[Shop-talk] concrete mixer issue

[Mike Rambour]

2 years ago I bought a concrete mixer from Home Depot and I used it 
quite a bit for a month or so, no issues then it sat for 2 years.  Last 
week I used it again, no issues.  This Saturday and again last night I 
used it again and it was a pain to use.  The concrete was 
sticking/drying to the bottom of the drum like crazy and I kept having 
to turn it off and using a garden trowel, scrape the bottom of the drum.

   I tried different things, putting plenty of water in first then the 
concrete (I used 90lb. bags), putting in half bags and water and then 
the last half and no matter what I was getting 2-3"  of semi dry 
concrete stuck on the bottom.  Too much water just made a mess and it 
stayed on the bottom and not enough water of course that was no good.

  The bottom of the barrel is finally losing all its paint and is down 
to the bare metal and my daughter's boyfriend suggested maybe it was 
that, he used to work in a ice rink and said that they had to wax the 
inside of the Zamboni drum or the ice would stick, he thought I needed 
to repaint the inside of the drum or wax it, I have never heard of that 
but I have never had this problem.

  Mixing the 8 90lb. bags took almost twice as long as normal with the 
way the concrete was semi-drying/clumping in the bottom.  The only think 
I can think of is that the bags sat in the hot sun all day and the 
concrete was hot as I put it in the mixer...but enough water should have 
solved that problem I would think.  Any ideas...I have more crete to pour.

  Shop Content, I am making a new pizza oven to keep my shop mates happy 
when they come help in the shop.