Masonry Magazine February 2005 Page. 36
Mortar Mixers
Really comparing a handheld to the production of the bigger drum models, this model can do up to 1,200 pounds per hour with a 25-gallon capacity, which is great for smaller jobs.
Tom Carroll, President of CS Unitec, says, "These mixers will mix the materials approximately 30-40% faster than a laborer can with a regular drill motor with a paddle chucked into it. Drill motors are known to burn out on a regular basis. We talk to contractors all the time who are saying that they have to replace their drill motor because it's burning out trying to mix mortar. Our products are designed to specifically handle that."
The EZR 215, having two mixing paddles, can even outrun the single paddle handheld versions that are currently out on the market. Much like a kitchen mixer, the counter direction of the paddles makes it easier and faster to mix the material. The blades' rotation in opposite directions eliminates counter torque and makes the unit easier to handle.
Speaking of handles, like most of the CS Unitec handhelds, this model also has an ergonomic, balanced handle with an on/off trigger at your fingertips.
Another product that CS Unitec has introduced this year is a new stand to hold any of its handheld mortar mixers. Simply put a five-gallon bucket on the base of the stand, set the mixer into the cradle, add materials, turn it on and walk away. Carroll recommends using a 9-1/4" diameter helical design paddle, which goes out to the side walls of the bucket and gives a good, thorough mixing from the bottom up.
"They will really save time with the stand," Carroll says. "A two-man operation can often be a one-man operation if they set it up on the stand."
Its heavy-duty, all steel construction is "built like a tank," but it's still very portable, with a kick plate so you can lean the stand back and roll it around on the back casters.
"Unless they drop it off of the building, it will last them a lifetime," states Carroll.
Customization
If you're hunting for a mixer that you haven't quite found on the market, customization may be the key to solving your problem. Most manufacturers can build to suit, making your crew's job easy and faster.
"If they want the spout to be different, a different hitch, a certain height, a certain width I can really do just about anything," says David Birmingham, Jr., Owner of Macalite Equipment, Inc., in Phoenix.
"For instance, a customer of ours wanted a 16-cubic mixer, but wanted to be able to put it underneath a silo, so we made a platform for it so you could pick it up with a forklift, where you were able to put it under there."
From specifying a heavier, quarter-inch tub, adding an abrasive resistant material to the drum, towable or with pockets, custom painting and more, mason contractors have a lot to choose from.
"Also, if we know who the end-user is, we can weld their name on the side of the tub and weld it underneath the frame," says Birmingham. "If you weld identification on the side of the tub and someone steals it, usually the first thing they do is grind that off. But they may not know about the frame, and we put it in such a place on the frame that it's hard to reach to remove it."
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