Types of electric construction mixers and attachments for them

Any job site that uses plaster, mortar, or concrete needs an electric construction mixer. These mixers are made to handle different materials and tasks, and they are available in a variety of sizes and shapes. The correct mixer may save time, cut down on labor, and guarantee a more consistent mixture whether you’re working on a modest do-it-yourself project or a large commercial construction.

To choose the best electric construction mixer for your needs, it is essential to understand the various models that are available. For small batches and confined spaces, there are handheld portable mixers that are ideal. Larger, stationary mixers with more power and capacity are perfect for mixing bigger amounts of material. Due to their distinct qualities and uses, mixers come in a variety of forms that are appropriate for various purposes.

Apart from the mixers per se, there exist multiple attachments that can augment their performance. Mixing paddles are made to work with particular materials, such as grout, mortar, and concrete. They are available in various sizes and shapes. While some paddles are made for lighter, more fluid substances, others are better suited for thicker, heavier mixes. Your mixing process can be made much more effective and high-quality by selecting the appropriate attachment.

Making educated decisions that will help you accomplish the best results on your project will require you to be aware of the different kinds of electric construction mixers and the attachments that are available for them. The quality and ease of work can be greatly enhanced by possessing the appropriate tools, regardless of experience level or do-it-yourself passion.

Classification by design feature

All mixing devices are made up structurally of an attachment and a drive. A gearbox, nozzle mounting system, electric motor, and controls (speed switch, switch) are all housed in the drive housing. Nozzles are unique parts that are attached to the drive and are used to combine the ingredients in the mixture. The two classes of contemporary construction mixers are based on their function and range of use:

• Drill-mixers are dual-purpose devices. They are equipped with a cam chuck, which allows you to securely fix both the nozzles for mixing construction mixtures (with the appropriate shank diameter) and drills for arranging large-diameter holes. Such a tool belongs to low-speed drills, so it cannot functionally replace a conventional electric drill. However, low rotation speeds and high torque allow them not only to mix a wide variety of solutions (including heavy cement or sand and gravel), but also to be used for drilling large holes even in very hard materials.

• Construction electric mixers are highly specialized tools that are designed only for mixing various mixtures. The range of these devices is very diverse, you can even choose a construction mixer that will successfully replace a household concrete mixer (and not be inferior to it in productivity, but significantly surpass it in ease of transportation and variety of functional capabilities). These devices are single-spindle (they provide for the installation of only one nozzle) and double-spindle (they install two nozzles at once, which rotate in opposite directions).

Of course, you’ll need a suitable container to mix the ingredients when using any type of construction mixer.

There are many different kinds of electric construction mixers available, all of which are intended to make mixing concrete for various projects simpler and more effective. There is a mixer for every need, ranging from powerful standalone units appropriate for larger jobs to handheld models perfect for smaller batches. Furthermore, a variety of attachments, including mixing drums, extension rods, and paddle designs, can improve their functionality even further and enable more accurate and adaptable mixing. Comprehending these alternatives facilitates the selection of appropriate tools, guaranteeing maximum efficiency and enhanced output at the construction site.

Types of mixers depending on power

Construction mixers (both highly specialized and drill-mixers) can be categorized into three main groups based on power, which is the primary technical feature that dictates the area of application:

1. Devices with a power of 600 ÷ 900 W are designed for mixing solutions with low viscosity and in small volumes. Suitable for preparing mixtures for painting, plastering and finishing works. Usually these devices are equipped with an electric motor with one speed, the rotation speed is within 550 ÷ 850 rpm. The price varies within 3300 ÷ 7200 rubles. The most popular models: "Zubr ZDM-820 RM", "Hammer UDD600M", "Felisatti MF800VE", "Hitachi D13".
2. Construction mixers with a power of 1.0 ÷ 1.5 kW, as a rule, have a speed controller (2 positions). With their help, you can mix both light mixtures (at the second speed, providing spindle rotation up to 850-950 rpm), and heavy (concrete) at the first speed (with a rotation speed within 200 ÷ 400 rpm). The price for such devices is 5300 ÷ 8000 rubles. Typical models: "Hammer UDD1050A", "Bison ZDM-1200 RMM2", "Hitachi UM16VST", "Enkor ME-2 1400E". Numerous models of two-spindle mixers also fall into the same power range (1.2-1.5 kW). However, the price for such devices will be higher: within 8500 ÷ 15000 rubles. Common models from manufacturers of this type of construction mixers: "Elitech MS 1600 / 2ED", "Hammer MXR1400A", "ZUBR ZMR-1350E-2", "Felisatti MKF1200 / VE2", "Stomer SMD-1400 × 2", "Rubimix-9 Duplex".
3. Construction mixers with a power of 1.8 kW and more belong to the category of professional equipment, they are used for mixing large volumes of solutions of varying viscosity. Such models have a speed controller for 2-3 positions. But, this equipment is quite expensive (the price is within 25,000 ÷ 55,000 rubles) and its purchase is justified only in the case of daily, constant use during construction work. Models from manufacturers of professional power tools: “Bosch GRW 18-2 E Professional”, “Makita UT1600”, “Metabo B 32/3”.

Counseling! We must consider both the hand mixer’s weight and power when selecting one for construction. It will be harder to operate a device with greater power because it will weigh more.

Types of attachment fastening systems

Various manufacturers’ construction mixers come with various attachment-fixing mechanisms:

• A cam chuck, in which the shank is fixed using a special crimping key (like a regular electric drill).
• A cam chuck of the QuickFix system (like a household screwdriver – crimping is carried out without the use of a special tool).
• A threaded connection of the shank to the mixer M12, M14 (much less often M21), using a regular wrench, which is included in the electric mixer kit.
• SDS-plus and SDS-max chucks (the design is similar to the fastening of drills in household hammer drills).
• HEX fastening system chucks (8, 10 or 12), for quick change and fixation of devices with a hexagonal shank, having a groove for spring fixation according to the ISO 1173 E3 standard.

Construction mixer attachments: shapes and sizes

An electric construction mixer attachment is a rod with a whisk on one end for mixing and a shank on the other for fastening the attachment to the drive. You can select the whisk’s shape once you’ve determined the ingredients of the mixture that needs to be mixed. Also, the attachment shank’s standard ought to correspond with that of your power tool.

Types of shanks for mixer attachments

There are a lot of mixer attachments available right now with shanks in different shapes:

• A regular hexagon, 8, 9 or 10 mm in size. Such devices are intended for use in a power tool with a regular jaw chuck.
• A hexagon (8, 10 or 12 mm) with a groove for spring fastening in HEX chucks (they can also be used in a power tool with a regular chuck).
• Thread M12, M14 and 21X1.5. Devices with such shanks can only be used in highly specialized mixers.
• Shanks designed for installation in SDS-plus chucks (can also be used in a simple hammer drill).

Sizes and shapes of mixer attachment whisks

Attachments for mixing are available:

• Standard lengths of 400 and 600 mm (some have 400 mm extensions – total length up to 1 m).
• Whisk diameter (the part intended for mixing) from 80 to 220 mm.

Depending on the mixture to be mixed, the whisk’s shape is chosen. Simple whisk forms

• Spiral. Such whisks are divided into right-handed, in which the spiral is twisted clockwise, and left-handed, in which the spiral is twisted counterclockwise. Right-handed whisks lift the solution from the bottom up during mixing and are intended for heavy or thick mixtures (concrete, sand and gravel, bitumen). Left -sided spirals, on the contrary, when mixed, capture the mixture from above and lowered down. They are designed for mixing various paint and varnish compositions, various flowable mixtures and liquid putties, since there is no splashing when using them.

Note: Only one nozzle (either left- or right-handed) can be used for various mixture compositions if the construction mixer has a reverse system that guarantees the whisk rotates both clockwise and counterclockwise.

• Whisks with straight blades. Mixing occurs only in the horizontal plane, which prevents air from being captured and entering the mixture. Suitable for mixing various gypsum-based compositions (air is extremely undesirable), mixtures for self-leveling floors, etc.

• Screw-shaped whisks (the screw is usually made of plastic). Mainly used for light liquid mixture compositions. Sometimes two screws are installed on the axis: the lower one, which lifts the components up, and the upper one, which prevents the spraying of the mixture.

Crucial! Manufacturers specify the maximum recommended amount of solution for which a particular whisk is intended, along with the kind of mixture for which it is intended to be used, in the technical description.

The cost of these accessories ranges from 100 to 1100 rubles, depending on their size, composition, and intended use.

Homemade mixer

Making an electric mixer by hand is not too difficult. You can use a hammer drill or any regular electric drill from the home as a drive for this. Devices with a regular hexagon-shaped shank, or HEX, work well for drills. Both are easily fixed in the drill’s cam chuck. The most important thing is that the hexagon’s standard sizes of 8, 10, and 12 mm match the largest size that can fit inside the drill chuck.

Caution: Only low-speed drills or tools with rotating speed adjustment should be used to mix solutions.

If you plan to use a punch as a drive (naturally in unstressed mode), you will need to purchase nozzles whose shanks are designed to fit the SDS-Plus cartridge.

It should be highlighted, though, that the engines and gearboxes in electric drills and even powerful punch drills are made exclusively to withstand longitudinal loads. As a result, a homemade mixer built around them works well for combining small amounts of light solutions. The drive encounters large radial and horizontal loads when stirring the solutions, which may cause the electric motor to overheat and fail. It is therefore best to avoid using your hands as a concrete mixer from a drill or perforator. Even so, using them to mix paints, sparse putty, and other light solutions is perfectly acceptable.

Electric construction mixers are indispensable instruments in the construction sector, providing effective and convenient means of blending diverse materials. Their popularity is a result of their capacity to complete tasks faster than traditional methods while requiring less manual labor.

Electric construction mixers come in a variety of varieties, each ideal for a particular use. While larger stand mixers offer more power and capacity for larger projects, handheld mixers are portable and perfect for smaller tasks. The size and nature of the task at hand determine which mixer is best.

The adaptability of electric mixers is greatly enhanced by their attachments. When blending mortar and concrete, paddle attachments are frequently used to ensure that the ingredients are thoroughly blended. For lighter materials like paint or plaster, helical and eggbeater attachments work better, guaranteeing a homogeneous and even mixture.

The quality and productivity of building projects can be greatly improved by making the appropriate investments in mixers and attachments. Construction professionals can accomplish better results in less time and effort by choosing equipment that is specific to each project’s needs.

In the end, being aware of the different kinds and features of electric construction mixers and their add-ons facilitates decision-making. With this knowledge, construction projects can be completed successfully and efficiently because the appropriate tools are used for the right jobs.

Video on the topic

Corrugation for building mixtures. Which to choose?

Mixer Construction

Construction mixer Makita college, power, speed, workability

What is the difference between regular whisks and professional TilerExpert | RODMON

Makita construction mixer plows better than the original! : 4000 rub.