Just blew $300 on a 'pro' mortar mixer that clogged solid on its first real job.

3 comments

3 Comments

My brother lost a whole weekend to a clogged mixer last fall. That immediate cleanup Angela mentioned is the only thing that works. Feels like you're buying the tool twice when you have to fight it.

angela_knight2mo ago

Ugh, that's the worst. I had the same thing happen with a cheaper mixer. The trick is to never let it sit, even for a minute. I mix my thinset a touch wetter than normal and keep a bucket of water and a stiff brush right there. The second I'm done, I run water through it and scrub the paddle and inside the barrel. It's a pain but way better than chipping out solid mortar later.

maxp6827d ago

You said "the trick is to never let it sit" and honestly that hit me hard because I used to be one of those guys who'd just leave the mixer in the bucket and walk away for a smoke break. Figured "it'll be fine, I'll rinse it later." Then last year I had to spend three hours with a chisel and a hammer getting dried mortar off a paddle and I finally learned my lesson. Your method with the water bucket right there is genius, I'm stealing that for my next job. Makes so much more sense than fighting with it after the fact.