Masonry Magazine March 2010 Page. 33
Take the Grunt out of Grouting!!!
The mortar is mixed. For that reason, some mixer companies have gone to electric start. Every time a laborer pulls on a cord to start the mixer, he is one step closer to pulling it in half, and shutting the job down. With electric start, the only time he has to pull to start the mixer is to recharge the battery after the key was left on the night before. Therefore, with electric start, the pull cord can actually last for several years.
Equipment quality or breakdowns aren't always as big a factor. For instance, if you are a residential contractor who only uses a mixer once every couple of weeks, buying a cheaper mixer may be the way for you to go. However, it may serve you better to just rent when you need a mixer if you aren't using it that often.
Advantages of renting equipment:
* You're not responsible for normal breakdowns or most maintenance
* You have no storage costs
* Payments stop when you take the machine back
However, renting small pieces of equipment, like mixers, verses large pieces of equipment means you're dealing with two different animals.
Regarding renting verses buying mixers, a contractor can afford to rent small equipment or tools, such as a mixer, only so many times per year before it becomes cheaper to own. In fact, one rental company owner explained to me that, if you rent a small piece of equipment more than 24 times per year, it is much cheaper to buy it, since much of the cost of that small piece of equipment is incurred when you pay a laborer to pick it up and take it back.
The costs depend on the distance your project is from the rental store and whether the rental company can provide it to you quickly once you arrive to pick it up or drop it off. Our company figures one hour for pick up and one hour to take the piece of equipment back. This includes drive time, counter time and load time. At $40 per hour it costs us $80 (upfront) each time we rent. This cost can be reduced somewhat by call-
Grout Grunt™
The Faster, More Ergonomic way to Hand-Deliver Grout. "Scoop, Pass, Pour" Grouting has become that simple!!!
Grout Grunt™ is a dual-handled plastic scoop that quickly and efficiently scoops, transfers, and pours mixed grout, mortar, sand, or any high density material.
* Grout faster, easier, and cleaner!
* Transfers 0.5 cubic foot each scoop!
* Weighs under 3 pounds, washes clean with ease
* Saves time (50% faster), makes money
www.groutgrunt.com or call 877.266.6432
DEALERS WANTED AVAILABLE IN CANADA
READER SERVICE #239
FILL BLOCK WALLS
WITHOUT A CONCRETE PUMP OR FORKLIFT
PumpMaster
Model PG-25
AIRPLACO
EQUIPMENT COMPANY
Northeast
513.321.2850
1.888.348.2950
Southeast
281.468.7102
1.866.468.7102
West
626.256.9310
1.888.383.8635
www.airplaco.com
SINCE 1946
READER SERVICE #296
March 2010 MASONRY 23