Kushlan cement mixer

[Mainiac Mat]

Getting tired of mixing up Quickrete in a wheelbarrow and thinking about about picking up one of the poly barrel direct drive (electric motor) units from the big box store....

• 6 c.f. poly drum
• reviews say you can mix four 80# bags
• $600 out the door

Compared rental rates and used models on Craig's list. Makes more sense to just buy one. Keep coming back to the idea after having considered it for years...

Anyone have experience with one of these?

 

[nadogail]

Can you rent one of those to complete your job?

 

[strutaeng]

I have one of those. Works pretty good. There's a trick to it though. Add the water and one bag and get it mixed, then add the rest. Otherwise the bottom of the mix won't get mixed with the water and will stay dry. That's the only negative I can think of but I think all do the same thing.

It's nice to able to dump the wet mix like a wheelbarrow too.

 

[Grant F]

I have one. Used it for well over 100 bags this spring/summer. Held up fine.

Did seem like unmixed/dry parts hung out in the back. I would shovel everything forward and turn on for additional mixing.

I only did 4 50 lb bags at a time and that really seemed as full as i wanted for trying to get a good mix. But they say 4 80 lbs works.

It works well to move around and direct pour where you want it but does have the limitation of not being able to pour into a wheelbarrow.

Check that it has gear oil in it. Although it says it is filled, many reviews say it's not. Mine wasn't.

 

[Augus7us]

I can't speak from experience but it doesn't look up to the job. 3/4hp motor, plastic drum... Just doesn't seem made for something like mixing concrete and $600 is a lot if it ends up dying after a season.

 

[Grant F]

Did seem like unmixed/dry parts hung out in the back. I would shovel everything forward and turn on for additional mixing.

I did it like strutaeng suggests and still had the issue. But overall was satisfied with the maxhine.

 

[Augus7us]

wow I was typing this while the others posted their experience. Maybe I stand corrected, have you guys that used them have more than a year or so on them? If they last it might be one of those items I'd consider buying and then selling after I don't need it.

 

[JimH74]

I have a Kushan one that I bought at Home Depot. Worked fine for what I needed it for. Shame you're so far away. I'd love to sell mine.

 

[paredown]

Mine's worked out OK as well--hasn't seen much use though. Bought it with some free birthday money!

 

[Jinks]

A few years ago I bought one from Harbor Freight. Smallest they had, but all metal. I mixed several loads for a project my wife wanted, then sold it. Total cost to me $5....... I could have kept it, but didn't want to take up the storage space. The key to reselling them is to clean them VERY thoroughly after every use. Just takes some time & plenty of water. Harbor Freight has one for sale now for $269. It's only 3 1/2 cf, but that's about as much as I want to push around any way. I found that dumping it in a bucket or wheel barrow was easier than moving the mixer.

 

[AC-WC]

I still have my old steel Harbor Freight, pushing 20 yrs now. Used it once on a project and stuffed in the barn. Just used it this summer for replacing rotted pole barn posts with no issues. Always cleaned it after use and the belt is still good after all this time. Unless you're using it for 'business' I would go a less expensive route. It's a decent enough quality.

 

[txvwnut]

Find a place that rents these, https://mudmixer.com/. I have one and you’ll never use a barrel/drum mixer again.

 

[Mandres]

Harbor freight orange cement mixer is the best bang for the buck out there. There's one in my town that's been sold on from family to family for years now.

 

[Mainiac Mat]

Thanks for all the constructive replies.

I'm using .6 cf per 80# bag for my calcs.

• Not sure I want to use a wheelbarrow. Pouring out of mixer seems to save a step and less clean up.
• Renting the big Kushlan from HD is ~$150 for a weekend. So four jobs pays for it. I have >4 jobs on my list.
• I have plenty of storage space, so I think I'd rather own, and work on my schedule.
• HF unit is cost effective, but small. I should go look at it.
• I thought I'd want a bigger unit for a 10'x20' pole barn pad. But I've read several who say the labor of mixing >100 bags is crushing. I"m in decent shape and can huff an 80# bag. But I'm in my late 50s and really don't want to throw my back out. May just pay the short load upcharge for the ready mix truck on this one.

I'll let the gang know what I decide and how it goes.

 

[Sumboodie]

Is it for cement or concrete?

 

[mm08822]

Find a place that rents these, https://mudmixer.com/. I have one and you’ll never use a barrel/drum mixer again.

I saw that on a youtube commercial. It looks nice but I noticed the mix was really wet in the commercial.
Was wondering if you could mix it a little stiffer?
Is the startup output very different than in the middle of the run? like dry or super wet, water puddles?
What about at the end of a bag/hopper empty? super wet and a stream of water?
Have you used if for mortar?

 

[acer66]

I use the kobalt version and while wonky compared to more pro versions it does its job.

Kinda surprised in a good way that we have not managed to break that thing.

 

[steves_001]

Bought a used Kushan, used the snot out of it and sold it again for more than I paid for it. I’d buy another one if needed. Worked great for me.

 

[txvwnut]

I saw that on a youtube commercial. It looks nice but I noticed the mix was really wet in the commercial.
Was wondering if you could mix it a little stiffer?
Is the startup output very different than in the middle of the run? like dry or super wet, water puddles?
What about at the end of a bag/hopper empty? super wet and a stream of water?
Have you used if for mortar?

Yes the water amount is adjustable so you can dial it in just how you want it. Once you have the mix set it stays that way until you run out of mix or shut the water off. When I get to the end of a pour I’ll dial the water back if I’m going to use all the mix in the hopper. Usually you’ll end up being done with a pour before running the hopper dry. Haven’t used it for mortar yet and probably won’t since I don’t see myself doing any masonry work that will require that much mortar.

 

[Mainiac Mat]

I'm primarily mixing concrete.

The Mud Mixer looks awesome. But it cost $3K, and none of the places linked on their web site near me actually have it for rent.

 

[txvwnut]

Yeah that 3k price tag is a shocker and took me about 6 months to pull the trigger. I finally decided the cost was worth it for the amount of concrete I want to put on the ground and the jobs aren’t big enough to warrant a truck.