Looking for help testing new tools...

Whitey97

Yeah, I got that after I posted, I appologize for the PO box. I just have little trust for people and live on a busy street, where I wouldn't put it past anyone to take a box sitting on my porch, if you know what I mean as long as I have a date to look for it, I can make sure there's any extra set of eyes watching for it.

rhardman

P.O. box is usually the best way to go...

Sir Mixalot

I received mine today. Looks to be very promising. I hope it works as good as it looks. Can't wait to try it. I will post up my results when I do.

Ps. Thanks Rick

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-Paul
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Whitey97

not yet today

rhardman

Thanks for the early input. Please post your impressions and reviews. My patent attorney said "Go!" so pictures are okay.

I should have mentioned, I received one note about cleaning. The paddle is much more powerful than any other you've used and mixes so fast that if it's put in water alone, it will send the liquid flying EVERYWHERE!. The fastest way to clean premixed mud is by holding the paddle like a stomper and "stomp" it through clean water a few times. This will only take a few seconds and will usually clean it up just fine. With powders like plaster or hot mud, you can do the same thing but you may need a hose to clean it completely. If the mud goes hard on the blade, let the mud set completely and then use a hammer to break it off the blade. Then take a broad knife or a similar tool to remove the remaining mud. This is similar to the old style paddles but will go much faster. Try not to let the mud get hard though.

This paddle uses the UHMW, a powder coat and the anodizing to protect it. At the base of the shaft we filled the threads with a potable material to prevent water from rusting the steel. After extensive use you may see a small bit of rust on the stainless steel bolt but it will be miniscule and not bother anything. We went to (powder coated) steel for strength. Nothing else held up for long under the rigors of heavier mixing.

The stainless bolt can be tightened or loostened to fit your style of work. There are different advantages at both ends of the tightness level.

Go "chew it up" with your tests, but try not to scratch up that anodizing. We spent a lot of research time and money trying to make that thing a tool you can be proud to own.

Rick

drywallnflorida

Got mine yesterday, looks good so we will see how well it works

Sir Mixalot

I checked with Rick and he said I could post some pictures of the prototype. This is what it looks like.

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rhardman

Don't let it's mild mannered appearance fool you, this thing is a mixing BEAST!
Rick

Sir Mixalot

One of the things I find most interesting is how the paddle pivots. Maybe Rick could elaborate a little bit on this for us.

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rhardman

I designed the paddle to pivot; along with the beveled bottom and sides of the blade to glide along the bottom and side of the bucket as a natural part of the mixing process. It's pivoting angle and twisted curvature "cyclones" the material up from the bottom to mix faster (regardless of the shaft's angle to the bucket). Also, I had the top of the shaft machined specifically to that depth so it best fits with a drill chuck. Please let me know how well it grips for you...

The specific hole pattern was computer modelled to best break up solids during a clockwise rotation while at the same time providing a flow pattern that pulls water into the raw powder(s) that tend to be centered during the mixing process.

ON ANOTHER NOTE:
There is some grumbling that I'm mis-using the site for advertising. I'm going to step back for a week and let you guys give your opinions. I want to respect the views of the other readers and Nathan so I think it best to get out of everyone's way for a while...

I will be watching and will use the feedback received to help tweak the final design and to make appropriate ammendments to our patent.

Thanks to everyone for your help and please feel free to send me a private message if I can be of assistance.

Rick

A+ Texture LLC

Awe man his is blue. I got green. I have paddle envy. LOL, Wish I knew the cleaning trick, before mixing mine in my bucket which was sitting on the tailgate on my lifted truck. I had a shower for my help to see and laugh at.
Hey Mixalot, could you post a couple pics on the paddle thread for me so people know what I'm talkin about.

rhardman

First a note to A+, Green is good too...kinda like all the money you'll save using this thing! (sorry... couldn't resist...but that really is the reason I added green)

We actually played with a polished aluminum shaft which looked great but got real weird when it was left in mud for a while. It starts a chemical reaction with something in the mud and begins pitting and get's just plain ugly. We tried clear protective coatings, but they all eventually chipped off.

>>>>>

In a patent application there is a section where you can offer alternative designs. We have several other blade configurations covered along with a couple that are made to minimize the amount of air being pulled into the mud. Size alone isn't generally patentable (which really doesn't matter anyway) but it's something I honestly hadn't thought about during my testing. I just wanted the meanest mixer I could think of. There was one paddle we found during the patent search that had some similarity to mine but wasn't strong enough to hande the tough stuff. Our first effort was to take a regular paddle, drill holes in it and string 1/8 inch steel rods through it in a cross pattern. Talk about throwing mud!!! It would nearly empty the bucket.

Our paddle was designed to mix with a 650 rpm Milwaukie drill. A faster speed will accentuate the "throwing" issue. But if you give it a little time, by using the drill a bit differently, the current size will work for most people.

I say all that, to say that because of the reviews we've received, we will definitely offer a smaller blade as an accessory.

Later on I'll see if we can offer a refund for the larger blade but right now I just can't get to that. At the moment, I'm researching new vendor's to get the pricing down as much as possible. Those prototypes were horribly expensive to make.

I'll stay off the "Mixing Paddle Prototype" thread so it will continue to be straight feedback from the testers. There are still a couple of people we haven't heard from so I'm looking forward to thier input.

So everyone knows, this site has helped us tremendously. We're on a budget and it has confirmed which tool to "take to the streets" first.

In appreciation and with Nathan's approval, we're going to be adding the "DrywallTalk.com" logo to our brochures (and probably a poster) as well as other sales literature going out to new potential customers (i.e. distributors).

No offers for sale here though...

Humbly appreciative to everyone,

Rick

rhardman

In the "Mixing Paddle" thread, a former "tester" submitted a comment that was exaggerated. I want to apologize for his contribution and have contacted Nathan offering to repectfully discontinue my participation with DrywallTalk if he concludes we have broken the rules.


Rick

rhardman

Not sure what he did yet... update on the "Mixing Paddle Prototype" thread.

Rick

rhardman

All is well with the paddle, Whitey97 has been very diligent with his attempts to destroy the thing which is very appreciated and has also been a great source of entertainment! Costs to build are still higher than we would like, we're doing what we can to further reduce them. Have spoken with the attorney for ammendment(s) to the patent so the testing has been VERY successful. Thanks again to everyone for their help. There are still 2 guys we're waiting to hear back from for evaluations so we'll see how those go.

What we've learned (with your help) that we didn't know:
We need to offer different sizes of the blade.
The specific length of the shaft fits most everyone.
The self lubricating UHMW is the best material for the blade.
An injection mold must be purchased to reduce mfg costs (UHMW is not typically "moldable" so we have to do more research on this).
Strength of the yoke is adequate though may be used in counter clockwise direction at times (perhaps a reverse direction blade is needed).
Computer model for blade (configuration) borders on too aggressive.
Machined depth of the "chuck" grooves are okay.
3 improvements to the patent were issued.
Painters may be a viable market.

We had a comment from someone that caused me to change the order of testing for the next prototype; we're finishing those up and will be able to send them out in a couple of weeks.

We will start contacting potential distributors this week.

Rick

Whitey97

drywallnflorida

Rick,
Sorry its taken so long to post my opinon of your new mixing paddle. I have used it with both pre mix and powder. This thing is a mixing machine, . It works really well and seems like it will definitelyhold up well for a long time. When I got it, it had little peices of plastic shavings by the holes, but it was nothing a lil piece of sand paper couldn't take care of. If the blade was a diff. color it would be easier to see if you got it all clean. A option to have a smaller blade would also be nice too. I have a 20 gallon plastic hopper for my mark V pump and don't like sticking a metal mixer in it to remix the contents because I don't want the sides tore up.

This thing gets a from me.

Thank you for the opportunity to test your products and I can't wait for the next one!!

Kevin

Taped Crusader

I'd be interested in trying out new products. I'm constantly buying new tools to try and find something I would use. I think I fit the profile: 29 from SD and been taping for about 15 years. I primarily do remodel, custom homes, and light commercial.

rhardman

Here's what we're going to do...

Costs to make the paddle are still high so we're going to have a 2 part solution. We will offer the shaft for one price and then allow the buyer to select from several different blade configurations (ranging in price). We have more than a few computer models of different blades already designed so there is no issue with the powder "small lump" issue A+ referred to in the "Mixing Paddle Prototype" thread.

The contractor will be able to choose between a low profile "short" blade for plastic hoppers or a larger blade with a choice of different patterns (best suited to the type of materials they mix most often).

This way they can get the exact configuration they need without expending any more cash than absolutely necessary.

The next prototypes for review are being made right now. I'm heading to Portland Wednesday for another meeting with the patent attorney.

Rick

R.E. Plaster

Hey , Rick

Thanks for the paddle my guy's seem to really like it they are sayig that it pulls the mud down to the bottom of the bucket and so it seems to mix the mud better and a little faster.
I havn't tried on any plaster material yet lokking to see how it holds up with heavier material, but I will let you know. Thanks for the tool.