In 1900, the first concrete mixer was developed by T.L. Smith in Milwaukee. Earlier before then, concreters suffer a lot in mixing cement with gravel or sand and water. Concreters then make use of some tools like a shovel to mix up the concrete. Although, it wasn’t that effective. The concrete is not mixed correctly then. Of course, you can compare the efficiency in using a concrete mixer to that of a manual one that concreters are using before.
But a special thanks to Smith, who introduced a concrete mixer to ease the work. You may be wondering why it is called “the concrete mixer”? Of course, the primary purpose of this unique machine is to mix up cement with water and sand /gravel. And ever since then, concreters have been using this exceptional machine to create a good texture of concrete.
However, are you a concrete and you don’t know how to operate this machine. This article is right here to guide you through. Nowadays, no one is ready to commit a project in the hands of a concreter that can’t operate a concrete mixer. Therefore, this write-up is to help you to know how to use a concrete mixer. Also, it will serve as a piece of vital information to a would-be concreter to start learning how to use a concrete mixer.
Concrete blenders are often associated with time and labour-intensive projects. In addition, it is used to hasten the construction process. With a concrete mixer, concreters no longer devote much time and energy to manually mixed concrete. Click here to read about the Basic Skills Needed In Becoming A Successful Concreter.
Hence, whether you are a would-be concreter or you are already in this game, knowing few approaches for using a mixer will be a significant boost to your productivity at the worksite. Therefore, below here are the tips to follow in using a concrete mixer effectively:
- Prepare the worksite: It is expedient to know that you need to prepare the worksite for concrete pouring. As a professional concreter that wants to render good quality concrete services, you will not start work on the site without first preparing the worksite for concrete pouring. When you are on the worksite, the major work comprises carrying out a manual task placing where the concrete will be poured, cordoning it off, and pounding the ground to a degree grade. However, let me inform you to ensure that your license is ready before starting the job.
- Ensure you put on proper safety gear: Concreters that want to stay safe will not stand beside a concrete mixer without putting on safety gear. Ensure that you and other workers wear protective gear before working on the cement mixer. Not only that, additional safety equipment like gloves, rubber boots, a respirator or a nose cover must be available. The materials you’ll be pouring in the cement mixer contain some harmful chemicals that can cause skin rashes. Apart from that, a concreter shouldn’t inhale some particles in cement. And you know cement can be dusty.
- Keep the mixer close to where you want to use it: Don’t forget that concrete doesn’t take much time to dry off. Therefore, you must keep the mixer very close to wherever you want to use it. Apart from the fact that it dries off quickly, it must be close to avoid carrying heavy loads. Concretes are bulky; only concreters that are already in this game can testify to that.
- Ensure you inspect the mixer: It is essential to examine the mixer’s part before turning it on. Not only when it is on, always check it during usage and as soon as you shut it down. One thing you must check there are the mixer blades. Ensure that those blades aren’t bent.
- Coat the surface: You can do this by applying a thin coating of industrial oil on the outside of the mixer to prevent cement collecting and hardening on the surface. You can go the extra mile by adding a light coat of fuel to the drum before mixing. Taking this step will avert the cement from sticking together with its insides. Nevertheless, we will advise you to use diesel.
- The concrete mixer must be rightly positioned: It is expedient for you to arrange the mixer on a stable surface. Also, you can set it horizontally rather than uneven or sloppy ground. At times the surface might be coated; just make it a point to place a rigid hardboard under the mixer to ensure stability so there won’t be accidental spillage.
- The motor must be clean: Concreters use a cement mixer outdoor. As a result of that, some dust flying about can stick to the mixer’s motor. How do you clean the motor? You can clean the motor by using an air compressor to extricate cement and dust which might have assembled in the engine. If a motor is clean, it will operate optimally and economically.
- Ensure you grease the gears: Make sure you regularly lubricate the gears, pulleys and other moving joints to counteract the stress caused by friction. If you grease the gears, the mixer will last- long. More importantly, oiling the gears will increase the functionality of the mixer, and your mixer will remain at the best level.
- Drain the drum: Most concreters do make this mistake. Ensure that you drain the drum of concrete immediately after it stops turning. Don’t wait until the last time to pour out the concrete. If you wait, it may be hardened, and it will be impossible to get rid of. Let me chip in this, do not use the drum to maintain mixed concrete.
- Wash the concrete mixer: Ensure that you wash your concrete mixer after use. The washing after use will help to keep the concrete mixer afresh. If you don’t wash your mixer after use, you are creating a problem.
CONCLUSION
This article is a direct message to concreters. We’ve listed ten tips on how to maintain your concrete mixer effectively. Therefore, this write-up is worth sharing with fellow concreters to learn how to effectively use a concrete mixer.
