Old timer at the supply house changed my mind about mixing by hand

Overheard a guy with 30 years in saying he switched to a paddle mixer after his wrists gave out at 45, and now I'm thinking twice about my stubbornness. Has anyone else noticed a difference in mortar consistency with a drill vs hand mixing?

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1 Comment

thea7041mo ago

Oh man, you hit the nail on the head with this one. I was the same way for years, thought hand mixing was the only way to really feel the mortar and get it right. Then I helped a buddy on a big patio job and he handed me his corded paddle mixer and I felt like such a fool for all that extra work. The consistency is way more even with a drill, no dry pockets or lumps, and it takes like half the time. My shoulders and wrists used to ache for days after mixing a few buckets by hand, now I can do ten mixes and still feel fine. Once you switch you'll probably wonder why you waited so long, that's exactly what I went through.