Need a concrete mixer for a number of jobs over a long period so looking at buying one.

Do I just buy a basic 100-140l 240v one from ebay (etc) – about £200 delivered, or spend a bit more (£250-300) on a Bella or the like?

And is it better to get one that sits on the tripod c/w wheels or go for the more old-fashioned wheeled frame one?

I’ve hired Bella ones, they’re brill and if hire shops use them that’s probably a good indication of their robustness. I think the frame ones you are talking about are larger capacity for big jobs, you might be hard pushed to lay all the mix they can make on your own before it starts to go off. You also have to store it somewhere.

well my dad had one that looked like the Belle one for fricken years (10-15), and a bricky m8 has one too… so I’d echo tthew’s comments. My dad used his for everything, from build a barn (for cattle) to the odd bit of floors (large area you may as well get a the pro’s in)

Remember couple of half brick in the barrel, after use to bash out the excess!

You won’t go far wrong with a Belle. They were hired out to some real hamfisted idiots and took some real hammer, fix ’em up and off they’d go. 😀

Thanks so far; space isn’t a problem and for the big jobs (floor slabs etc) I’ll be having a wagon in.

What about the difference between the wheeled frame ones and the tripod versions – easier to manage etc? The capacities are the same near-enough.

We always had the mixers on stands, great pieces of kit.

ummm I think the answer your looking for is….the wheel frame ones are the tripod ones, the tripods a separate fitting you lift the mixer up onto (this should be kinda obvious from the pictures.. but you never know). Apologies in advance if I’ve gotten the wrong end of the stick…

EDIT: Don’s picture makes it obvious

But…. This is more or less the same size…

😕

By the wheeled frame ones, I assume one of these bad boys.

I did think that but was left wondering… from experience the concrete get over the wheels if left in place for a while, and their a bugger to manoeuvre in the first place (though admittedly the older versions may just have been over built).

I’ve owned a 50% share (split with my father) of one of the Belle minimix mixers for around 10 years – these now seem to be £200-250 dependant on the capacity. It’s been used for a range of tasks, including some fairly intense use over a number of weekends mixing (full) load after (full) load. It still seems to run exactly as it did the day it was new, albeit with a bit less paint on it 🙂 It’s definitely paid for itself as against hiring, and removing the pressure of having to get something finished to return a hire mixer is a real bonus.

Clearly it’s not up to the standards of an industrial version, but has been a good compromise for us. The tripod disassembles and it’s all fairly easy to store, or to transport in the boot of a hatchback.

By the wheeled frame ones, I assume one of these bad boys.

They’re a fair bit bigger, heavier and more expensive, aren’t they?

DS – that’s the one, cheaper than the Bella’s but the same capacity – just unsure whether it’ll do what I need, or need to spend the extra on a Bella?

I’d go for the Belle on the tripod for storage, carryability (IIRC we carried them in the back of 3 door Escorts), quality and probably resale value. Is that compelling enough?

if you buy cheap tools you will be disappointed and may even end up buying twice, get a belle mini, on a tripod. if you are really strict cleaning it down, you can sell it on for a wedge when you are finished.
im a stonemason, and even with three of us working together we dont need a maxi. unless you are the hulk you wont keep up with what can come out of the minimix

I bought a secondhand mini to build my garage rather than hiring one.We done everything floor,block work and the rendering. I sold it on again for the same price as i bought it for, if you keep it clean after using it you will easy sell it on i had loads of phone calls.

Got a couple of electric Belle barrow type mixers and I can’t really fault them, loads of abuse and have stood up to it well. Also had a petrol one for years but the engine was troublesome after a bit, did loads of work though and handy if there’s no electric supply. Well worth the money. Don’t buy a cheap one it’ll drive you nuts and break.

Yup standard belle on a tripod will more than suffice!! The big one will easily fill a mortar tub in two mixes and that’s a third of a metre cube!! I’ve a feeling it might have gone off a little before you got round to using it! And if you do by new don’t put bricks in the drum to clean it! It voids the warranty and shags the welds on the blades! Just give it a quick blast round with the hose after every mix and leave the water in until end the of the day.

Belle mixer with Honda Engine on a tripod. Cant go wrong.
Keep an eye on the gearbox oil and it will last for years. And as wrightyson says dont use bricks to clean it out! just causes dings then cement sticks to them.
I have used these mixers for years with no problems

yeah bricks are not for cleaning mixers, a shovel of 3/4 inch chippings and loads of water then a quick once over with a brush then a rinse. the only thing worse then the brick treatment is some divvi banging the drum with a lump hammer gggggrrr

Thanks guys, cheapest I can find the Belle 150 Mini-Mix is £340:

http://www.less2build.com/belle-cement-mixer-240volt?language=en&currency=GBP

Anyone got experience of the cheaper yellow Belle 130, as they are at £245 from Screwfix?

http://www.tool-net.co.uk/p-351178/belle-minimix-130-240v-cement-mixer.html

And then the cheaper Clarke ones come in at less than £200 delivered.

http://www.tool-net.co.uk/p-348850/clarke-ccm125c-concrete-cement-mixer-230v.html

Grrr. What to do…

I don’t need one for everyday use, but I’m starting a big project and need to make my own concrete (for pillars and small foundations etc) over the next 5 years or so. Storage space isn’t a problem, and neither is resale price.

bump for the pm crowd

Lobbing half a bag of sugar in at the end will stop the concrete going off so quick and make it easier to clean out.

I know nothing about Concrete Mixers, but can you only buy them in Orange? 😆

I have a 1tonne mixer going. Fab’d it up ourselves here, powered by a monster 3phase motor, sits on its own cradle (bolt it to the floor) and will spin that tonne all day long. £1500
Also have a control unit that can make it do fancy patterns for mixing up.

ive got the 2nd one on your list or similar, bought to do couple of property renovation jobs, including founds,floors and general cement mixing 5 years ago, cleaned and looked after still going strong.

Andy – thanks, looks like the best price/performance ratio for what I want

BM – ta, but just a tiny bit bigger than what I will EVER need 😉

try calling your local builders merchants. i know travis do them and are usually willing to do a deal. when i worked there we usaed to sell them alot cheaper than screwfix. but that was 4 years ago. we used to sell 150’s for the same prices as screwfix sold 130’s! and dont stop them with a full load in them, it can damage the gearbox when you start them up. to clean them use some 20mm shingle some water and some mortar cleaner. bosh, clean as a whistle.

br where are you? was thinking of getting rid of mine, youve just made me think faster

I bought this one in the end, as Screwfix were offering another 10% for one day.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/belle-mini-mix-130-concrete-tip-up-mixer-230v/16177?cm_sp=Search-_-SearchRec-_-Area1&_requestid=2178999

Paid £220.

Real good, and quite amazing how much muck it can create 🙂