So you have decided to make some Concrete companies and you think that using a wheelbarrow and a shovel may be the best method for you to mix it together. While this may be correct, there are other viable options for mixing your concrete that you may want to consider. Of these methods you can mix concrete using your hands in the bucket, a square shovel on a piece of plywood, or in a bucket with a drill and whip attachment which is similar to a paddle.
Of all of the concrete mixing methods mixing in a wheelbarrow with a shovel is one of the most physically demanding. If you intend to mix your concrete in a wheelbarrow then you should not have very much concrete to mix. If you plan to mix more than a few bags of concrete then you should strongly consider renting a concrete mixer from a local hardware store. A concrete mixer rental can be as little as $30-$50 and can save you a huge amount of backbreaking labor.
If you have already decided that a wheelbarrow and shovel is the way you need to go, then a few expert hints and tips can help you to make hard work much easier. The first thing that you need to know is that you should be using a spade shovel not a square shovel for mixing your concrete. The next most important tip is to thoroughly spray down the inside of your wheelbarrow with water as well as spray down your shovel with water prior to starting your mix. This will help to lubricate the wheelbarrow and prevent the concrete powder from binding in the corners.
One of the single most important things that you must do when the mixing concrete in a wheelbarrow is ensure that the wheelbarrow remains balanced at all times. This means that your workstation must be completely flat and the wheelbarrow must be balanced securely and not wobbly from a broken support or flat tire. Concrete and water are both extremely heavy and as you mix them in the wheelbarrow the three points of contact with the ground can leave a little to be desired. It is very easy for a wheelbarrow full of concrete to tip over and it is definitely heavy enough to cause physical injury to anyone adjacent to it. Always be sure to work safely and prevent unnecessary injury even from items as simple as a wheelbarrow and a shovel.
