Showerthought: I finally gave up on mixing mortar by hand for small repairs

Leo Thomas · 2026-03-11T18:00:06.078551+00:00

Always thought the machine was overkill until a job in Tempe where the heat was setting the mix too fast. Used a cordless drill with a paddle mixer for a 5-gallon bucket and it saved the whole afternoon. Anyone else switch to power mixing for patches under 20 square feet?

the_evan6mo ago

Seriously? Hand mixing builds character and you get a better feel for the consistency.

7

spencerr876mo ago

Totally, that paddle mixer is a game changer for small batches. I burned through a whole bag once trying to get the right feel by hand.

2

the_jennifer5mo ago

My buddy swears by his little drill mixer for stuff like that, says it's the only way to get it even.

2