Tried a cheap mortar mixer from Harbor Freight and instantly regretted it

Picked up their 5 cubic foot mixer for $180 last month thinking it would be a steal. First batch of type S mortar loaded up fine, but by the third load the drum started wobbling like crazy. The welds on the frame gave out after maybe 10 total mixes. Ended up renting a proper mixer for $60 a day from the local equipment yard which was WAY more reliable. Anyone else get burned on budget mixing gear or am I just unlucky?

3 comments

3 Comments

noaht1521d ago

Did you check the load rating before you bought it? Those mixers are really meant for smaller batches of topping mix or whatever, not heavy mortar loads. I've had mine for two years doing small patio repairs and it's still holding up fine, but I keep my loads way under the listed capacity.

lunag3021d agoMost Upvoted

I read an article from a construction testing lab that basically said these mixers can handle the torque but the drum welds will give out eventually under sustained heavy loads. Makes sense when you think about it, these are sold at big box stores for homeowners, not job site use. A buddy of mine used his for about a year mixing full bags of 80lb concrete for fence posts and the drum started leaking from a hairline crack near the weld seam. I think noaht is right, keep it to half loads or less and it'll last you a good while.

blair_martin20d ago

@noaht15 must have gotten the only good one. Mine crapped out faster than a Home Depot rental.