No matter the construction site you may be on, it is more than likely you will see someone using the incorrect power tool to mix materials. More often than not, battery or corded hand drills fitted with mixing rods are used. While this may be adequate for DIY requirements or smaller quantities, typical building materials of higher viscosity and or larger mixing levels should only be mixed with a speciality power mixer.
Corded or power hand drills are designed to be used in short bursts and should not be used to mix for an extended period of time. Furthermore the use of such drills will greatly increase the mixing process duration, causing unnecessary downtime whilst putting greater physical strain on the operator.
Specialty power mixers like the Intex MegaMixer® Power Mixers are specifically designed for the heavy loads and stresses that are generated when mixing. The specifically tuned rotational speeds are engineered to generate an optimal blend for fantastic mixing results, whilst providing enough power to cope with the most demanding conditions and loads. This intern yields a consistent finish every time, whilst ensuring the mixing process is completed in the most efficient and timely manner.
These mixers are also ergonomically designed to complement the operator’s natural posture, minimising physical strain and fatigue and making for an easy, less strenuous operation than power drills.
Now that you are using the right power tool for the job, it is best to make sure that you are also using the right mixing rod for the material at hand. If you use the same paddle for every material, you won’t get the right consistency, intern causing lumps and or air pockets throughout your mixture.
Another area of note is the size of the mixing bucket being used. A bucket that is too small for the volume of material being mixed will cause a splashing of the mixture.
One overlooked step when mixing is to ensure that you are using the correct mixing action. What we mean by this is, are you required to mix the material from top to bottom or alternatively from bottom to top? Mixing materials with the incorrect action could make the mixing process much harder than necessary and has the ability to ruin the mixture.
Trying to force a mixture in a shortened period of time may compromise the overall performance of your mixture too. If the mixing time isn’t sufficient then the dispersion of all the components cannot be guaranteed.
And one of the most common things to consider is how often you thoroughly clean your mixing rods after use. If your rods are used with dry material on it, there is a high chance it will come off during the mixing process and potentially contaminate your entire mix.