Mixing concrete in a concrete mixer is always an excellent idea. Not only is the mixing process a precise process utilising the correct amounts of water, Portland cement, and aggregates like gravel. But also, because concrete mixers automate the whole process, you save time and manpower. Mixers always provide you with the same quality batch after every use: a smooth, wet product that can cure into a solid surface or foundation can be achieved.

 

A concrete mixer may be the perfect tool if you have a temporary, short-term, or even one-off residential landscaping or construction project. However, construction has been around far longer than mixers, and therefore several tools have been invented to mix concrete more efficiently and effectively.

 

In this article, we will look at a number of these different mixing inventions and compare them to a concrete mixer, a mixing mechanism that we at BS Power believe stands above all the rest. Once we have been through some of the other options out there, you will want to get your hands on a mixer too, and luckily at BS Power, we can help you find the perfect mixer with our wide range of premium mixers.

 

Types of Equipment Used for Concrete Mixing

 

To achieve high-quality results, contractors are required to have the correct tools so that the job can get done effectively. One of the many tools often needed is a good quality concrete mixing tool, e.g., a concrete mixer. The right tools help make the job more efficient and cost-effective. This helps to minimise manual labour and helps to streamline the mixing process.

 

At Bs Power, we believe in the power of our concrete mixers but also understand that our mixers face much competition. As stated in the introduction, there are several tools people may use to mix their concrete. Let us review the alternative, allowing you, as the reader, to decide which would be the best tool for you.

 

 

Buckets

 

There are so many different ways to mix concrete that you only sometimes need to use a concrete mixer depending on how extensive the project is and the amount of concrete required. Buckets are one of the most convenient ways to keep, mix, and pour concrete. Especially for those projects that do not require large amounts of concrete.

 

Buckets are manual concrete mixing tools, so they do not need electricity to operate them. They can be placed anywhere on the site without electrical or operational restrictions. Because it is a more compact and stationary solution, mixing concrete in a bucket instead of a concrete mixer is ideal for situations with limited access to mixers or electricity. Or, as already stated, if the job requires only a small amount of concrete.

 

Concrete mixing buckets use a helical auger that churns concrete in the centre. By mixing the concrete well, we generally end up with a concrete batch with an even finished texture. The bucket for mixing can be made from a multitude of materials, including aluminium or reinforced steel, so that it can securely and safely hold heavy, wet materials like mortar or concrete.

 

Wear-resistant bucket material gives you a durable and long-lasting container which you can repeatedly use. Concrete buckets are also known as concrete hoppers because they have many advantages for concrete contracting.

 

• Fast delivery solutions
• Efficient mixing, pouring, and containment.
• Easy cleanup

 

Concrete buckets vary in capacities ranging from 0.5 to 4 cubic yards of cement. If you want this more convenient, you can attach trunks and chutes to pour and place your concrete conveniently.

 

Buggies: Powered Wheelbarrows

 

Wheelbarrows, sometimes called concrete buggies, not concrete mixers, are powered concrete transport and mixing solutions. Contrasting the buckets, which are usually stationary solutions, these concrete buckets are wheeled tools, making them easy to move between different sites and can be repositioned anywhere for precise pouring. Also, given their manoeuvrability, they can be used to spot pouring.

 

Powered wheelbarrows are typically fueled by gasoline or propane with hydraulic pumps to pressurise the concrete flow in front of the central tub. Models differ; some other powered wheelbarrow models come with an adjustable platform so workers can ride on for better ergonomics.

 

Proper ergonomics is just one crucial advantage that powered wheelbarrows have for pouring concrete over a concrete mixer. Concrete is quite a heavy material to constantly move around on the job site, resulting in regular back sprains and strains. Having a powered wheelbarrow helps as it not only reduces the amount of physical labour and heavy lifting needed but also assists in reducing labour costs and increasing productivity.

 

 

The Portable Concrete Mixer

 

The ability to thoroughly and adequately mix your concrete is crucial to the structural integrity of the project you want to construct. Whether pouring concrete for a garden pathway or concrete foundation, correctly mixing concrete helps to ensure that your project is built properly from the get-go, reducing the need for expensive reworks in the future.

 

A high-quality portable concrete mixer is designed to handle concrete effectively. This will help you to properly mix, pour, and set concrete so that you can prevent any structural issues from occurring. With a portable concrete mixer, the concrete ingredients include water, cement, and aggregates. These then get added to the unit’s revolving drum. After this, a powered crankshaft rotates the drum to mix the concrete ingredients thoroughly.

 

Here is a list of just some of the advantages the portable concrete mixer has over the buggies:

 

• Fast mixing rates so that more concrete is processed in less time.
• Can be directly set up at the worksite for convenient access.
• Automatic mixing, eliminating the need for manual mixing with a shovel or drill.

 

A portable concrete mixer can make fresh concrete readily available at your job site whenever you need it. Yielding small to medium-sized batches of concrete, a mobile concrete mixer is ideal for spot pouring and smaller projects that do not require a large concrete truck, which can be quite costly and require extensive preparation and logistic planning. You can rent a portable concrete mixer from some construction warehouses.

 

Power Drills

 

When using concrete mixing vessels like powered wheelbarrows and buckets, you may need a way to mix or physically stir the concrete contained in these units. One ubiquitous method is to use a spade or shovel to mix cement ingredients manually. This requires lots of steady, physical force to achieve an even mixture. To decrease the amount of physical labour and exertion needed to stir and mix concrete ingredients manually.

 

Because of the difficulty of this mixing method, we recommended using a power tool to give the automatic mixing power required. Power drills fitted with a mixer or paddle attachment can be utilised to evenly mix concrete in a wheelbarrow or a bucket so that it is ready to pour. Handled power or paddles for cordless drills are a good choice for mixing tools required to produce smaller batches of concrete for commercial or residential landscaping or construction projects.

 

When it comes to mixer attachments and power drills, you can control the speed and torque needed to mix your concrete ingredients properly. This gives you more control over the amount of cement you can mix at any given time.

 

This mixing solution is fantastic for job projects or sites that do not have access to electricity since cordless power drills are battery-operated. If you are working at a site with access to electricity, you can also use corded power concrete drills, which can function as concrete drilling and breaking tools for other aspects of your concrete projects.

 

Trowels

 

For many builders or contractors, having a smooth finish to their concrete mixtures is essential. To do this, removing unevenness from the final mix is vital. One way this can be done is by using a trowel. The trowel is an excellent tool as not only does it help with the overall consistency, but it also works to boost the durability of the concrete mixture.

 

There are a variety of trowels on the market, including both manual and powered types. Although manual trowels may work on smaller projects or in residential settings, when it comes to larger construction projects, you will need something a little more practical. Luckily more convenient powered-troweling solutions are available that can help reduce the amount of physical labour required for your project. Below is a comparison of the types of power trowels:

 

Ride-on trowels:

 

Achieve an even finish over a large concrete surface using a ride-on trowel. This is recommended for surfaces of 6000 square feet or more. Ride-on trowels give you the coverage area and weight to produce the flattest concrete surface possible.

 

Walk-behind trowels:

 

Using walk-behind trowels is a good solution when hand troweling becomes too time-consuming or inconvenient on larger surfaces. Wal-behind power trowels are helpful as they help to save back-breaking work while it improves the density and smoothness of a concrete slab surface. Walk-behind power trowels provide you more control over your concrete finish which will help you to retain its flatness over a more extended period.

 

Concrete Vibrators

 

 

After your concrete has been poured, it still contains many air pockets that need to be removed before the mixture gets cured. If you have too many air bubbles in your concrete, it will reduce its density, affecting the concrete’s longevity. Vibrating freshly poured concrete is helpful as it removes air bubbles and strengthens the finished product.

 

Concrete vibrators are available in many different forms depending on the type of substantial project. Jumpers, also known as surface concrete vibrators, are utilised directly on the poured concrete surface to help reduce air bubbles and improve the appearance of the finished product. You can use surface vibrators on poured concrete in driveways, decks, or hardscape surfaces. Surface vibrators are ideal for no more than 6 inches of concrete depths.

 

In many areas, vibrating concrete is an essential part of the building code as it tremendously impacts the quality of structural integrity. The amount of time you use to vibrate concrete depends on the thick surface area of the poured concrete. One of the most important criteria for using a concrete vibrator on a freshly poured concrete slab is to work efficiently.

 

About BS Power

 

BS Power manufactures a wide range of high-performance construction equipment for the use of any individual involved in the agricultural, forestry, and construction industries as well as any person who would like to know more about these and all the equipment that would be needed if they would like to begin their journey in these spheres.

 

BS Power also cares about the environment, so reducing waste and using environmentally friendly products is at the heart of our company. If you want to know more about construction products and tools such as buckets, Trowels and a concrete mixer, visit us today!