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Versicolor
♖♘♗♔♕♗♘♖



Registered: 05/04/11
Posts: 2,268
Loc:
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How do you mix sawdust?
#19330138 - 12/26/13 07:08 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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I've been making a lot of sawdust blocks, and need to figure out a new way to mix sawdust. Currently I use a huge bowl and stir it by hand. Two bags per bowlful. Which is pretty good, but I'm looking for bigger volumes and less work. I know RR uses a cement mixer, which is a great idea. I might get a hand powered one, like this.

Any ideas for mixing sawdust in larger quantities? Maybe around 30lb (6 blocks) at a time?
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skullphuxxx
free food finder



Registered: 05/02/13
Posts: 341
Loc: Smurfs village
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Re: How do you mix sawdust? [Re: Versicolor]
#19330198 - 12/26/13 07:23 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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plastic tote,5 gl bucket,garbage can all would work. i use a tote and my hands:) maybe a drill with a pant mixing bit
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ThatsWhatYouGet

Registered: 04/22/12
Posts: 33
Loc: Nebraska
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For me the cement mixer is great for grain. But for sawdust I use the bottom third of a 55 gal plastic drum and mix with a drill and mixing paddle. I use 2 different types of wood and supplements and the drum and drill is just easier and gives me a better mix faster.
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OICU812
NC Tree Farm owner


Registered: 11/06/11
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PLUS
-------------------- -------------- "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote!" --Benjamin Franklin "Those who give up liberty for security won't have, or deserve, either.". . . Benjamin Franklin ----> Read: The Fight of our Lives - Defeating the Ideological War Against the West - by Victor Davis Hanson
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Ganzig
It's for the street cred


Registered: 11/29/06
Posts: 8,206
Loc: Oregon
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Re: How do you mix sawdust? [Re: OICU812]
#19330708 - 12/26/13 09:27 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Ribbon mixer FTW!
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pseudotsuga


Registered: 06/29/11
Posts: 947
Loc: usa
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Re: How do you mix sawdust? [Re: Ganzig]
#19330735 - 12/26/13 09:34 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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you nailed it OICU
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Jeff
Addict



Registered: 10/06/12
Posts: 1,488
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How many bags are you wanting to do at once Versicolor?
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drake89
Mushroom Magnate



Registered: 06/26/11
Posts: 4,168
Loc: TN
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Re: How do you mix sawdust? [Re: Jeff]
#19330924 - 12/26/13 10:34 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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well it's much faster for us to make bags with pellets than raw sawdust. we can fit about 20 bags worth in a cement mixer load. about 1 hr vs 1.5 hours. i think it's about a 6 cu ft mixer.
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GreenGills



Registered: 10/12/13
Posts: 269
Last seen: 2 years, 9 months
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Re: How do you mix sawdust? [Re: drake89]
#19332189 - 12/27/13 08:59 AM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
drake89 said: well it's much faster for us to make bags with pellets than raw sawdust. we can fit about 20 bags worth in a cement mixer load. about 1 hr vs 1.5 hours. i think it's about a 6 cu ft mixer.
are you mixing dry ingredients in the mixer and adding water in the bags?
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Aleon
The Power of Our Origins



Registered: 05/26/11
Posts: 1,127
Loc: Everywhere
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Re: How do you mix sawdust? [Re: OICU812]
#19332199 - 12/27/13 09:02 AM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
OICU812 said:
PLUS 
What kind of mixer is that? and how many bags at once can you do with this method? Right now I use a small cement mixer that can do 9-12 bags at once in 10-15 minutes. I am looking for a better way; and this way must be a horizontal container, not vertical or 45 degrees. All the moistures goes to the bottom of vertical or angled mixers. A commercial ribbon mixer would be ideal; but it will cost ya.
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nanncee


Registered: 12/01/12
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Loc: Utah
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Re: How do you mix sawdust? [Re: Aleon]
#19332324 - 12/27/13 09:46 AM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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I have been using a big 30gallon tote and a little kids winter shovel, 12 bags at a time. If I really haul ass start to finish is 35 minutes(to the point burners are on) By no means is it efficient. Cement mixer is probably what we will upgrade to, if I can find one big enough.
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t3chnobily
Strangest


Registered: 02/04/12
Posts: 651
Loc: As Seen In VT
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Re: How do you mix sawdust? [Re: nanncee]
#19334260 - 12/27/13 07:55 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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I've been using this model from depot for 6 months. 16qts pellets, 4 qts bran, dash of gypsum and 16 qts water per run yield 12-13 bags.

Mixer
I like it because its tall and I don't have to bend over.
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Aleon
The Power of Our Origins



Registered: 05/26/11
Posts: 1,127
Loc: Everywhere
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Re: How do you mix sawdust? [Re: t3chnobily]
#19334287 - 12/27/13 08:01 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
t3chnobily said: I've been using this model from depot for 6 months. 16qts pellets, 4 qts bran, dash of gypsum and 16 qts water per run yield 12-13 bags.

Mixer
I like it because its tall and I don't have to bend over.
How much do you weigh your bags out to? Also, do u have a problem with moisture sitting at the bottom of your mixer?
-------------------- Mushroom medicines available at: www.swordandshieldwellness.com
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Versicolor
♖♘♗♔♕♗♘♖



Registered: 05/04/11
Posts: 2,268
Loc:
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Re: How do you mix sawdust? [Re: Aleon]
#19334332 - 12/27/13 08:14 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Also, how do you load it into the bags once mixed?
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drake89
Mushroom Magnate



Registered: 06/26/11
Posts: 4,168
Loc: TN
Last seen: 4 years, 11 months
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Re: How do you mix sawdust? [Re: Versicolor]
#19334545 - 12/27/13 09:04 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
GreenGills said:
Quote:
drake89 said: well it's much faster for us to make bags with pellets than raw sawdust. we can fit about 20 bags worth in a cement mixer load. about 1 hr vs 1.5 hours. i think it's about a 6 cu ft mixer.
are you mixing dry ingredients in the mixer and adding water in the bags?
sorry. we don't use the cement mixer when we use pellets. i've got the home depot model posted above. for pellets we add them, water, and bran seperately. calcium if I feel like it.
this is the pellet dispenser: http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/18387093
Quote:
Aleon said:
Quote:
t3chnobily said: I've been using this model from depot for 6 months. 16qts pellets, 4 qts bran, dash of gypsum and 16 qts water per run yield 12-13 bags.

Mixer
I like it because its tall and I don't have to bend over.
How much do you weigh your bags out to? Also, do u have a problem with moisture sitting at the bottom of your mixer?
that thing has handles so you can mix it horizontally. Like lift the bucket while it's spinning. There is some wet stuff on the bottom, but not usually a problem if you use raw sawdust.
Quote:
Versicolor said: Also, how do you load it into the bags once mixed?
dump it into a 45 gallon tote. I dump a gallon and a half into each bag through a metal ducting vent that has legs screwed to it. It acts as a funnel.
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OICU812
NC Tree Farm owner


Registered: 11/06/11
Posts: 1,064
Loc: Foothills of NC
Last seen: 3 years, 5 months
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Re: How do you mix sawdust? [Re: Aleon]
#19334588 - 12/27/13 09:19 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
Aleon said:
Quote:
OICU812 said:
PLUS 
What kind of mixer is that? and how many bags at once can you do with this method? Right now I use a small cement mixer that can do 9-12 bags at once in 10-15 minutes. I am looking for a better way; and this way must be a horizontal container, not vertical or 45 degrees. All the moistures goes to the bottom of vertical or angled mixers. A commercial ribbon mixer would be ideal; but it will cost ya.
Mixer: Rubi Grout and Thinset Mixer Rubimix 9 BL With Variable Speed
Horizontal version: 50 Gallon Sterilite tote

(2) 40 lb. pellet bags + 1.72 lbs. Gypsum (2%) + 4.3 lbs. bran (5%) + 14-1/4 gallons of water = (41) 5# bags @ 65% moisture.
Or, double your pleasure, double your fun for just a few dollars more with a Tuff Stuff Products Heavy Duty Oval Tank, 110 gal.
Edited by OICU812 (12/28/13 06:28 AM)
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Aleon
The Power of Our Origins



Registered: 05/26/11
Posts: 1,127
Loc: Everywhere
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Re: How do you mix sawdust? [Re: OICU812]
#19335929 - 12/28/13 08:00 AM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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I like the thinking OICU. DO you own these/have you tried this? DO you know that 2 bags of pellets will fit well for mixing with that handheld auger in a 50 gallon tote? I would love to be able to mix 36+ bags at one time.
-------------------- Mushroom medicines available at: www.swordandshieldwellness.com
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deadmandave
Slime


Registered: 02/16/10
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Re: How do you mix sawdust? [Re: Aleon]
#19336311 - 12/28/13 10:04 AM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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I mix about 9 bags at a time using a garbage can. I set my ingredients inside, add water and then roll the garbage bin on its side (angled anyways, so nothing falls out) - back and forth, mimicking a cement mixer.
really easy and low tech, takes about 20 minutes or less to mix everything together.
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t3chnobily
Strangest


Registered: 02/04/12
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Re: How do you mix sawdust? [Re: Aleon]
#19337318 - 12/28/13 02:31 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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My bags come out 5-6 lbs. I don't mix constantly just fire it up for a few 1 minute bursts. If sawdust sticks you can level out the drum for a few rotations. I Fill the bags right out of the mixer using a big red grain scoop. Two heaping scoops per bag.
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OICU812
NC Tree Farm owner


Registered: 11/06/11
Posts: 1,064
Loc: Foothills of NC
Last seen: 3 years, 5 months
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Re: How do you mix sawdust? [Re: Aleon]
#19337647 - 12/28/13 04:09 PM (10 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
Aleon said: I like the thinking OICU. DO you own these/have you tried this? DO you know that 2 bags of pellets will fit well for mixing with that handheld auger in a 50 gallon tote? I would love to be able to mix 36+ bags at one time.
Don't know about the Tote, I use the barrel and a drywall mud mixer, but 2 bags of pellets do well in a drum. I want the mixer I pictured as it has a better speed range than a heavy duty drill. Actually, I think the Tuff Stuff Products Heavy Duty Oval Tank, 110 gal. is the way to go.
PLUS
Edited by OICU812 (12/28/13 04:28 PM)
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