Is a Belle Mixer worthwhile over a cheaper brand for DIY projects?

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barki

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Hi,

Just wondered on this. I've been doing DIY project for years, always mixing by hand either in a bucket or in the wheel barrow.

I feel it's finally time to treat myself and fork out for a mixer, particularly since my next project is a other shed base (and a retaining wall to hold it up) to put another shed on that I'll actually be able to store the mixer in.

Anyway, an electric (mains), smaller mixer like the Belle Minimix 130 (currently £430 at Wickes) is what I've got my eye on, but I can see that I could go for a similar sized and powered Draper mixer for about £75 less and so similar sized unbranded mixer at Screwfix and various other place for up too £150 less.

Question is, should I? It's going to get used two or three times a year.

Cheers, Tom.
 
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I'm not a brand snob at all normally, but I would (and did) buy the Belle. Mainly because, if you finish with it then you'll be able to sell it for only a bit less than you paid for it.

Also parts are widely available. The cheaper ones are probably disposable, as you may not be able to source parts.

Those Belles are super strong. I've had mine running probably too long at a time while mixing concrete and, despite the gearbox getting hot to the touch, no harm was done.
 
I built my extension and various other projects around the house/garden using the previous version of this B&Q own brand mixer.

www.diy.com

Mac Allister 370W 240V Cement mixer 134L MAC90 | DIY at B&Q

Ideal for mixing concrete and mortar, this corded cement mixer has a mixing volume of 100L. The convenient size fits through a standard 2’6” doorway and has a discharge outlet height of 1040mm. It can be used both on or off the stand and comes with robust wheels for easy moving.
www.diy.com

Worked great. Just keep it clean and turn it on before you start loading it with gear.
 
Make sure you store it out of sight of the road. Neighbour had his stolen from outside his workshop door.

Jobbing builder working down the road had his 'walk' the same day - the mix was dumped out of the drum over the customers drive so not only had he lost his machine he had to clean the drive.
 
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barki said:
Hi,

Just wondered on this. I've been doing DIY project for years, always mixing by hand either in a bucket or in the wheel barrow.

I feel it's finally time to treat myself and fork out for a mixer, particularly since my next project is a other shed base (and a retaining wall to hold it up) to put another shed on that I'll actually be able to store the mixer in.

Anyway, an electric (mains), smaller mixer like the Belle Minimix 130 (currently £430 at Wickes) is what I've got my eye on, but I can see that I could go for a similar sized and powered Draper mixer for about £75 less and so similar sized unbranded mixer at Screwfix and various other place for up too £150 less.

Question is, should I? It's going to get used two or three times a year.

Cheers, Tom.
Click to expand...
Belle are bomb-proof and won't let you down. We have a couple or orange ones (one on standby) and would never buy anything else. EVER.
Might be a bit OTT for DIY, but I'd be loath to recommend anything else.
 
Baromix mixers (blue ones) are OK too, and can be equally abused, but I don't think you can get them up on the stand single handedly like with the belles.
 
^woody^ said:
Baromix mixers (blue ones) are OK too, and can be equally abused, but I don't think you can get them up on the stand single handedly like with the belles.
Click to expand...
I like the fact that guys that work on them can do it blindfold and all spares are freely available. We had an 'incident' with the drum a while back, and replacing it was a doddle.
 
barki said:
Hi,

Just wondered on this. I've been doing DIY project for years, always mixing by hand either in a bucket or in the wheel barrow.

I feel it's finally time to treat myself and fork out for a mixer, particularly since my next project is a other shed base (and a retaining wall to hold it up) to put another shed on that I'll actually be able to store the mixer in.

Anyway, an electric (mains), smaller mixer like the Belle Minimix 130 (currently £430 at Wickes) is what I've got my eye on, but I can see that I could go for a similar sized and powered Draper mixer for about £75 less and so similar sized unbranded mixer at Screwfix and various other place for up too £150 less.

Question is, should I? It's going to get used two or three times a year.

Cheers, Tom.
Click to expand...
www.gumtree.com

Cement mixer | in Yate, Bristol | Gumtree

Cement mixer 240v in used condition. Ideal for diy. Can be seen working. £65 yate
www.gumtree.com www.gumtree.com

£65, job done, you'll never lose money on it
 
My dad had an ex hire belle for over 30 years, being ex hire it was probably well maintained/like triggers broom with parts replaced. We had a gearbox leak a few years ago but the oil seal/bearing was cheap and readily available despite it's age.

I like the fact that the drum can be spun off by hand for easy transportation (if you keep the spindle greased).
 
I had a light duty small Belle about 15 years ago, something like this one...

www.mowermagic.co.uk

Belle Mastermix 110 Compact Portable Electric Cement Mixer 230v

Belle Mastermix 110 Compact Portable Electric Cement Mixer 230v Belle Mastermix Electric Cement Mixer 240v
www.mowermagic.co.uk www.mowermagic.co.uk

It was junk, it had a large plastic ring gear on the back of the drum that was driven by the motor. The gear was just riveted through holes in the back of the drum. When these rivets inevitably worked loose by chewing through the plastic, the mortar juice would dribble all over the back of the gear. Eventually I replaced the plastic ring with a new one, this time with mushroom head bolts and sealant. This was fine, but the design is crap.

The newer one I have with a proper gearbox is great. Just avoid the cheapie ones with that plastic drive cog on the back, the decent ones aren't much more expensive and vastly better.
 
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