A guy in Denver swore by using a plastic bucket to mix small batches of mortar

I always used a metal tub, thought plastic would be too flimsy and static would make the mix weird. Tried it on a small patio job mixing just a 60-pound bag, and it was way easier to scrape clean with a margin trowel. Have any of you switched from metal to plastic for mixing?

4 comments

4 Comments

marybutler2mo ago

That static cling thing is exactly what I worried about too. Did you notice any dry powder sticking to the sides of the bucket before you added water, or did it all just fall off clean? I'm trying to figure out if that's a real problem or just something I made up in my head.

jordan_hill2mo ago

@marybutler, did you try wiping the bucket first?

jennifer_jones172mo ago

Honestly, @marybutler, I saw a whole thread about this last week. People were saying if your bucket is bone dry, that powder just flies everywhere and sticks like crazy. One person said they started using a slightly damp paper towel to wipe the inside first, and it made a huge difference. Tbh, it's not just in your head, that static is a real pain. I tried it with my mixing bucket and it was way less messy.

charles_coleman4d ago

Wait, so we're all just out here fighting static cling like it's a full time job now? I guess the universe decided powder was too easy to handle without a little bit of chaos. Maybe next week we'll discover the secret is to wear a wool sweater and shuffle your feet before you start.