Regardless of the scale of your construction project, a concrete mixer is an essential tool, which is why it’s important to ensure that they are working correctly. From maintaining it yourself to following the proper directions, there are several crucial steps involved to ensure safety and efficiency when owning a concrete mixer.

 

At BS Power, we believe mixers to be one of the most important tools on any construction site. In this quick read, we’ll be outlining some of the best ways to keep your concrete mixers in top shape as well as how to prevent issues further down the line.

 

 

Concrete Mixer 101: Using Them Correctly

 

Before we break down essential tips and tricks to maintaining your mixer, it’s important to understand how concrete mixers work and ensure that you’re operating yours correctly. Ensuring that you are using your mixer correctly allows you to reap all the benefits that come with owning one, such as streamlining labour and saving on costs in the long run.

 

Whether you’re working on a large-scale construction site or a small-scale DIY project at home, many of the steps involved in operating concrete mixers follow similar principles.

 

Follow these several essential steps:

 

Acquiring Equipment

 

Purchasing a concrete mixer is a worthy long-term investment, which is why you want to ensure that you’re buying the best of the best. At BS Power, we offer a wide variety of high-quality mixers, concrete cutters and other essential construction tools. Both our concrete and cement mixers are intended for professional use, ensuring durability and quality. With products manufactured by revered brands like Honda, Stihl and Baumax, you’ll have a range of expert concrete mixers to choose from.

 

Now that you’ve found the best place to purchase your mixers, it’s time to choose the right model according to the needs of your project. The two most important factors you want to consider when looking for a concrete mixer are capacity and type. While mixers can be used in many different types of construction projects, the scale of your project will determine which size mixer is best for you. If you’re working on a small to medium scale project, small concrete mixers will suffice as you won’t need to produce heaps of concrete at a time. For larger commercial projects, however, you’ll need to prepare continuous batches of concrete on site, which is why a larger industrial sized mixer would be ideal.

 

Concrete mixers come in two distinct types: continuous mixers and batch mixers. Continuous mixers produce batches of concrete while being fed ingredients, meaning they will continuously create concrete while in operation. These types of mixers work best on large construction sites as there is little to no downtime for creating new batches of concrete. For small scale projects, many people opt for batch mixers as they produce one batch at a time and create much smaller mixtures.

 

Safety Procedures

 

Before preparing a concrete mixture, you need to ensure that you are following the correct safety protocols. This includes having the right equipment, wearing the proper protective gear and finding an appropriate environment. Mixers need to be used outside in an open area and should have construction signs and barriers if used in a public area. Make sure you’re wearing safety gloves and goggles, closed shoes and long-sleeved clothes to protect your skin.

 

Constructing & Activating Concrete Mixers

 

Now that you’ve passed all the necessary safety precautions, you can begin assembling your mixer. Your mixer needs to be set up on a level surface to avoid any tipping of concrete and should be near a water source for feeding into your mixture. Once you’ve found the best spot, put the pieces of your mixer together and ensure that they are tightly attached.

 

You can begin attaching the mixer drum at a tilted angle once your stand has been assembled. The drum of your mixer needs to be in the right position before powering on as this will allow for a smoother flow of your concrete mixture. When you’ve attached all the parts and positioned your mixer correctly, power it on without adding your mixture.

 

Producing Concrete

 

The concrete aggregate you purchase should come with its own instructions on ratios and mixing. While adding your ingredients, be sure not to overload the mixing drum past its capacity as this can be dangerous. The number one factor determining the quality of your mixture will depend on how dry or wet it is. If you fail to reach the right consistency, the concrete may not dry correctly and will be difficult to work with. Keep a close eye on the texture of your mixture, adding the necessary amounts of aggregate or water to achieve a perfect concrete batch.

 

Pouring Out Your Mixture

 

Once you’ve achieved your desired consistency, you can now prepare to pour out your batch. The type of construction project you’re working on will determine whether you pour your mixture into a wheelbarrow, a mould or directly onto the area you’re applying concrete. While it is possible to pour your mixture single handedly, it’s recommended to have at least one other person assisting you on the receiving end so that the concrete is poured out evenly. This process should not be rushed as you may struggle with controlling the concrete mixer. Make sure that you are tipping the mixture out slowly at an angle.

 

Washing Concrete Mixers

 

The first thing to do after throwing out your mixture is to make sure the mixer is cleaned appropriately. This is due to the fact that concrete can set, dry and harden quickly. You will want to clean out the remaining mixture stuck to the drum while it is still wet, which will save you a lot more work later down the line, as the wet concrete will wash out a lot easier.

 

Attempting to clean the mixer once the mixture has dried is extremely difficult, and in some cases impossible, and can cause your mixer to wear and tear faster. To avoid this, add water and sand and continue mixing to remove the excess concrete inside the drum. Once you’ve let it mix for a few minutes, switch off your mixer and tip out the remaining mixture. To ensure a thorough wash, power on your mixer one last time with only water and empty out before switching off.

 

 

Maintaining Your Mixer

 

All heavy machinery needs to be properly maintained, especially concrete mixers. Failing to perform regular checkups and using your mixer incorrectly can cause major damage to it, rendering it less effective. As concrete mixers are an investment for your construction projects, you want to ensure that they remain in good condition and working effectively for as long as possible. With regular maintenance and correct usage, your mixer should last you up to a decade.

 

While wear and tear is expected, there are a few basic maintenance tips that can help prevent issues from happening with your mixer, namely:

 

Preparing Your Work Site

 

Following the correct safety steps and preparing the construction site before assembling your mixer is crucial. If you set up your mixer on uneven terrain, it may tip over while mixing, both damaging the mixer and wasting concrete batches. Preparing your work site prior to mixing will not only prevent further hiccups along the way, but also help you to produce concrete more smoothly.

 

Additionally, it is also important to prioritise your own safety before using your mixer. If you’re working with an electrical mixer, ensure that your power source does not come into contact with water as this poses an electrical threat to both you and the machine.

 

Performing Regular Checkups

 

Much like any well-oiled machine, concrete mixers need to be given regular inspections to ensure that they are working efficiently. You should always check your mixer for signs of damage both before and after using it as it may affect the next batch you make. Failing to properly clean your mixing drum, for example, can result in hardened pieces of concrete stuck to your mixer.

 

This may cause further complications down the line and can damage the drum and mixing blade if not attended to. Inspecting your mixer will allow you to spot small signs of wear and tear and prevent them from becoming worse.

 

Handling Concrete Mixers Correctly

 

Maintaining your mixer means more than just cleaning it well and assembling it correctly. To keep your mixer in the best possible shape, you need to ensure that it is always being accommodated for, especially when it is not in use. Whether you’re transporting your mixer to your construction site or keeping it in storage, mixers need to be kept in safe, dry places.

 

Concrete mixers should not be kept outside without a protective cover as this can cause them to erode faster and make them more susceptible to wear and tear. If you’re planning on investing in a professional mixer, make sure you store in an area without rain or excess moisture.

 

Troubleshooting Issues

 

Even with the best products on the market sometimes issues are to be expected when mixers are not properly maintained. From insufficient mixture to mixing problems, there are many common issues that you’re bound to encounter if you neglect your mixer.

 

One issue that many first-time users struggle with when operating concrete mixers is not getting them to mix properly. Before you’re tempted to take it in for repairs or call a specialist, make sure that you have the correct quantities for your mixture. Often, most mixing issues with mixers arise when there is an imbalance in the ratio of ingredients.

 

If you don’t add enough water with your aggregate, your concrete will be very stiff, causing the blade to get stuck and not mix properly. It’s important to ensure that your mixing blade, water levels and concrete levels are correctly set before assuming an issue with the machine.

 

Additionally, all mixers can produce smooth, consistent concrete, which is why you need to inspect your machine if you’re struggling to achieve this. There are several types of concrete mixes available when purchasing your dry mixture, which is why you need to ensure that you are choosing the correct one. If your mixture comes out lumpy or broken, it’s likely that you’ve added the incorrect volume of water and aggregate or purchased the wrong concrete type for your project.

 

BS Power: Your Mixer Specialists

 

As this article has shown, taking good care of your concrete mixer can help it last for many years and become a worthwhile investment. At BS Power we are happy to be able to supply you with not only the best mixers on the market but also all the tips and information you may need to keep yours running for a long time.

 

So, if you want to learn more about the concrete mixers we have in stock and how to maintain them don’t hesitate to visit our website today, and find the best tools for you today.