Why does nobody talk about mixing concrete by hand vs renting a mixer?

So I was in Charlotte last month putting in a small patio, maybe 30 square feet. I thought I'd save $85 and just mix three bags of Quikrete in a wheelbarrow by hand. That was a mistake - my back was shot after the first bag and the mix came out lumpy. But then I rented a little electric mixer from Home Depot for $45 and it took me half the time, but cleaning that thing was a nightmare. Has anyone else dealt with this choice and found a solid middle ground between hurting your back and dealing with a messy machine?

3 comments

3 Comments

wells.evan10d ago

Jumped into that same trap last spring with a 4x6 slab... hand mixing three bags left me sore for days and the stuff set up way too fast. The electric mixer was better but cleaning the drum with a hose and a shovel took me almost as long as the actual mixing. I've settled on just using a heavy duty mortar tub and a hoe, doing one bag at a time with a wetter mix... it's still work but you can control it better and cleanup is just rinse and flip.

ruby_bell479d ago

Wait, are you saying the mortar tub and hoe actually works better than a wheelbarrow? I always figured the wheelbarrow was the way to go cause that's what everyone says online, but honestly after reading this I'm rethinking everything. I mixed three bags for a small step repair last summer and my arms were dead for two days, plus the cleanup was a nightmare with chunks stuck everywhere. Your method sounds way more manageable and like it wouldn't wreck your tools as much. Might try this next time I need to patch my patio instead of borrowing my neighbor's mixer and dealing with that whole situation.

kevinw9410d ago

That Home Depot mixer cleaning is no joke, I did the same thing last year for a 4x4 shed base and spent 45 minutes scraping concrete off the drum with a chisel. Three 80lb bags in a wheelbarrow sounds rough, I can barely do one without my lower back screaming at me the next day. The mortar tub and hoe method you mentioned is smart, I tried that for a small repair and it worked way better than I expected. I think people just don't want to admit that hand mixing is actually harder than it looks, especially when you're not a pro. Maybe the real middle ground is just accepting you'll pay a bit extra and renting the mixer, but planning a solid cleanup routine ahead of time.