Product type
— Mixer. Construction tool for mixing various building mixtures: paint, glue, plaster, mortar, etc. Unlike drill mixers (see below), the functionality of these devices is strictly limited to mixing viscous solutions. But at the same time they are much more powerful, reliable and boast high torque. They can be in demand both in construction and in the household.
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Drill mixer. This tool combines the functionality of a construction mixer and a classic drill in one relatively compact body, making it a more versatile solution for home use. Usually, all models of this type are equipped with a chuck and support the possibility of installing a mixing nozzle or equipment for drilling holes in wood and other materials. Lighter and more convenient to use when compared with the mixers described above, but at the same time inferior to them in terms of power.
Power consumption
The power consumed by the construction mixer (see "Device") during operation.
High power provides the device with high performance — such a model can easily cope with complex tasks, such as mixing a large volume of mixture at a time or while working with heavy fillers, such as crushed stone. On the other hand, high power affects the power consumption of the device, its weight, dimensions and cost. It makes little sense to purchase a powerful model if you select a tool for domestic use from time to time.
Rotation speed
The rotation speed of the nozzle or mixing container provided by a plaster mixers.
High rotation speed devices work best with paints, varnishes and glues.
Low rotation speed models do a good job of preparing thick mixtures. Many modern plaster mixers and mixer-drills support the ability to adjust the speed (see "Features"), which allows user to choose the most optimal mode for a particular mixture. Powerful tools especially need a rotation under heavy load support system.
Max. mixing paddle diameter
The vast majority of attachments for construction mixers have a standard size in length, usually 600 mm. But their diameter may differ, its maximum size is limited by the manufacturer, which must be considered when choosing. The indicator depends on the technical characteristics of the tool. The most popular sizes are
120mm,
140mm and
160mm nozzles. The larger the diameter of the auger, the easier it can cope with a large volume of mixed mixture.
Reduction drive
The ability to switch speeds allows you to cope with various types of tasks: low speed and high torque are perfect for mixing viscous or heavy mixtures, and vice versa — high speed and low torque are better to cope with liquid materials such as paint, glue, etc.
Note that the support for
two speeds provides the presence of a two-speed gearbox. At the same time, many modern construction mixers with a single-speed gearbox support the ability to smoothly adjust the speed of rotation of the nozzle (see "Functions / Capabilities").
Max. stirred volume
Numerical value, expressed in liters, indicating the maximum volume of solution that the mixer can mix in one step.
Spindle internal thread
The type of internal thread of the spindle determines the possibility of using one or another nozzle with the tool. Also pay attention to the "Type of cartridge" (see below). Most construction mixers today have a metric thread on the spindle for attaching nozzles:
M12,
M14,
M18,
M20,
M24, but there are also spindles with
⅝” inch internal threads.
Chuck type
The chuck type determines the mechanism by which the attachment is attached to the construction mixer and by which the energy of the tool is transferred to the work area. Nozzles with different types of fastening are not interchangeable.
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Key. One of the simplest and most reliable solutions, well suited for tough jobs. The nozzle is fixed in the cartridge using a special key, and after work it is removed with the same key that is included in the package. Even if you fill the junction with glue, the nozzle is still easy to remove with a wrench and improvised tools. But this process can become problematic if you lose the key. Due to the great popularity of this mechanism, the user can use nozzles from different manufacturers.
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Quick release. Models of this type use the FastFix (QuickFix) quick-clamping clamp, due to which the drill is fastened without the use of additional tools. This allows you to quickly change the tooling without much effort, the user does not need to resort to the help of any improvised tools, hand effort is enough. A simple and convenient solution, but some experts consider it not the best option for heavy work.
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Morse taper and key. The attachment of the nozzle of these tools has a special tapered shank that is inserted into the tapered hole of the spindle. The main advantage is high centering accuracy. Most often
...used in mixer drills, but not very popular.Chuck diameter
This parameter determines the possibility of using nozzles of different diameters with the tool. Usually, the larger the diameter of the chuck, the more different nozzles are supported by the plaster mixer.