Concrete is older than the Roman’s and the technology for concrete mixing it is just as old. Unfortunately for them, the Roman's didn't have the advantage of Skid Steer Attachments. Knowing the difference in cement and concrete can save you some embarrassment when describing all your hard work to more knowledgeable construction workers and machine operators.

Cement is a modern mixture composed of finely ground, complex minerals, this mixture is used in conjunction with fine and coarse aggregate, any chemical admixtures, fly ash, and water. The cement then absorbs the water and binds the aggregates (usually stone or gravel) and dries out forming concrete.

Concrete Mixers can handle a robust amount of aggregate mixtures such as sand, gravel, lime and whatever else you decide to throw into it. Skid Steer Solutions, as an official retailer of Eterra Attachments, LLC and Star Industries is excited to offer an entire line of cement products that can provide the perfect solutions to whatever project you are tackling with the best attachments for your machine.

If you are in the market for a cement mixer there are a lot of aspects to consider before purchasing. Mixing concrete by hand can be strenuous on your back and the mixture will not be as homogenous if done with a machine. A skid steer cement mixer attachment allows you to create larger batches at a faster rate that is more beneficial for larger jobs. This is also a more economical option as you can only purchase an entire truckload of concrete at a time where you may need only half a truckload, or the concrete dispersed throughout the job at specific times and locations. A skid steer operated cement mixing attachment can provide greater jobsite efficiency and also reach areas where larger trucks and machines can’t go.

Products Offered By Skid Steer Solutions

The Star IndustriesScoop and Mix Skid-Steer Concrete Mixer is a piece of equipment that provides one of the most efficient and economical ways to produce small quantities of thoroughly mixed concrete. The Scoop and Mix features an improved design. This new design incorporates a revolving paddle mixing action, the revolving paddles are driven by a strong hydraulic motor thru a dependable chain and sprocket drive. The hydraulic motor is powered by the auxiliary hydraulics of the skid steer. Concrete can be discharged in one of two ways through a mechanical lift gate on the side of the mixer and down a chute, or by simply tilting the mixer down with the tilt cylinders and discharging out the top. Either way, the speed and quantity of discharge can be easily controlled.

The Eterra Auger Drive Cement Mixing System is a one of a kind attachment package that is very purposeful. Including a universal skid steer mounting plate, flip hitch mount, and cement mixer bowl, as well as hoses and flat-faced couplers. For those of you who use your Eterra Skid Steer Auger to dig post holes, then this is the right attachment to make your job easier. The Cement Mixer Bowl makes it so that you don’t have to lug multiple pieces of heavy equipment all around your farm or job site. You just attach it to your skid steer auger. When you are done mixing, you can flip the mount over and add an auger to drill post holes. Optional extensions and bits can also be selected to make this a complete, all-around auger package.

It works very simply thanks to the incredible Eterra Auger Flip Hitch Mount. After you’ve dug your holes and you’re ready to mix and pour cement, just rotate the Flip Hitch around so that it is at a 45-degree angle, and then attach the Eterra Cement Mixer Bowl to your drive. The Cement Mixer Bowl has a 2-inch hex drive connection at it’s base that easily attaches to the Flip Hitch. Now all you have to do is add your concrete and water and you are ready to go. The Eterra Skid Steer Auger will do the rest. The Eterra auger cement mixing system will work with all Eterra Auger Drive models.

The Eterra BMX cement mixer attachments come in a variety of capacity sizes for up to the largest, on-site concrete mixing jobs you can imagine. The mix and go system allows you to scoop up the material, mix it on the go and then dispense the material in three different methods. It has a manual side chute that allows the operator to place the cement exactly where it needs to be. It also has a hydraulically operated center chute with a dispenser hose that gives the operator even more flexibility to place the material anywhere. The center chute not only lets you dispense concrete but it also works as a sandbag filler. You can also just pour the finished batch out the front of the mixer in one big pour.

Compatibility for your Machine

Eterra Attachments provides seamless compatibility for all Skid Steers with ease. The Eterra BMX-100 is only compatible with a mini skid steer whereas the BMX-250, 450 and 600 can be attached to both Skid Steers and compact track loaders. The BMX-600 is also compatible for telehandlers thanks to a custom Eterra mounting plate. Having a cement mixer attachment for your Skid Steer provides greater portability when mixing cement over traditional on-site methods. Stand-alone units sometimes need a power source or outlet, providing more work and less range when on a site with limited power outlets.

Mixing Concrete 101

When using the Eterra BMX system we recommend to mix 9 cubic feet (1/3 of a yard) at a time. This amount is the optimal amount for our machines as it leaves enough space above the paddles to avoid spillage during transport. Our guidelines are 1-part water, 2-parts cement, and 3-parts sand/gravel by volume. In a product demonstration, the BMX-250 at 2/3 full, yielded 31 square feet of cement in 2x4 forms. A dry mix should be mixed first with the water added slowly. If a slump cone is available, adjust water to achieve a 2" - 3" (51 - 76mm) slump. The final water content should be approximately 6 - 9 pt (2.8 - 4.3L) of water per 80 lb (36.3 kg) bag of concrete. The easiest way for you to achieve the best results is to use bagged pre-mix in 80 lb. bags. Each bag provides .60 cu. ft. of finished concrete. The current price today per bag is about $4. It is important to make sure that your water to cement mixture is the same for each new batch as you want to replicate consistency with each new concrete pour.

Clean Up

Either rinse out with a garden hose or high pressure washer. It’s important to use lots of water and possibly add some pea gravel. Run the mixer for a few minutes with this mixture and a final rinse out for any other spots that you see that have lingering traces of mix. A small spray bottle with diesel added will help to keep everything from rusting and sticking the next time you use your mixer.

With all of these options and configurations there is sure to be an ideal set-up that will match your machine and jobsite needs Knowing the intended purpose and conditions of all cement mixing attachments available on Skid Steer Solutions should make this decision a lot easier.

At Skid Steer Solutions we pride ourselves in providing you with honest information provided by people who know, and use the products we sell. Your business and personal projects will never suffer with Skid Steer Solutions industry-leading customer service and support.