pavers and smooth walkway.
Thank you
Hi PamE - thanks! Yeah, the instructions leave alot to the imagination :) You can make a mortar mix for pavers with cement and sand an no rock - or add any type of aggregate to make it stronger. Pea gravel is common in lots of mixes. For walkways, a bigger rock would help it be stronger. Around here they call it 57 gravel - it's about 1/2-3/4"" crushed rock. The ratios are important as well...
@@tractortherapy42 Thank you!
Thank you sir I have a new house it’s all dirt in my backyard. My first project is do a 3 feet walk way around my house then patio etc. This mixer would help a lot I’ll do the form around the house and pour concrete by section that way I don’t overwhelm my self. Thanks again sir! What’s the ideal size and inches thick of my walk way, anyone has a suggestions please? To save money and make a good decent project DIY.Thanks!
Ek79 E. Hello! 3 inches is a good thickness for a walkway. Some recommend up to 4, but if you’re not moving heavy machinery it’s better to save the money and stick to 3 inches. 2.75 inches also works, but 3 is better in the long run.
Ozzie Maynard thank you so much and appreciate your answer and time!
Great information! Thank you
Want to buy mini cement mixer. We need information about it.
nicevideo ,how are you gauging how much water your putting in with the hose ,your not measuring then ?
Just on feel. It would be better to measure using a bucket.
i have one but the tires the come with it are garbage other then that is a hell of machine
Thank you!
Yep got the same mixer from harbor freight. I like the mixer but better use common sense and the picture don't go by the instructions cause they will loose u on the bolts. 🤔
Kudos! Great quick video. Very informative! Thanks!
What about that Quikcrete for posts? Pure it in dry and add some water?
Sure. But that's no fun.
Nice video....would you recommend added a little bit of water first before pouring in the bag?
Boobletown Bobby you’re suppose to put in water first then the cement bags
Excellent video, thank you for posting it!
Thanks for stopping by!
What is the largest you can buy?
Great help I appreciate it 😊