Gear CONCRETE MIXER
  This machine is innovative and indispensible for Farmers, Brick Makers, Contractors and the Do-It-Yourself home builder. Designed for the real world, it fits in a pickup, fits your job and fits your budget.

With a robust 140 litre drum, this solid machine can mix a full wheelbarrow (65 litres) of concrete at a time. Mixing is fast and complete as the 21 chain "fingers" do their work.

Early prototype Concrete Mixer (shown right). This model has been replaced by one with 5 handles to increase ergonomic efficiency but the basic layout remains the same. The hand operated Concrete Mixer can properly mix 65 (wet) Litres of concrete in about 45 seconds. It takes less than half the total energy of shovel-mixing, does it in half the time and with only half the variation in cured strength (Univ. of Witwatersrand tests).

Saving effort and speeding up the job is what Appropriate Technology is all about. This mixer has all ball bearing mounts, a 2.5mm thick steel drum and is portable enough to carry to the job site with two men.

Mixing is done with 21 chains rather than the usual 3 paddles. It can produce "dry" mixes for making blocks and bricks in about 90 seconds, with a capacity of over one wheelbarrow at a time. It can mix enough material for a typical 3-per-drop 9 inch hollow manual block making machine. This is more than 15 tons of mix per day. Such a production center would take 5 people to run and feed the mixer and 2 for the machine (such as a Wilkinson Block Maker). No engines or motors are used on such an operation and could produce 900 to 1000  9 inch blocks per day (20 Kg each).


How to use it

1. First, know your quantities. It is best to have a container for measuring each of the ingredients: water, cement, sand and stone. Place the mixer either next to the sand and stone piles or else where you are working. It is portable so you can pour concrete directly into foundations without using a wheelbarrow at all.

2. Put in the water and sand first to clean off the remains of the last mix. Add the cement and turn the drum about 15 handles (+ 4 turns). The water/sand/cement mixture should be smooth and flowing evenly. Turn the drum until the colour of the mix is even.

3. Put in the stone and turn the drum about 30 handles (7 or 8 turns). Don't go too fast, let the mix fall through the chains. Going faster does not make a better mix.

4. Pull forward on one of the handles to tilt the mixer over, while pressing down on the front leg. The whole mixer tips forward towards you and rests on its front of its legs. Pull the handles down to rotate the drum. The mix will pour out.

5. If you are making a "dry mix" like that used by brick makers, put in about 2/3 of the stone at step 3 and mix it completely before adding the rest. This gives the water a chance to spread evenly through the mix. If all the dry ingredients are put in first, and the water added last, it will not mix properly, making only a lot of balls with dry material inside. Get the cement wet and distributed before adding all the stone.


Specifications

Drum size ..................................140 Litres
Length .......................................1500 mm
Mix volume .................................65 Litres
Height ........................................1650 mm
Output ........................................3 Tons/hr
Width .........................................1250 mm
Labour required .........................1 Person
Mass ...........................................115 Kg
Ball bearings? ............................All
Fits into a 1200 bakkie? ..............Yes
Can be used by women? ............Yes
Can be turned by 2 people? .......If you like

With the mixer you can save time and earn more while doing less work.

It has no engine, no fuel, no oil, no belts, no gears, no wires and little to no servicing is needed.

It has: good balance, ball bearings, grease nipples and robust steel construction.

DescriptionPrice
Concrete Mixer -- (140 litre drum, 65 litre capacity - hand operated)call
View Entire Price List
Front view of the hand cement mixer:
Mixer front

Mixing cement:
Mixer block yard

Emptying into a wheelbarrow:
Mix empty into barrow

Stainless steel low cost food mixer:
Mix stainless steel for food

Side view of stainless steel food mixer:
Mix low cost mixer for food
  << Back