Pricing surprise

[RoadKing]

I've been thinking about buying a cement mixer for some work next spring. I'm not a real big fan of Home depot, so I priced them at HF and NT knowing shipping would probably be a deal breaker. I was surprised to find the following base prices on this machine.


Kushlan Products, Inc. Model 350 WSB Concrete Mixer and Kushlan Kurb

Model 350WSB-Kurb-566023

$391.00/Each


Harbor Freight $419

Northern Tool $449

I've never used one before so if anyone can give me any suggestions I'd appreciate it

 

[Av8r3400]

My neighbor just rented a very similar looking mixer to the one pictured. I have no idea what brand, only it had an orange barrel and a similar looking frame with "semi-pneumatic" wheels. (The unit was new, never used)

1. It was not powerful enough to mix a full bag of concrete at a time.
2. Design was so low that emptying it (1/2 bag at a time) into a wheel barrow required balancing it up on a "stage" to reach over the lip of the barrow
3. After a day of off and on use (putting cultured stone on his foundation) the motor was tripping the breaker and getting dangerously hot

Over all his experience was not good. He tracked down a friend with a larger "home made" electric powered mixer and used it to finish the job over several more days.

I would suggest renting a unit before buying one, this will give you an idea on what you need in comparison.


Food for thought.

 

[DaveNay]

Perhaps a better option....

http://cnj.craigslist.org/tls/392163369.html

8 Hp. Briggs motor-2 bag-works good. Make is
Mueller-

 

[ghautz]

When it comes to that sort of thing, I prefer a used one. There are lots of them around. The cheap new ones don't hold up.

 

[California]

That model sounds like a dog.

But I think HF's shipping is proportional to price rather than weight, so they might have the lowest delivered cost if shipped.

 

[ddrane2115]

here is what I used, up to 2 bags at a time of ready mix. Of course the labor came free.................good neigbors are hard to find

 

[BigAl]

Perhaps a better option....

http://cnj.craigslist.org/tls/392163369.html

8 Hp. Briggs motor-2 bag-works good. Make is
Mueller-

Dave ,

That is a "mortar mixer" and is not intended to be used as a concrete mixer.