An exact construction outline to build a homemade cement mixer, is presented in this article. The mixer can be very handy for odd jobs around the house, that require mixing cement to create concrete.
The Savings
Through this project, you save about USD 150 to USD 200, the cost of a new portable electric cement mixer.
Just like the iron and bronze ages, our time will be known in the future as the concrete age, for sure. The structural solidity provided by the material, makes it indispensable. When undertaking small construction projects at home, one activity that needs to be undertaken, is cement mixing, to make concrete. Most people rent or buy a portable concrete mixer for the purpose. However, the expense can be totally avoided, by building your very own mixer at home, and in the following lines, we show you how it’s done. The project isn’t easy, but not very difficult either. The mixer will be ideal for small mortar-mixing jobs and will cost only a fraction of the price of a purchased machine. The time required for the job, depending on your level of expertise, can range from 1 to 2 hours.
Things You Will Need
The mixer is going to be an automatic washer tub, fitted with paddles and mounted on a roller. It will be hand-operated. Here is the long list of supplies for the job.
| Bondo (Putty) | Automatic Washer Tub |
| Bicycle Hand Grips | Two ½” Pipe Tees |
| One ½” x 7″ Pipe | Two ½” x 12″ Pipes |
| One ½” x 18″ Pipe | Four 1″ x 12″ Pipes |
| One 1″ x 2″ Nipple | One 1″ Pipe Cross |
| One 1″ Pipe Cap | One 3/8″ x 6 ½” Machine Bolt (With Washers and Nuts) |
| Washers and Cotter pins | Two 7″ Wheels with 3/8″ Hubs |
| ½” to 1″ Bushings | One ½” x 29″ Steel Rod |
| One 1 ¼” x 10″ Electrical metallic tubing (EMT) | One 1″ Coupler |
| Three 1/16″ x 2″ x 5″ x 13″ Angled Paddles | ¼” x ¾” Bolts |
| Two Handles | One 1″ Pipe Corner Rail Cross |
| Two 8″ Wheels with ½” Hubs | 18-Gauge Sheet Metal |
| Pipe Wrench | 3/32″ and ¼” Bits |
| Drilling Machine | Hacksaw |
| Grease | Adjustable Wrench |
Building the Mixer
To begin with, you will need to procure a drum/tub. An old automatic washer tub will be ideal for the purpose. Here, we provide an illustrated outline of the assembly procedure; you will need to figure out some of the details.
Step 1: Create Angled Paddles
Three angled paddles, attached on the walls, will facilitate cement mixing in the tub. Scrap metal, including corner brackets or angled metal pieces can serve the purpose. See if you can get hold of any such pieces. If you don’t find them, you will have to cut them out of an 18-gauge sheet metal. As shown in the diagram below, cut out 2″ x 5″ x 13″ sheets and bend them at an angle of 15°, about 1″ from the base. Drill in two ¼” holes in all three paddles, for attachment.
Drill matching holes in the tub walls, to attach the paddles, using ¼” bolts. If you are using the washer tub, there will be perforations which will need to be covered. To block them and prevent leakage, use the putty (Bondo) and cover the entire inner surface with it, to make the tub leak proof.
Step 2: Assemble the Pipe Frame and Connect Rollers
As illustrated in the diagram presented below, the next step is putting together the entire pipe framework, by threading each piece in place. Fix the small and large wheels using washers, nuts, and cotter pins. To prevent wheel wobble, make sure that the cotter pin is drilled and fixed, as close as possible, to the wheel. Greasing the entire assembly will ensure smooth functioning.
Step 3: Put it All Together
With the roller and supporting pipe framework in place, it is time to attach the mixer. Fix the tub, as illustrated in the diagram below so that it rotates on the central shaft, to facilitate the mixing. You will have to fix the shaft on the central pipe cross and then connect it with an EMT pipe and cap using a coupler and nipple, as shown in the illustration below. Apply a substantial amount of grease to the central axle shaft and all the moving parts of the contraption, to ensure smooth working.
Step 4: Attach Handles
You can attach the bicycle handle, along with the other two handles, to get a grip of the mixing tub. With that, your homemade mixer is ready. It will have to be manually rotated to mix the cement. You may color it to prevent metal rusting. Here’s what the finished product should look like.
Those of you, who are already into DIY projects, should find this assembling procedure to be quite straightforward. If you have the spare parts lying around and the tools required for the job, it is highly recommended that you build your own mixer, following this procedure. You can make modifications in size and scale, according to your needs.