Need a new corded drill for mixing:

[oldberkeley]

1. Going to do a lot of tiling, will be mixing a lot of thinset: need plenty of torque at low speed.

2. Reasonably priced (around $100???).

3. I'm not a pro, won't be using it day in and day out for years, but would like it to last more than an hour!

TIA

 

[MDH9252]

It may be a little over $100...but a Milwaulkee Magnum Hole Shooter 1/2" Drill is the only drill I will buy. Indestructable.....and capable of breaking your wrist if you dont respect it.

 

[jwdominick]

I have this one http://www.sears.com/craftsman-prof...-1-2inch-hammer/p-00928129000P?sellerId=SEARS
has help up great, prior had a similar ridgid unit that burnt up mixing grout

 

[StevenMorgan]

I got a big Hitachi for the same needs as you... heavy duty homeowner use. It was right under $100 at one lowes and had equivalent amps as a much more expensive Dewalt.

I am still happy 2yrs later and just used it to mix concrete last week. It knocked my glasses off when I loosened my grip and changed my stance while mixing. Darn near sprained my wrist too.

First project I bought it for was a 200sq ft tile job... Lots of thinset. I like that it came with a case, and that handle is a necessity with a big drill.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_166939-6770..._product_qty_sales_dollar|1&facetInfo=Hitachi

 

[Wizzard]

I have a corded DeWalt hammer drill that was ~$110...lots of reliable service and powerful. I'd look at a Milwaukee or DeWalt for a corded drill.

 

[PugetDude]

See if you can find one of these older B&D Industrial drills.
I've mixed a lot of thinset, mortar, and grout with mine. I use the spade handle in the back and a straight side handle. Speed is perfect for mixing mud.
You have to be careful with it, though- if it binds up it will spin the earth backwards until you let go of the trigger...

 

[Kev442]

If you feel you will be able to do the bulk of your tiling in a 90 day window, the heavy duty HF mortar drill is $50. I would be pretty surprised if you had to warranty it though, or the two year warranty extension is probably less than $20.

I don't have the mortar drill, I have the $29 1/2" drill and I have drilled a lot of holes through metal plate with it. The only issue I've had is wrapping the cord where it goes into the case, it is just like the picture, kinda wiggly after a couple years.

 

[theoldwizard1]

1. Going to do a lot of tiling, will be mixing a lot of thinset: need plenty of torque at low speed.

Any major brand that has TRIPLE GEAR REDUCTION !

Probably more than $100.

 

[NUTTSGT]

If you feel you will be able to do the bulk of your tiling in a 90 day window, the heavy duty HF mortar drill is $50. I would be pretty surprised if you had to warranty it though, or the two year warranty extension is probably less than $20.

I don't have the mortar drill, I have the $29 1/2" drill and I have drilled a lot of holes through metal plate with it.

I'd either buy something really cheap new and consider it a disposable tool or be checking out CL for one.

 

[sherlocktk]

I bought this black and decker drill for $40 bucks about 10 years ago. Its done 3 tile jobs, and about all I use it for. This is the "new" model of the same thing. It has plenty of power, and is stronger than your wrists. (Usually I need someone to hold the bucket)

http://www.homedepot.com/p/BLACK-DE...peed-Reversing-Drill-Driver-DR550-1/100498594

I use a 5 gallon paint mixer like this
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Warner-5-gal-Heavy-Duty-Power-Driven-Paint-Mixer-30388/205052759

Put 50% of the water in the bottom of bucket, add thinset, add rest of water and mix with drill. I found that going both fowards and backwards really gets the thinset mixed everywhere.

 

[nafterclifen]

I'd either buy something really cheap new and consider it a disposable tool or be checking out CL for one.

This is silly. Why waste your hard earned money on a really cheap tool and expect to throw in away? Save some extra money and buy quality. Either pay up now or pay up later.

 

[txvwnut]

Milwaukee magnum hole shooter was the only corded drill I found to mix thinset. I burned up a few other brands and ended up using my Skill cordless until I got the Milwaukee.

 

[gahrajmahal]

X2 for the Milwaukee hole shooter. I have the bad wrists to prove it! Mine is over 20 years old and still looks and runs like a new one. Try CPO tools for a remanufactured one. Often they are just returns but the factory checks them out. Let's see what you come up with!

 

[Ainsley]

I have a makita 1/2" corded with the single low speed.

DP4002

 

[Norcal]

Milwaukee Hole Hawg. Expensive new but deals can be found & older ones are not ChiCom made.

 

[oldberkeley]

Hey guys, thanks for all the great responses, will check them out.

I've owned Milwaukee tools before, including one of the best drills I ever had, but I keep hearing from different sources that the new ones are a very far cry from the old ones!

 

[dogdog]

The sears one and the HF one won't do it, will burn the motor if you do about 5 gallon buckets, but if you do smaller quantity it's ok.....I did both... they get it barely done, and smell burn, drill still works though. you should really go for a specific design one like these... but if it is a 1 or 2 room usages... I think any low speed high torque will be fine...


http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-1-2-in-Spade-Handle-Mud-Mixer-R7122/100523157




http://www.harborfreight.com/Dual-Speed-Paint-and-Mortar-Mixer-69856.html

http://www.homedepot.com/p/QEP-Thinset-Grout-and-Mortar-Power-Mixer-with-Paddle-21665Q/202501785

 

[Pstychologist]

I just found this after a short search:
Porter Cable triple reduction drill

$73.23 (even cheaper at Walmart)

 

[Marctrees]

It may be a little over $100...but a Milwaulkee Magnum Hole Shooter 1/2" Drill is the only drill I will buy. Indestructable.....and capable of breaking your wrist if you dont respect it.

Amen - Actually for what you are wanting to do it's the best for anywhere near that price.

But what you want to do will still make it too hot.

You cannot get by with your price point. Well, you COULD, but not reliably.

You are asking for too much work for too little $.

Just like me asking you to bench press 400 lbs.

Buy a Milwaukee Hole Hawg, use it on low speed for your job.

Then, resell it used.

But, you won't, because you will fall in total lifetime love with it. Marc

 

[Marctrees]

Re: Milwaukee new vs old, I have no idea on that.
I'm in the 20 yr ago world. Marc

 

[kozmo52]

If you won't be using it for this again go to Harbor freight and buy a drill for about $12and throw it away when your done, or use it for other things if it still works.

 

[PugetDude]

Here you go- what are you going to spend the remaining $48 bucks on?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BLACK-DECKE...131?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27fbab02cb

 

[NUTTSGT]

This is silly. Why waste your hard earned money on a really cheap tool and expect to throw in away? Save some extra money and buy quality. Either pay up now or pay up later.

Because some jobs are just hard on tools and getting the job done can amount to not much more than abuse. I've got a nice $120 Dewalt circular saw, it's a great saw, will last me years as it is a quality tool. I will not use it for cutting roofing during demo work nor will I use it with a masonary blade to cut concrete. I have a cheap Skil saw for that purpose.

 

[KenC]

I burned up the motor on 2 Milwaukee Magnum hole shooters mixing thinset and grout. They are just too fast for the duty. Milwaukee did replace or repair them, but I needed one now I went to the local HF (This was in '97 in Glendale AZ) and bought the drill another poster mentioned. I expected to use it to finish the task at hand and toss it. It's done over 10,000sqft of tile and still going!!

 

[tehach]

I have one of the old Milwaukees. It will put a hurt to you if you're not careful. Think it cost $40 at a pawn shop.

 

[Ed ke6bnl]

I used my magnum for my tile work till the trigger switch gave out, then used my rt angle old black and decker drill did fine and developed less heat. instead of fixing the switch on the magnum drill for $26 bought one at the swapmeet for $25 may still order a sw. in is the 2 speed hammer drill and still in great shape only use for my tube notcher.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Any major brand that has TRIPLE GEAR REDUCTION !

Probably more than $100.

If you want it to last it has to be TRIPLE GEAR REDUCTION !

DeWalt DW245 or Milwaukee 1001-1. Both over $100.

Any double gear reduction drill will not last.

 

[KenC]

Forgot to add in my earlier post: Focus on speed. Thinset makers recommend 150-200 rpm. Too fast adds air to the mix, not good. That will usually insure a triple reduction gearset.

 

[metalmagpie]

For paint mixing? Buy a super-cheap tiny drill press off CL! I thought that was what they were for!

 

[big.jim]

dont buy a drill buy a proper paddle mixer thats what i did to mix plaster with and i have used it for self leveller floor screed and mixing mortar too

 

[boyAND1]

+1 on the low speed one from Harbor Freight. I have one at home that has mixed about 20 bags of concrete and 10 bags of mortar in tubs or 5 gal buckets. Still works like new and much cheaper than the rest. I don't recommend the normal drills there, but the low speed one is good.

 

[oldberkeley]

Again, thanks guys.

I've mixed thinset before, understand about the paddle/speed/technique, etc.

Rethinking the whole thing: reluctantly have to agree that I can't get a reasonably powerful drill for this task at the unreasonably low price of $100, and expect it to last.

There's a Harbor Freight here in town (Columbus, OH) but I have never bought a tool there! Just hate to spend $$$ on throwaways, but maybe this is the right time. Two-weeks of use is all I need, I can mix half-a-bag as I go along, no big deal.

Will check it out tomorrow.

 

[Pstychologist]

Why not get a paddle mixer?

 

[dogdog]

HF you just have to watch what you buy... there are some good things and plenty more of bad all dependent on what you needed for the job.

 

[oldberkeley]

pstychologist- I never even knew there was such a thing!

What brand is that in the picture, and where do you get them? Any idea on price?

TIA. -Gary

 

[dutchgray]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008O0W8CQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I would say its that, I have no experience of that one but we do have a similar looking cheap China made no brand mixer and its been very good, unless its your full time job there is no need to have a pro brand mixer, they are nicer to use than a heavy duty drill and there is no chuck to ruin with splatter.

 

[Pstychologist]

Gary, just google paddle mixer and you'll find the world is waiting. I think that one was $120ish. 2 speed, slow and slower.

ETA: Thanks to Dutchgray for finding it. There you go, under $100.

 

[see pictures]

I have a ridgid thats about 15 years old came with lifetime service agreement. Only thing is you have to hold the bucket with your feet or it will just spin. Any brand name low speed 1/2"drill with do.

 

[PugetDude]

Again, thanks guys.

I've mixed thinset before, understand about the paddle/speed/technique, etc.

Rethinking the whole thing: reluctantly have to agree that I can't get a reasonably powerful drill for this task at the unreasonably low price of $100, and expect it to last.

There's a Harbor Freight here in town (Columbus, OH) but I have never bought a tool there! Just hate to spend $$$ on throwaways, but maybe this is the right time. Two-weeks of use is all I need, I can mix half-a-bag as I go along, no big deal.

Will check it out tomorrow.

You're overthinking it.
Killing a cheap drill is not a felony.
(If its HF, some might say it's a mercy killing.)

BTW....I see the The B&D Professional is still available on FleaBAy at $38.... I've had one of these for almost 20 years....It's a mortar-mixing beast. I bought mine to run 5/8" auger bits when I built a 150' long x 10' high railroad tie retaining wall- hundreds and hundreds of holes through creosote and gravel impregnated oak. Went through quite a few bits, the drill just kept on turning...

 

[RegeSullivan]

Might be worth getting one of these if you don't really need an angle drill or big heavy half inch. Mixing thinset can ruin a regular drill pretty quickly...

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Rubi-Grout-and-Thinset-Mixing-Drill-24949/204689900