Which concrete mixer is better to buy - comparison of characteristics and specific models. Which concrete mixer is better to choose All types of concrete mixers

Starting construction without a reliable concrete mixer is at least unreasonable. In this article we will talk about how to independently choose the right unit for individual construction.

At the very beginning of construction work, when pouring the foundation and erecting walls, there is a need for a concrete mixer, a unit whose function is to mix the mortar. You should also take care of its acquisition if you decide to simply pour a concrete path or a recreation area. But how to understand all the variety of models with blue, red and yellow barrels? Let's try to navigate what the market for concrete mixers offers.

All construction equipment can be professional or amateur level. For an ordinary consumer, industrial units are unlikely to be of interest, so we will focus on concrete mixers that are used in individual construction.

Types of concrete mixers

Concrete mixers are divided into several categories. According to the principle of action, they are forced action and gravitational. A forced or rotary concrete mixer is equipped with a fixed drum and several blades that rotate inside it. Typically, such aggregates are used in the preparation of a mixture with various additives. Ready mix or concrete is unloaded through a lateral window in a drum.

In private construction, gravity machines are more often used. Their blades are on the walls of a rotating drum. They are divided into two types:

• crowned
• geared

Geared ones are durable, they are unpretentious to the dimensions of the mixed materials and are cheaper. The only drawback is the difficulty in repair. Crowned ones are less reliable, but they are easier to repair due to the large number of spare parts on the market.

Concrete mixers differ in the type of engine. The power source can be:

• electricity
• petrol
• diesel fuel

Moreover, concrete mixers with an electric motor can operate both from the network and from the current generated by power plants, for example, such as Fubag, Honda, Makita or Brigadier. There are also units with a mechanical (manual) drive on the market.

Main technical characteristics of concrete mixers

The main parameters by which all concrete mixers are evaluated are its dimensions, drum material, drum loading volume, engine power and availability of spare parts for sale.

Unit dimensions

They directly depend on the volume of the drum: the larger it is, the heavier and larger the concrete mixer. Dimensions affect the convenience and ability to move from one place to another. Typically, concrete mixers have wheels and can be disassembled for transportation and storage.

Concrete mixer volume

It is measured by the amount of mixture that is placed in a drum, or, as builders also call it, a pear.

Small concrete mixers with a volume of 40-50 liters are used in laboratory conditions. Units of 70-300 liters work at private construction sites, a drum volume of 300 liters is convenient to use at larger construction sites with a large number of workers.

For small repairs, the FORTE EW3070 model (70 liters), worth 1,745 rubles, is suitable. Individual developers most often opt for 120-150-liter concrete mixers. For repairs or small construction, it is quite enough. This category includes the crown concrete mixer "Rostec BRT 1252" (pear volume 125 liters), worth 6880 rubles, Altrad Liv MLZ 145 (volume 145 liters), worth 10450 rubles, LIMEX 165 LS (volume 150 liters), worth 12290 rubles . Such units, when fully loaded in one 8-hour working day, can produce up to 3 cubic meters. m of concrete, which is quite enough for the work of a team of 3 people.

For the manufacture of 3-5 cubic meters. m of concrete per day in individual construction it is worth using concrete mixers with a volume of 150-300 liters. For this, models RBG-170 (drum volume 170 liters), worth 16,800 rubles, Prorab ECM 230 C (230 liters), worth 29,160 rubles, Optimix M 250 E (250 liters), worth 33,500 rubles, IMER SYNTESI 350 230 V (280 liters), worth 63,150 rubles.

It is important to remember that the volume of the finished mixture is approximately 2/3 of the loading volume of the drum. That is, with a pear volume of 150 liters, you get a maximum of 100 liters of the finished product, but not 110 or 120 liters, as unscrupulous sellers can promise.

Engine power of concrete mixer

The successful operation of the concrete mixer directly depends on the engine power. A more powerful engine allows the unit to operate non-stop throughout the day. In addition, he hardly notices the voltage drops in the network, which often occur at construction sites in sparsely populated new areas. Such an engine allows you to load the concrete mixer drum to the maximum.

For a nominal mixer volume of 120 liters, the minimum motor power must be 700 watts. But professional builders like to work with units with more powerful engines - from 1 kW. For private construction, this is a pretty good option. But for a more powerful concrete mixer, it is necessary to have a voltage source of 380 volts with three phases. And this is not always possible. In addition, these units are more expensive.

Concrete mixer manufacturers

The domestic market offers a fairly wide range of concrete mixers. Most in demand are Polish models Altrad Spomasz, French Guy Noel, Russian-Austrian Skiper, Croatian Limex concrete mixers, Russian Lebedyans are used less often, Chinese ones are even more rare.

Comparison table of the most popular concrete mixers:

	STURM! CM1912CB1	Caliber BSE-132/700	Limex 125LS	Lebedyan SBR-132R/220
Power	500 W	700 W	700 W	550 W
Voltage	220 V	220 V	220 V	220 V
Engine	asynchronous electrical	electric	electric	electric
Crown	cast iron	cast iron	cast iron	cast iron
Number of drum revolutions	30 rpm	26.6 rpm	28 rpm	26 rpm
Drum volume	120 l	130 l	125 l	132 l
The volume of the finished solution	70 l	100 l	90 l	64 l
Packed dimensions	730x580x380 mm	825x730x440 mm	810x680x530 mm	1120x740x1310 mm
Weight	46 kg	62 kg	54 kg	64 kg
Manufacturer	Germany	Russia-China	Croatia	Russia
Price	7448 rub.	8190 rub.	10490 rub.	10500 rub.

This table clearly demonstrates the technical characteristics of popular models of concrete mixers. When comparing your needs and the data provided by us, you will greatly facilitate the task of choosing a concrete mixer.

Andrey Badovsky, rmnt.ru

Every person who has ever had to pour a screed or engage in brickwork knows that manual mixing of concrete is the most time-consuming and time-consuming process. It requires a lot of effort from the builder. Usually everyone uses a metal trough, in which a working solution is made with a shovel in a small volume. However, when it comes to large-scale construction (pouring the foundation, erecting the walls of the house, etc.), a concrete mixer is simply necessary.

The volume of concrete that is produced using this equipment (per day) is several times greater than the amount of mortar mixed by hand. And this allows you to significantly speed up the construction process. But how do you choose the right device? To understand this issue, let's consider what the volume of a concrete mixer can be, what types of this special tool can be, and by what criteria it should be chosen.

Types of concrete mixers

The choice of household and professional units for mixing concrete is so diverse that it is very difficult for an unprepared person to immediately decide and stop at one or another model. Immediately it should be determined that the devices are different:

• According to the principle of operation (gravitational or forced kneading).
• By type of device (gear or crown).
• According to technical indicators (working volume of the concrete mixer, engine power and various design features).

Forced Mixing Concrete Mixers

The main difference between such units is a fixed capacity. Here the solution is mixed with special blades. They are powered by a powerful engine. The dry mixture is poured into a large drum, where the spider-like blades knead all the components as thoroughly as possible. It should be noted that the solution in this case is of the highest quality. However, these aggregates are not suitable for working with coarse-grained fillers.

Typically, such a concrete mixer (large volume) is used at large construction sites. For private needs, its acquisition is impractical, since a powerful engine consumes a huge amount of electricity. In addition, a large amount of concrete for small construction is not required.

Gravity type devices

Concrete mixers of gravity type of mixing are the usual pear-shaped devices for everyone. Their principle of operation is based on the rapid rotation of the drum, inside which fixed blades are installed. They lift the solution up, after which it falls down under the action of its own weight, thoroughly mixing. The presence of the blades prevents the solution from slipping off the walls of the drum, so that the concrete is of good quality.

This type of mixing device is able to work with both small and large fillers. With its help, you can knead heavy concrete for pouring a solid foundation. And also make light mortars for plastering walls or arranging screeds. A gravity concrete mixer, the volume of which can reach 300 liters, is a universal unit that is actively used both at large construction sites and for private purposes.

Types of gravity concrete mixers

Gravity-type devices are divided into two groups: gear and coronal. As practice has shown, the first models are much more reliable in operation. Their mechanisms are well protected from sand and other debris, which eliminates the occurrence of breakdowns and increases the life of the unit itself. However, if the mechanism still fails, the concrete mixer will only have to be thrown out, since this type cannot be repaired. At the same time, the crown mechanisms are completely open, which often leads to various breakdowns. However, they are fairly easy to repair. Therefore, compared with the first type, they are much more popular.

Concrete Mixer Selection Criteria

When choosing a device for kneading, first of all, its purpose should be considered. When shopping, ask yourself the question: how much concrete mixer will suit your needs and how often do you plan to use it? Based on the answers, you can understand what characteristics a suitable option should have. There are not so many criteria for choosing a concrete mixer. Here you should pay attention to the following indicators:

1. Bucket volume.
2. Engine power.
3. The material from which the drum is made.
4. Operating mode.
5. The degree of protection of the engine.

Let's consider each item in more detail.

Concrete mixer volume

This is the most important factor that is taken into account when buying. The main criterion by which a concrete mixer is selected is volume. Each device put on the counter of a hardware store has its own technical documentation (passport). It also indicates the capacity of the bucket. However, please note that this figure is not an indication of the performance of this special tool. In fact, due to some design features, the volume of concrete in a concrete mixer is only 2/3 of the declared capacity of the bowl.

If, according to the documentation, the container can hold 100 liters, then with this unit you can make about 65 liters of the finished solution (for one kneading). Of course, you can fit more material into the drum. But in this case, the concrete will be of very poor quality, and the unit itself will fail faster. But how to understand how much bucket you need for certain purposes? Let's look at what capacity of the bowl should be chosen for each type of work.

How to determine the bucket capacity?

All units are divided into groups according to the capacity of the bucket:

• Concrete mixers with a bucket up to 100 liters. Such units are most often purchased for home use. Their total weight does not exceed twenty kilograms, which makes it easy to move the device to the desired object. Most often they are used in the process of building small structures: baths, sheds, gazebos, etc.
• Devices with capacity up to 150 liters. A concrete mixer, the volume of which does not exceed this indicator, can be used to pour the foundation and erect walls of one-story buildings. The weight of such units usually varies within 40 kilograms.
• Concrete mixers up to 300 liters. Such devices are used in multi-storey construction (houses up to three floors). They are already equipped with the function of loading and unloading. And their weight usually does not exceed 50 kilograms.
• Stirring devices with a capacity of more than 300 liters. The weight of such concrete mixers directly depends on their productivity. However, in any case, it does not exceed 160 kg. These units have a fairly high cost and are used only at global construction sites.

If you decide to build your own house, for which you want to purchase a ready-made mortar, most likely you will be interested in the volume of the KAMAZ concrete mixer (popularly they are called mixers designed for mixing and transporting the mortar). They can contain from 6 to 10 m³ of concrete. The material, thanks to constant kneading, retains its original qualities for a long time. This amount of concrete will be quite enough to fill the foundation for a small house. At the same time, in the process of work, you do not need to spend your time preparing a new portion of the mortar, which significantly speeds up the pace of construction.

Bucket material

In almost all modern models of concrete mixers, the drum body is made of steel. Only its thickness differs. When choosing a particular device, consider the fact that concrete itself is capable of corroding metal. Therefore, if you are counting on the continuous operation of the unit, do not purchase options in which the thickness of the steel is less than 1-2 mm.

Engine Specifications

The next parameter to pay attention to is the engine size. In the most primitive models, engines with a power of no more than 1 kW are installed. For the operation of such a unit, a power source with a voltage of 220 V is required. If the volume of the concrete mixer (m3) is 0.5-1, it will have a more powerful engine that runs on a 380 V network. Since it is not always available at construction sites , you will have to additionally install a generator that provides the necessary voltage.

Due to the fact that most concrete mixers work outdoors, special attention must be paid to protecting the engine. It must be in a metal box or covered with a special casing. You should also consider the mode of operation of the concrete mixer. If during construction you need to stop the mixing process, choose models that can work intermittently. Continuous concrete mixers are not designed to work with pauses.

What else do you need to pay attention to?

We have listed the most important characteristics that you should pay attention to when choosing a concrete mixer. Among other things, you should ask the seller about the manufacturer of the unit, its warranty obligations and the availability of service centers (where you can contact in the event of a machine breakdown). The country and manufacturer are selected depending on the personal preferences of the buyer. Remember that both domestic and imported models have both worthwhile and low-quality options.

But customer service points must be present in your city. If there are none, be prepared for the fact that in the event of a concrete mixer malfunction, it will need to be sent to the supplier, which will take a lot of time. And most importantly - do not forget that when choosing a concrete mixer, you should give preference to models whose capacity is one third more than the volume you need.

A concrete mixer is an integral part of any construction site. If during the construction of small structures it is possible to prepare a cement mortar manually, when erecting large structures it is simply impossible to do without a concrete mixer. Today, concrete mixing tanks can be purchased on any construction market for domestic use. Their cost is comparable to devices such as a jigsaw or a circular saw.

Varieties of concrete mixers

Cement and concrete mortars are prepared by various methods, but often forced concrete mixers or gravity devices are used for this.

Gravity mixers operate on the basis of a drum mechanism, which is equipped with blades. Thanks to this, a solution of cement powder, sand and water is mixed without stopping in rotation mode.

Forced concrete mixers are used not only for the manufacture of cement concrete mortar, but also for the creation of other mixtures. For example, in factories, with the help of such a device, a dry mix is ​​​​made, which is used for technical processes in industry. Forced concrete mixers also work on the basis of a rotary mechanism that kneads the ingredients into a single mixture.

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Concrete mixer device

The following components form the basis of the design of gravitational devices:

• traverse;
• drum mechanism;
• a frame constructed from several parts by welding;
• fixing element;
• rotary device;
• running equipment;
• electrical equipment.

The drum mechanism is located in the ball bearings of the traverse. The tensioner is a plate located under the engine, which ensures the functioning of the drum mechanism. The shaft, rotating in ball bearings, includes in its design a carrier gear and a V-belt transmission pulley.

The drum mechanism, which serves as a mixer, holds a small rim, consisting of a certain number of gear sections. For convenience during transportation, the pole of the tubular structure is produced with the possibility of dismantling.

In some cases, additional supports are placed to ensure the stabilization of the concrete mixer. The rotary device provides a free change in the position of the equipment. Using the flywheel, you can select the desired position and fix the device in this form.

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The use of concrete mixers depending on their device

When using a concrete mixer, you will need to act in a specific sequence. First of all, you need to make sure that the equipment is working. After that, you need to run it idle, and if everything is in order, you can proceed directly to work.

The drum mechanism will need to be switched to rotation and loading mode. After starting the concrete mixer, you must first fill it with water, then pour dry cement, and then add screened sand and gravel (if necessary). As soon as the mixing is completed, the drum mechanism must be switched to the standard mode, lower the neck of the concrete mixer and pour the finished solution into a previously prepared container.

A forced concrete mixer, which is also known as a two-shaft mixer, has external and internal blades in a drum mechanism. In the event of crushed stone getting under their base, a special mechanism operating under the shock absorber of the springs unfolds into the body. Therefore, the blades work without stopping, as their functionality is provided by the spring pressure system.

The device also has 2 scrapers that are connected to the rotor. To ensure the stable functionality of the drum mechanism, it is recommended to trace the gap between the scrapers, blades and the inside of the tank.

The mixture can be poured into the tank in various ways. In some cases, this is done independently, especially when the concrete mixer is of medium size. In other situations, special equipment called a skip acts as a mixture loader. This is the simplest bucket, which is lifted and unloaded with high-strength cables.

A drum mechanism equipped with cables is connected to a pulley. This design is put on the shaft, and in the process of its rotation, it moves in the direction of rotation of the axis. The start handle serves as a lift of this design. The cables are fixed with steel bolts and plates, one of which is locking, and the other is simple.

Skip lifting is regulated by the following devices:

• lever;
• emphasis;
• tape for braking;
• thrust;
• spring;
• a special roller located in the bearings.

If you need to raise the bucket, you will need to activate the handle and turn it to the left side. This will help loosen the brake band, helping to lift the skip. Upon reaching the desired height, the skip will shift the thrust, thereby disengaging the friction clutch. This will activate the braking system. To lower the skip, the handle is turned in such a way that the friction clutch comes into action.

Upon completion of the preparation of the cement concrete mortar, the concrete mixer turns over with a simple effort. If the equipment is too large, it is usually equipped with a special device that performs this action on its own.

In forced concrete mixers, the solution is unloaded through a special hatch located at the bottom of the tank.

Small mixers are equipped with a manual mixing drive, larger equipment has a medium power motor electric type, which stirs the mixture without assistance. It is worth remembering that electric drive devices are harder to master, since the control of such equipment requires certain skills and experience with concrete mixers.

The difficulty lies in the fact that during the operation of such a device, the rotation should not stop at all. If it stops, the mixture will flow out of the tank in a short period.

Concrete mixers are highly efficient technical devices widely used in modern construction. They are used for the preparation of concrete or other cement-based mortars. Since almost all construction work is carried out using various kinds of mixtures, concrete mixers are very popular in our time. They significantly facilitate and simplify the work, optimize the workflow and speed up the execution of certain tasks.

A concrete mixer, also called a concrete mixer, a mixer, a concrete mixer or a mortar mixer, is an indispensable tool on any construction site. This device is a mechanical mixer designed to create feed, concrete, mortar and other mixtures from solid and bulk components. The main function of the concrete mixer is to increase the mixing efficiency of the constituent components. The concrete mixer works due to a gasoline or electric engine, as well as chutes and a rotating drum.

Devices in this category can be of different types: from mini-devices for small private households to huge mobile concrete mixers needed in large enterprises. That is, the size of concrete mixers depends on the intended task. With the help of large construction mixers, pools, access roads, building foundations, etc. are created. Accordingly, on large-scale construction, it is necessary to prepare a free entrance for a concrete mixer. For finishing and repair work, pouring concrete paths and other similar tasks, the power of small concrete mixers is enough. It is very convenient when at a large construction site, along with a large concrete mixer, a compact device is used to solve local issues. Aerated concrete is actually light, porous and fragile, but its strength ( bearing capacity) is absolutely enough to build a house of two floors or more.

From a structural point of view, concrete mixers are a working container made in the form of a drum with special blades located inside the device. These blades are designed for thorough mixing of the prepared mixture, reducing the load on the body and achieving the required consistency of the solution. Carrying out small repair or construction work requires the use of a concrete mixer capable of preparing a solution of up to 100 liters. For construction teams devices with a capacity of 100-150 liters are ideal. And large-scale work requires the use of powerful, high-performance continuous concrete mixers.

Types of concrete mixers

Depending on the mode of operation, such equipment is divided into:

1. Continuous concrete mixers. They, in turn, can be:- gravitational. In such devices, the mixing of the constituent parts of the concrete mix occurs due to the use of the force of free fall of these same components. This type of concrete mixers is used in the construction of large facilities, since their productivity is about 120-130 m3 of solution per hour. In addition, compared with similar cyclical devices, such concrete mixers have more simple design and lower metal consumption, and their management, if necessary, can be easily automated. with forced mixing. The productivity of these concrete mixers is much less - from 5 to 60 m3/h. The main feature of such devices is a twin-shaft paddle mixer (the same as the mixers of asphalt concrete plants).
2. Cyclic concrete mixers. They are used much more often than similar devices of continuous action. The title reflects the possibility of dividing the work of the construction mixer into certain cycles: a) loading the constituent parts of the mixture;
   b) mixing;
   c) unloading the finished solution. As well as continuous concrete mixers, cyclic devices of this category are divided into:
   — forced, in which the mixing process itself is carried out by mechanical parts that interact with the components of the solution. They can be equipped with a fixed tank, horizontally or vertically arranged shafts, and also have a complex design that ensures high quality of the mixture (planetary concrete mixers).
   — gravitational, in which the basis of the operation of the device is the free fall of the constituent parts of the mixture.

Concrete mixer designs

Most commonly used gravity concrete mixers equipped with a rotating tank. In fact, they are pear-shaped devices equipped with a tipping loading mechanism. The blades, due to the work of which mixing occurs, are located on the walls of the container. The quality of the mixture and the speed of its mixing depend on the speed of rotation of the container, the number of blades and the angle of the bowl. The main advantages of a gravity concrete mixer with a rotating tank are installation reliability, simple design, fast unloading of the device, low energy load, and the possibility of using large aggregates.

Construction mixers of gravitational type of continuous action

They consist of a cylindrical drum, supported by two bandages on support rollers. So that the drum does not move horizontally, one of the bandages rests against the support rollers with its outer surfaces. The rollers themselves are fixed on a metal frame, which, in turn, is installed on a concrete foundation. From the electric motor (through the ring gear and gearbox) the rotation is transmitted to the drum. Inside it, 30 bucket-type blades are installed along a helical line. They lift the elements of the solution and ensure their free fall.

The gravitational concrete mixer is loaded when the drum rotates through the hopper. At the same time, the blades capture the concrete mixture, lift it up and throw it down. Falling, the solution moves to the discharge end of the drum along its axis. Thorough mixing of the components of the mixture is ensured by a special arrangement of the blades. To unload the mixture at the end of the drum there is a special tray. Water is supplied to the drum through pipes, and the dosage is monitored special device- water meter.

Continuous Forced Mixing Concrete Mixers

They are used most often in stationary and mobile concrete plants. Their body is welded from sheet steel and lined inside with a lining of armor plates or sheet steel of increased wear resistance to ensure long-term operation. The body is mounted on the frame and closed with a lid on top.

Two shafts with mixing blades attached to them are installed inside the housing. When starting, the shafts begin to rotate towards each other. In order for the mixture to move in the right direction, the blades are installed in a broken helix. This design of the construction mixer provides intensive mixing and advancement of the mixture to the discharge opening due to the presence of oncoming flows. The performance of a forced mixing concrete mixer is controlled by turning the blades from 0 to 90 degrees relative to the shaft axis.

The shaft drive of such a concrete mixer is carried out from an electric motor through an open gear transmission, a gearbox and a V-belt transmission. The loading funnel is installed in front of the construction mixer. The dry mixture is continuously fed into it. At the other end of the concrete mixer there is a pipeline that supplies water to the device. The finished solution is transferred to a special storage tank or directly to vehicles. During breaks in supply Vehicle the collector makes it possible to collect the concrete mixture, ensuring the fastest possible loading of vehicles and preventing downtime of the concrete mixer. In order for the finished mixture to be of high quality, it is necessary to accurately calculate the ratio of the components supplied to the device.

Concrete mixers of cyclic action, forced, with fixed capacity.

The main function of devices of this type is to obtain mobile, molding, rigid concrete and lightweight concrete with special additives. Currently, the most common are two subspecies of such concrete mixers, equipped with:

• cylindrical body with a vertical shaft.
• trough-shaped body with a horizontal shaft.

Their main advantage is the production of a high quality solution. In addition, builders value them for their versatility, which makes it possible to obtain a solution of various mobility and density.

Concrete mixers forced, cyclic action, with a horizontal arrangement of shafts.

The capacity of such concrete mixers is made in the form of a trough. The blades mixing the solution are located on horizontal shafts. This design ensures thorough mixing of the solution. The main disadvantage of these devices is:

• complexity of repair of the mixing part;
• large mass of the agitator relative to the working volume of the tank;
• use only fine and medium-sized aggregates;
• long unloading of finished material.

Concrete mixers forced, cyclic action, with a vertical arrangement of shafts.

The mixing capacity of such mixers is made in the form of a cylindrical bowl, additionally equipped inside with a selective cylinder. This inner cylinder prevents the mixture from building up in the center of the device. The mixing part is constructed from four racks, on which mixing and selection blades are fixed.

This type of concrete mixer is considered the most versatile. At the same time, the solution it creates is of high quality, so this technique is quite popular in the construction environment. With these devices, it is possible to make rigid molding compositions as well as slow-moving and moving concrete. The disadvantages of forced concrete mixers in this category include too high motor power and the inability to use components for a mixture of different densities.

Planetary batch mixers

They belong to forced concrete mixers and have such advantages as:

• high quality of mixing at relatively low time costs;
• cleaning the walls of the tank with the help of selected scrapers;
• the possibility of using components of different densities and obtaining high-quality finished material.

However, for all their advantages, planetary concrete mixers are quite expensive and technically complex (complex transmission, high drive power, the need for regular maintenance). However, they have high productivity and excellent mix quality.

Concrete mixers: price

The cost of a concrete mixer directly depends on its main characteristics, in particular on the volume of the prepared solution. Small devices with a capacity of 100 to 200 liters can be purchased, on average, for 150-250 USD. Concrete mixers designed for 200-350 liters of mortar are more expensive - from 300 to 1000 USD. Well, large mobile construction mixers can cost from $ 4,000. and higher.

In order for the money not to be wasted, before purchasing such a device, it is necessary to correctly assess the scale of construction, since an overly large concrete mixer, as well as a too small device, will not only help, but hinder the work of builders. In addition, it makes sense to find out about the manufacturers of this equipment, since prices at factories that manufacture such products are much lower than in stores. You can also use the services of an online store that works directly with manufacturers of concrete mixers. In this case, the margin will be minimal and will fully pay off due to free shipping.

Concrete mortar is often required for construction work. In one case, you need to make several batches for the fence posts, in the other, you have to mix the mortar on the foundation. In both options, a special tool is needed to knead the cement mortar. A concrete mixer in this matter will be a good help.
Concrete is one of the most important building materials. Most often, it is used in those parts of construction work that ensure the strength and stability of the entire building. Therefore, the quality of concrete must be treated with all responsibility. With large volumes of work, it is more correct, of course, to buy concrete at the factory, deliver it and pour it with specialized machines. But for small volumes of work, for example - on suburban area or when repairing an apartment, a concrete mixer becomes an indispensable tool.

A typical view of a household concrete mixer on the example of the manufacturer RBG Gambit

There are many manufacturers on the market, producing models for various tasks and at different prices. Which concrete mixer is better to buy for the home and how not to miscalculate? To deal with the choice, you need to understand how it will be used and what characteristics it should have, as well as what reviews there are about the models you like. We will talk about this in this article.

Types of concrete mixers

For domestic and construction needs, two types of concrete mixers are now used:

• gravity;
• coercive action.

The first group is characterized by low power and is used in domestic tasks. Its productivity is in the range from 46 to 300 liters per hour, which will more than cover any need for a cement mortar for a summer residence or a private house. The design of the device itself looks like a pear-shaped bowl with "petals" installed inside it. When the bowl rotates, the petals capture the components of the mixture, lift them, after which, under the action of gravity, they return to the rest of the solution and mix with them.

Gravity - the most common type of domestic concrete mixers. The petals are fixed on the walls of the bowl.

The bowl of this type of concrete mixer is located on a special rack and has a swivel mechanism for loading the resulting solution. The indisputable advantage of this design compared to gravity models is the ease of unloading the finished solution - you only need to tilt the tank. They also do not impose such strict restrictions on the components of the mixture.

Forced concrete mixer - mixing blades are visible, the bowl is fixed

Concrete mixers with forced mixing are similar in principle to mixers - the mixing of the components in them is carried out by special rotating blades, while the bowl itself remains stationary. The advantages of this design are significantly better mixing of the solution and the ability to work with a smaller amount of it. On the other hand, unloading the solution from them is somewhat more difficult, and the requirements for the components of the mixture are more stringent.

Concrete mixers are also distinguished according to the possibility of continuous operation:

• The periodic type of action involves mixing and unloading the solution with stopping the concrete mixer. Good for home use;
• In continuous type devices, the supply and unloading of the finished mixture can be carried out without stopping the device. This option is more complicated, therefore, such concrete mixers are used mainly in large-scale construction to obtain large volumes of concrete.

What parameters are important when choosing

When choosing the optimal concrete mixer, there are a number of parameters that you need to pay attention to:

Seasonality of work

If work is carried out in winter time, then choose a device that can operate at low temperatures. This must be taken into account since most concrete mixers are designed for autumn and summer work. Some concrete mixers use plastic gears and drums to save money. Such devices do not tolerate cold well and often fail due to breakage of plastic components.

Working voltage

Most household appliances are designed to operate on 220 volts. There are also more powerful concrete mixers that operate on a three-phase voltage of 380 volts - they are used in industrial conditions or when there is access to this type of power supply. There are also concrete mixers that support both of these types of power supply in one device.

You should choose according to the type of power supply you have at the place of work.

Working volume and dimensions

When working with concrete, the ideal option is to pour the entire working volume at a time. With the use of a household concrete mixer, this is rarely possible, but, nevertheless, when choosing an electric concrete mixer, it is recommended to take into account the desire to reduce the number of stages of pouring the working volume. One way to achieve this is to increase its working volume.

If the concrete mixer will be used at home (directly in the apartment), you should pay attention to devices with a low capacity of up to 80 - 100 liters. It is enough to repair an apartment or interior decoration of a house, while it does not take up much space and fits in any doorway. For large-scale work in a summer cottage, it is better to choose more spacious models - 140 - 200 liters.

As the working volume increases, the weight of the concrete mixer also increases. Models with a capacity of up to about 200 liters have a comfortable weight. So, for example, Caliber BSE-200 has a declared weight of 70 kg with a volume of 200 liters, and models with a capacity of 120 - 140 liters on average have a mass of about 50 - 55 kg. For comparison, the concrete mixer Caliber BSE-262/1600 with a volume of 262 liters has a mass of 148 kg.

Junior models of concrete mixers (with a total volume of less than 100 liters) are unlikely to be suitable for use in a construction site in a summer cottage - too small volume and power. Their destiny is local work with a small amount of mortar, such as pouring garden paths, for example.

Ease of use

All concrete mixers can be divided into models on a movable chassis (wheels) and on stationary legs (paws). If the work does not involve frequent movement from place to place, you can pay attention to a stationary device. For jobs that require frequent movement (for example, pouring floors), a mobile model equipped with wheels can become convenient.

Component materials

There are many models of concrete mixers on the market. You can often find products from Chinese manufacturers that use plastic parts in the construction of a concrete mixer, such as a crown, a pulley, etc. Their service life is an order of magnitude less, and the cost is not always lower than that of models with a cast-iron or steel crown and other metal parts. If the device is bought for a one-time use, you can save money and buy a cheaper option, for some time it will definitely last. When planning for longer-term use, it is better to choose models with metal components, cast iron or steel crowns.

The crown is the end element in the transmission unit of the concrete mixer, which transmits the rotational force to the tank

Usually, only the material from which the crown is made is indicated in the characteristics. The materials of the remaining components (intermediate pulley, for example), as a rule, are not reflected in the description by the manufacturers, so thematic forums and reviews about concrete mixers can become a reliable source of this information.

According to customer reviews, there are times when the same concrete mixer model can be found on sale at different times with both a cast-iron crown and a plastic one. Be careful when choosing!

Power

For domestic work in the country or in a private house, a 700-watt unit is enough. It makes no sense to overpay for more power.

Noise level

Some new devices are designed so that the noise level from the operation of all components of the device does not exceed the sound coming from the washing machine. This is an important quality for craftsmen involved in the interior decoration of apartments or offices. The noise level can be declared in the product specifications. You can also evaluate it by the reviews on the forums.

Concrete mixer manufacturers

As practice shows, most of the sold devices for the manufacture of cement mortar are purchased by summer residents and gardeners. In a summer cottage, there is almost always work for a concrete mixer, whether it is pouring the foundation of a house or landscaping paths and paths. Therefore, we will focus mainly on devices for domestic needs. Before choosing a concrete mixer for your home or summer cottage, let's see which countries offer what in this area.

European manufacturers are represented by Germany, Italy, France and other countries. High prices for such products often scare away domestic gardeners. There are a number of manufacturers that produce durable quality products. It is worth highlighting the following companies:

• Limex. Croatian manufacturer. One of the most popular models in his line is the 125LS. This is a reliable device of the middle price category with a plastic or cast iron crown. Among the advantages is a convenient drum rotation system and protection of the motor from burnout;
• French manufacturer Guy Noel. Among other models, the B-132 can be distinguished. This is an inexpensive device with a big warranty on the crown. Among the shortcomings, one can note the uncomfortable angle of the drum and its low landing. Another disadvantage will be the too small size of the drum blades, which can lead to frequent breakdowns;
• Altrad, manufacturer from Poland. The most popular models in the Russian market: MK-130, V-130, V-130ZK. These devices belong to the middle price segment. Their distinctive features are high-quality drums and a long service life;
• Zitrek. The Czech manufacturer produces high-quality concrete mixers at a factory in Hungary. It is also deservedly popular for the high quality of its products. At the same time, initial models, such as the Zitrek B 1308 and B 1510, cost quite adequately - from 14,000 rubles. as of 2017.

Domestic concrete mixers are characterized by moderate cost and good maintainability. Russian-made products often have a shorter warranty period, while spare parts for a domestic concrete mixer are much easier to find. Among Russian manufacturers it is worth noting:

Russian manufacturers RBG and Lebedyan are, perhaps, the golden mean when choosing a concrete mixer. If funds allow, it is worth considering products from European manufacturers.
Not all manufacturers are equally good - you need to study reviews of specific models, observe which manufacturers are more popular.

Chinese concrete mixers. Here the choice is quite wide: from unknown companies to brands that imitate expensive brands. Almost all manufacturers have one thing in common - low cost of products and mediocre unstable quality. In addition, it is often not possible to find the necessary spare parts for such a device.

Prices for concrete mixers and examples of reviews

I have compiled a comparison table of price ranges for concrete mixers from different manufacturers. Prices are given as of 2017:

Brand	The country	Volume, l	Price
Belle	Poland	from 130 to 300	10000 - 56000 rub.
ALTRAD	Poland	from 130 to 180	9000 - 20000 rub.
Optimix	Germany	from 130 to 250	12000 - 33500 rub.
RBG Gambit	Russia	from 100 to 500	11800 - 80000 rub.
Vortex	Russia	from 63 to 200	6800 - 15000 rub.
Lebedyan	Russia	from 100 to 190	9000 - 18000 rub.
redverg	USA, assembled in China	from 46 to 180	6000 - 10000 rub.

If we sum up the reviews of buyers and users of concrete mixers, we can draw several conclusions:

1. Many people buy Russian-made equipment, because it is easier to find spare parts for it or bring it “to mind”;
2. European equipment is much better than the rest, but in the event of a breakdown, as a rule, there are difficulties in finding spare parts. It often happens that the required node is not available in the service center, or the device cannot be repaired at all, and the owner is left with a non-working device on hand;
3. Buying Chinese products is a lottery. When choosing such a product, you need to be prepared that it can fail in a short period of time.

I will give examples of reviews about a couple of popular models of concrete mixers

Altrad B-130

Polish-made concrete mixer has a total volume of 130 liters and a useful 80 liters with a mass of 55 kg. The power of the device is 700 watts. Reviews of this model confirm its high quality and reliability. Despite the presence of plastic components in it, such as the driven gear, they do not fail and work for a long time without visible wear.

The only drawback of this model found in the reviews is that the fixation of the angle of inclination is implemented using a thin metal disk with slots, which can increase over time from the load. Otherwise, it is a great example of what a household concrete mixer should be. As of 2017, the price of this model is about 16,000 rubles, which is about a third more expensive than the average domestic and Chinese concrete mixers. For comparison, Lebedyan SBR-132A.5 95446, described below, costs about 13,000 rubles.

Lebedyan SBR-132A.5 95446

This device has a power of 700 W, a total volume of 132 liters. and useful 64 l, weighs 55 kg. Quite typical characteristics for a small-sized concrete mixer. Reviews of the model are generally positive. Those who bought note the long-term reliability of the product during operation. But there are also complaints. According to reviews, the design of the plastic pulley assembly is not very reliable and it sometimes breaks. Also, the owners note the lack of dirt protection of the drive shaft bearing, as a result of which it is gradually clogged with a solution - its cleanliness must be regularly monitored.

Well, for comparison, a concrete mixer Caliber BSE-120

Household model with a power of 600 W, a total volume of 120 and a useful 56 liters. The product is declared as Russian. In fact, the components in it are both Chinese (for example, the engine) and Russian (metal parts). Reviews about the model are polar. They range from satisfied owners who have mixed dozens of cubic meters of concrete in it, to those who, immediately after the first start, something did not work as expected, or even broke soon after. In other words, a lottery.

findings

A concrete mixer is a device that is simple in terms of design and functionality. All household models are approximately similar in size and volume. Power is also comparable except for some budget models with weaker engines. For this reason, the main criteria for choosing a concrete mixer should be useful volume, strength, reliability of the design and, above all, quality.

In order to finally decide, remember the above criteria for choosing a concrete mixer, decide on the purpose and scope of use. Then weigh the pros and cons of the manufacturers and models you like, study the reviews about them. So you won't go wrong with your choice.

In conclusion, it should be noted that the segment of low-cost concrete mixers has not bypassed the current trend towards cheaper construction, which is observed in many types of electrical products. Many models use plastic knots and thinner metal. Therefore, a thoughtful and balanced approach when choosing a concrete mixer is very important.

In the process of preparing the material and studying the reviews, I got acquainted with the RBG Gambit concrete mixers. I really liked them, so using their example, I bring to your attention two small overview videos about the operation and design of these concrete mixers. Online reviews of these devices confirm their good quality.