Stirring Tools

Stirring tool

Pre-mixed thinner and mortar save a lot of time, and you don't have to worry about setting the water-dry mix ratio correctly. But it has one major downside: cost. This is where mixing paddles come into play. If you use the much cheaper dry thinner or grout, you can hardly avoid purchasing a mixing paddle for your drill. Manually mixing heavy dry mix bags leaves voids and large dry particles that are difficult to mix. However, you can easily mix heavy jute bags and mortar using the mixing paddle attached to the end of your drill. While premixed thinner and mortar types are available, both products usually come in powder form that needs to be mixed well with water. Although manual mixing is feasible, it is labor-intensive and time-consuming. Mixing by hand increases the risk of clumps of powder remaining in the mixture, which can reduce product adhesion.

Used as do-it-yourself alternatives that fit heavy-duty drills, paddle drills make power mortar or thin-set mixers quick. A special paddle mixer features a two-handled handle that makes it easy to hold the power tool securely when mixing large batches. Paddle mixers save a lot of time on large tiling projects and allow for even mixing of adhesive and grout.

Ideal for: Mixing large amounts of thinner or mortar.

Tiling was once a project left almost exclusively to professional tilers, but with today's tiling tools and supplies, it has become a do-it-yourself project for skilled homeowners. With the right materials needed to lay tiles and specialized tools for notching, gluing, or cutting, almost anyone can make precise cuts. Power mixers or paddle tips help easily mix grout and adhesives, making tile installation quicker and easier.