[BJR]

I bought a new petrol Bell mixer to do the stone walls we just finished. the mixer has worked non stop for almost 5 months now.

The outside of the bowl is disgusting. It has a 3mm layer of cement covering it.

Any good ideas, besides hitting it with a hammer, to get the stuff off?

[Bill Schwab]

Try using an air chisel. Ther concrete companies send employees who are on the poo poo list into the inspection door on the barrel with a 5 lb air chisel. By the end of the season, there can be a half yard accumulate inside there....

[guido]

We usually don't have a problem with the outside, we keep it wet while we're using it and not much seems to stick. We run some gravel inside with water and a few taps with the mallet gets the inside clean for the most part.

[BJR]

Yes, Well, we normally don't have a problem either. we wash it down after every mix. However, I started a new labourer for 1 day and that is all it took for a scum to develop. Once it starts it can't be stopped.

[Stonehenge]

Our guys use hammers. But I had thought about the gravel idea Guido mentioned, maybe running some 3/4" clear for a few minutes.

[BJR]

The inside is spotless. I am talking about the outside. And a hammer all over the bowl is just too damaging and not very effective for the finer film.

[HRLand]

I've never tried this and I'm not suggesting it, but a friend told me he used to drop an M80 (small explosive) into his to knock the stuff off.

[BJR]

What the!!!!!

[HRLand]

Did I scare you with "small explosive" ? Maybe I should've said large firecracker.

[BJR]

Can't buy fire crackers here any more. Too many kids lost fingers and eyes.

[Stonehenge]

If it's a very fine film, maybe a very dilute muriatic acid would do the job. That and a stiff brush, in the hands of the guy that's responsible.

[BJR]

I thought of using acid. But i was afraid that it might cause too much rust.

[Squizzy Taylor]

Here's a quote that might help somebody.

Brickies Mixer Stuff For Squizzy

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OK, heres the secret to having a clean brickies mixer
But if you read it Im going to have to kill you, you know that?

Only mix the mud you can use there and then, dont leave the perpetual mix in the mixer.
Cement starts to go off after 45 mins, so if you leave a mix going around and around for hours, as I have seen some brickies do, you will be useing weak mud.

I always use detergent in the mud, and no, its not illegal as every man and his dog keeps telling me, Ive read the Australian Standards for Masonary, and they obvioulsy havent.
Detergent is an anti rust agent also.

When you have enough mud for you run ( 2 or 3 batches ), hose the mixer while running.
Then again, as you turn it off.
This will eliminate all the scung that causes all the other batches to stick.
Come knock off time I just start the mixer, tip it over, then give it a quick rinse.
Never ever chuck bricks into it to clean it, this will ding the bowl and make it easier for mud to stick to it.

I have had the same mixer, same bowl for 12 years now, and the out side is covered in tihs, but the inside shines.
I only on the rare occasion hit the beaters to remove any build up, but only rarely. ( once every 3 months )

Never ever use acid, this will rust the bowl, and give the mud more places to stick too.

Cheers, Al
__________________
Purveyor of fine antiques, and crap..

[mrgreen_perth]

Hey Squizzy

Good to see another person here from Perth - I thought I was the only one!

I find I have to bash the 'beaters' in my mixer once a day to keep the buildup at bay. My mixer does have unusual beaters though - the mixing action is more like 'folding' than 'mixing' (to use a cooking analogy).

By the way, what are you doing on the computer at 8.40 tonight? Not out watching the Australia Day fireworks?

Cheers
Tony

[Squizzy Taylor]

Originally posted by mrgreen_perth
Hey Squizzy

Good to see another person here from Perth - I thought I was the only one!

I find I have to bash the 'beaters' in my mixer once a day to keep the buildup at bay. My mixer does have unusual beaters though - the mixing action is more like 'folding' than 'mixing' (to use a cooking analogy).

By the way, what are you doing on the computer at 8.40 tonight? Not out watching the Australia Day fireworks?

Cheers
Tony

G,day Tony, I try and make sure (apart from the beaters) that nobody beats up my mixer but building walls in summer has got knobs on it. I just finished up a 1000 1 metre blocks in Girrawheen and it nearly killed us.

Spent the day with the family and saw bleeding youths on the telly. Stuck me head out the window and saw a few fireworks going off. Waved my flag and sung Waltzing Matilda with the kids...thats it for me