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You need variable speed (not constant speed). Although some have timers these are not useful. The prices range from $100 to $thousands. They do not always come with the shaft and propeller (but it is easy to get a stainless steel shaft). A table-top device may be rated at 20L capacity, for example, but that is for thin liquids. For thick ceramic slurries, it likely will only handle 8-10L (if the propeller is suitable). Double check and question the RPM rating, the cheap mixers use stepper motors (they require minimal electronics) and only get a fraction of the claimed RPM (so they will obviously not mix slurries well enough). These mixers will only be useful with a large propeller having steeply pitched blades. Buying a propeller is not practical because one will likely cost more than the mixer, be the wrong pitch, wrong direction, wrong size. 3D-printing one yourself is the best way (keep reprinting until it works well). If the shipping weight of the package is 15-20 lbs much of that will be the heavy metal base.
The original was on a short shaft and had no propeller, just a weird flapper. It was only able to mix about half a gallon. It's stepper motor had a totally inadequate top speed but it was powerful enough to turn a much larger propeller. This new large four-blade propeller was the answer. It can mix two gallons with no problem! There are more issues. This mixer rotates counter-clockwise, commercial blades are not available for that. Further, it has a 6mm (rather than 1/4 inch) shaft. Even if propellers were available they would likely cost hundreds of dollars. But designing and printing one on a home 3D printer is no problem. Look how well it works on this 1.45 specific gravity slurry.
Glossary |
Propeller Mixer
In ceramic studios, labs and classrooms, a good propeller mixer is essential for mixing glaze and body slurries. |
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