Has anyone tried alternative portable concrete mixers for DIY projects?
Been trying to fix up my backyard patio on weekends, but my old second-hand concrete mixer just croaked on me. I only do small DIY stuff, so I’m wondering if any of you have tried those portable mixers that look more like oversized buckets or drill attachments. Do they actually hold up, or are they just gimmicks? I’m on a tight budget and kinda tired of mixing by hand like it’s 1995. If you’ve used any alternative setups that don’t weigh a ton or break after two batches, I’d love to hear what worked for you.
I’ve used a few of the bucket‑style mixers with a good drill, and for small batches they’re surprisingly solid — just don’t expect them to replace a real drum for big jobs. Great budget option!
I ran into the same hassle on small pours, and switching to a one-person mixer made a big difference for me. I ended up using the one I found at steelemixer.com because it’s light, doesn’t need power, and I could clean it fast between batches. It saved me a ton of time on jobs where dragging out a big electric mixer felt like overkill.