Archived from the Tools In Action forum (Ridgid). This thread is read-only.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-9-Amp-Corded-1-2-in-Spade-Handle-Mud-Mixer-R7122/100523157
The only corded mud mixer at Home Depot online and in the store is the Ridgid one.
I really can’t see a battery one from any maker being strong enough without burning up.
On battery platforms in my price range, the Makita hammer drill 14 can do light mixing with its 104 foot/pound torque but not sure about the long term aspect of the LXT range for a long lived tool like a hammer drill-light mixer.
Milwaukee makes a similarly strong hammer drill in this affordable range but it might burn up easily. Milwaukee tried a higher volt battery setup only to ditch it so the M18 line should be fairly long term.
If I increase mixing duties enough, then no battery mixer can handle the work that any corded tool will do with ease.
Maybe Ridgid mud mixer is it.
Any experiences?
What is your price range?
Under $300 and I prefer mixing in 5 gallon bucket because at Home Depot I can get a small rotating canister mixer for $350. That’s maybe too big.
But there are times I need to mix in a 55 gallon trash can so I may have to rethink cost.
If you’re already in the LXT or M18 battery platforms both makita and milwaukee offer cordless mixers. I have no experience with either but I would assume they do better than just a standard hammer drill, the makita is $240 bare tool and the milwaukee is $220 bare tool.
I use the Milwaukee M18 mud mixer and have never had any trouble mixing. I have used it to mix thin set for tile setting. Mixing drywall mud and mud for parging block walls. I have had that mixer 3 or more years now.
I also have the Milwaukee M18. Works well for me aswell. You could maybe try it or the Makita LXT asBiggie recommended.
I think if I were a high end home user or pro who very rarely sees mixing duties, I would just use a battery Milwaukee or Makita hammer drill (either next on my list for home and professional uses).
But for my remodeling jobs around the county where I am often alone, I have narrowed it down to an M18 or LXT mud mixer for smaller stuff and full on corded for heavier use.
I can see getting both, but maybe a drum?
Where I can cut the cord, I do so but certain things like my table saw, compound miter saw, jackhammer, and compressor, I use the extra power of corded gear. I like the Makita or Ridgid or Bosch corded mud mixer which I think I can mix mud in a 55 gallon trash can.
Using a 5 gallon bucket is slow because we had to do it ten times for a tiny tile flooring job (serious lol) where the thin set was hardening mighty fast. Lol.
That was a stressful experience and made us consider a small drum mixer:
Thanks for all the suggestions!!
I have often thought about cheaper Black and Decker or Craftsman gear, but in my job I tend towards the standard pro stuff like DeWalt, Makita, Ridgid, and Milwaukee.
At home though, my personal tool stash is the Stanley-Craftsman-Black and Decker faire, and I polish them too, lol, but my predictably thrashed looking work tools are all pro stuff mostly because I can’t afford to break down since I am alone.
I think I may get a corded Ryobi type general purpose mixer for home and seriously consider a pro drum mixer for my remodeling accounts.
Any suggestions then for small pro drum mixer?
I too can vouch for the M18 mud mixer. Got mine on clearance (like I do most of my tools) and it’s been great for mixing joint compound. Haven’t tried it for anything else though (yet).
I got the Bosch 9 amp corded mixer.
It seems solid and I don’t want to eat up regular drills. We have been using a hole hawg which we have never used over many homes and it has held up as a mixer.
The Bosch dedicated mixer drill is better since it is way slower with much more torque