Harbor Freight Cement Mixer Review and DIY TEST! | Tool Reviews | 

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Thanks for making a video on this mixer. I bought the exact same mixer 2 years ago. I've used it on several foundations and just finished using it to pour approximately 15 cubic yards of concrete for a path (6ftx 150ft?) downa hill to my dock. I just bought 15 pallets of 80lb ready mix bags, instead of custom mixing it. I didn't save anything on material doing it this way but there was no other way to do it because of the distance and terrain. I couldn't geta concrete truck in there. The easier method would have been a pump truck, but than I would have needed a huge crew and hopefully somebody besides me that knew what they were doing. On that project alone that little mixer processed exactly 609 bags! That little mixer has paid for itself many times over. Word of advice for those buying this Chinese mixer: Yes, it's a POS, but if you are careful it will do the job if you heed these precautions: 1) instructions are crap; so, your intuition and hopefully mechanic skills to put it together. Recomendation: use thread lock on on as many bolts and screws as possible that are susceptible to loosening, especially, the arm mechanism that tilts the barrel of the mixer. 2) lubricate all moving parts before use ( grease gear). 3) level the mixer both directions before starting (you may have to dig out some dirt), in order to prevent movement of the mixer which makes it unstable causing parts to loosen up 4) don't overload the mixer! Use common sense. I mixed just one bag at a time. Treat it like it was made in China! 😆 5) thoroughly clean it up after each use

I've put about 500 90lb bags through mine and it still works like a champ.

Mixed 48 80# bags of concrete this weekend. Mixer will do a very good job mixing 2 bags at a time. I found it necessary to mix it a little on the wet side. Only problem was I have a large contractors wheelbarrow - would not fit under the mixer so I had to put the mixer up on concrete blocks so I could get my wheelbarrow under the mixer. I am very strong but 80# bags would be a lot of weight for the average guy. It takes a little longer but splitting the bag and putting the contents into two 5 gallon pails made it easier to pour with the mixer on blocks. I have a few more little projects to finish and then I will sell it. Really a good value for $200.

My HF 4 yard mix > after idk how many years i had it? It mostly sets in the barn. So the other day i need to make a pad for a shed, and it wouldn't turn on.. The off and on switch was bad. So. I had a simple, 84 cent, cheap, house light switch, and put it on. And it works GREAT 👍

got the same mixer from Harbor Freight. Yes not best mixer out there but for the money it got the job done and it beat the hell out of trying to mix +500 80lbs bags of concrete by hand in a wheel barrel.

I found if you dig a small hole for your wheel barrel to go into you don’t need to raise the legs or modify. 😊👍🏻

I haven't had a look down the comments and I'm probably not the first person to tell you but it's a portable mixer so for a job like this move the mixer and the ingredients to where you're pouring instead of using a wheelbarrow. Cutting out the barrow saves a lot of lifting, so it's easier on your back. I would also think about fitting some better wheels to it because the Chinese have a tendency to cut corners when it comes to wheels on things like this. I have a 2HP workshop dust extractor that moved really well when the bag was empty but when the bag was half full it was impossible to move.

Looking great young man, got to be happy with that.

Thank you for creating this. Helped me make up my mind which mixer to buy

I got my cement mixer from home depot. His name was Santiago.

How many bags could you mix at one time and how much concrete in the bag? Kudos for the weld and getting back on track!

I had to cut one more slot in the tilt lock to get 2 80 lb bags to mix without sloshing out (or 3 60 lb bags). It’s not pretty but it works.

Get 4 concrete blocks. Set 1 under each wheel so they sit in the hole. The other one the foot sits on. The 4th one can be suspended from the mixer with rope to help anchor it and keep it from tipping over. That's why they can't be very tall.

Picked up a cobalt fr $200 used. That job came out great!

I’m horrible at finishing concrete. I did a small section of concrete big enough to hold my two big trash and yard waste bins a couple of years ago. The pads function, but are not pretty.

Ccp stand for? Cheap Chinese products?

Good review after actually using it for a fairly large scale project for one person.

Three sand, two stone, one+ cement. Recipe for concrete. Don't the Redi-Mix companies near you have the 1-2yd carts that they will fill, and then you tow it and dump it? Seems like a lot of work for that little mixer.

Good information and presentation

Great, I think I will get one of those soon, faster than bucket or wheel barrel mixer, cheaper than truck mixer....

I bet around minute 4:50 you realized you should’ve picked up the industrial size one 😂 I had a towable Gas 9 cf that I sold when I got out of the business to become a stay home dad 🤦🏻‍♂️😍 Well I picked up this “toy” to do about 4 yards and it’s a no go for me. I’m actually gonna modify it to suit my needs. It’s great for the price! But for those who have used actual “cement mixers” is so SLOOOOWWWW to work with.

I have the same mixer and it’s been pretty good

Hey good job 👍 I have been wanting to do a slab for a shed that’s 8’x10’. And been meaning to buy this cement mixer at harbor freight when it’s on sale. How much cement mix do you think I would need ? Yards ? I think it would have to be at least 2-3” deep if That’s the recommend thickness for shed. I need to buy everything and I would like to do this myself. I don’t mind the work .

The best way to describe your repair is, "it was ugly and fast but outlasted their welds".

Do you know how much you saved by mixing it yourself? thinking of doing this, thanks

No rebar needed for the slab? I have a 12 x 10 space in my backyard and I want to put concrete base down for a shed

Also I would have done fiber or wire to keep it from cracking

Thanks 🎉

mine i had to help the machine to turn by hand the engine is too weak

Thanks great revue

The belt keeps slipping on mine I'm only putting about a half a bag of concrete in it and it it just stops spinning I have to end up mixing it with a shovel

Oh ok. So the guy saying he was doing the work just narrated when the other guy was actually doing the work 😂🤣😂

I have a gas-powered concrete mixer. It leaks gas what are the possible causes?

How come you didn’t use rebar?

I noticed you didn’t use any Remesh or rebar ?

Interesting! You get what you pay for!

Your right about the directions they suck the worst I’ve read I had to just look at the picture in order to put it together

How big was your generator?

you need to put 1/4 sizes gravel on that mix thats what makes it strong. And that mixer is 3.5 cu ft if you don't know the right amount to mix you will kill it.. your mix needs to be sand gravel and cement..for slabs that is. Plus you need to use wire mesh Or rebar to reinforced. if not it will Crack..

A+ job

don't you need rebar or wire mesh? Or is that a special cement

🤣good job !

هل تستطيع نقله من طابق إلى طابق مثلا إلى الطابق الثالث عن طريق السلالم وشكرا لك اخي الكريم

Please how can I get one of this machine

Super wet, you'll get a bit of shrinkage cracking

Great for making biscuit dough in a commercial environment!! Seriously!!!

Chinese can turn out great quality. It's all about who is doing QC at the factory.

Cut the slab to prevent cracks.

12 bags for a 12 x7? Sounds like 30 bags short.

It’s like a bob the builder concrete mixer

The instructions suck and the motor was bogging down and failing towards the end of pouring a 10x12 pad. Temperature was high 80s. Was mixing 2 bags of 50lb concrete. Not sure if motor is permanently shot.

I just put that same one together. The instructions were useless 😂

So, it sucks. I'll have to look for an American made mixer

be very very careful with this cement mixer when you open the box reach for the panel that holds the motor assembly on one side you will see a switch flip the switch see if it click click click take the switch assembly and the motor plug it in turn the motor on and off harbor freight has a terrible problem with the switches on this cement mixer harbor freight has a terrible problem with motors burning up do not assemble this you will be sorry

concrete looks way too wet... wet = less strength when it cures

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👍🏻🇦🇪

I agree the directions are garbage.

be very very careful with this cement mixer when you open the box reach for the panel that holds the motor assembly on one side you will see a switch flip the switch see if it click click click take the switch assembly and the motor plug it in turn the motor on and off harbor freight has a terrible problem with the switches on this cement mixer harbor freight has a terrible problem with motors burning up do not assemble this you will be sorry

I agree the directions are garbage.