Appreciation post: That $300 mixer I thought was a steal

Picked up a used mortar mixer off Facebook Marketplace for $300, thought I was saving big. Got it home and the drum had a hairline crack I didn't spot. Tried to patch it with epoxy, lasted one job before it leaked all over my driveway. Lost the $300 plus another $50 in wasted mortar mix from the leak. Anyone else get burned buying used gear without checking it over first?

2 comments

2 Comments

alicecooper13d ago

You ever notice how the same thing happens with pretty much anything used? I bought a pressure washer off Craigslist once for what I thought was a steal. Looked fine in the guy's driveway, fired up and ran for a minute, bought it on the spot. Got home and after ten minutes of use the pump started making this grinding noise like it was full of gravel. Found out later it had been sitting with old gas in it and the carburetor was toast. Same with a used treadmill I got, belt was so worn down it slipped every time I tried to run. It's like people are real good at making something look okay for that quick five minute test but all the hidden problems don't show up until you've already handed over the cash and gotten it home.

casey_harris13d ago

Man that stinks. One thing people don't think about with used mixers is how the previous owner actually used them. If they ran it with dry mortar or let mud set up inside, the drum can get microscopic stress fractures that won't show until you put real pressure on it. That crack probably started forming way before you bought it.