Written by Terry Smith

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UK’s best plaster mixers tested by me to make work easier for you

This article was last updated on April 23rd, 2022 at 6:30 am

When it comes to plaster, paint, or cement, one of the most important things to get right is the mixing process. As anyone who has tried to apply a badly mixed plaster on to a wall, it is a bit of a nightmare. However the opposite is also true, and a perfectly-mixed coating will not only make the job a lot easier, it will also look a hundred percent better once you’re done.

Getting the right mix isn’t rocket science either, you just follow the instructions on packaging and you should be ok when it comes to mixing materials. The problem is that to get a great mixed plaster, you need to do a lot of stirring and most people will get bored or tired before the material is mixed properly. In this best plaster mixer article I look at some sensible budget options right through to a super high quality Dewalt brushless plaster mixer model. Surprisingly, both the budget and top end do the job just fine, so if this is a professional thing or a DIY thing I’ve got the right options for you in this review and if you’d like to know how I form my opinions please take a look at the best plaster mixers buyer’s guide

Best plaster mixers in the UK chosen by me after testing:

Best plaster mixer: VonHaus Paddle Mixer Drill – overall this is the best for DIY’ers and the average household

Best of the best: DEWALT DCD240X2-GB 54V 9.0AH LI-ION XR FLEXVOLT BRUSHLESS CORDLESS DUAL-HANDLE PADDLE MIXER
Good alternative corded model to the Dewalt: Refina Plaster Mixer – MM19/1 1000w 240v
Evolution Power Tools Twister Variable Speed Mixer (230 V)
SwitZer New Heavy Duty 1400W Electric Single Paddle Plaster Plastering Mortar Paint Mixer
ApexOne Mortar Mixer, AC 220V
Vitrex VITMIX850 850W 230V Power Mixer

Best plaster mixer

The solution to this is to spend a few quid on an electric plaster mixer that will do all the hard work for you, and in a fraction of the time. Picking the best plaster mixers out of all the available products can be quite a task, especially if you’re new to using this kind of tool, but not to worry as we have done the hard work for you and tested the most highly rated products. You can see what our findings were in the reviews below.

For an even more complete understanding of all the things that go into the best plaster mixers, check out our detailed buyer’s guide found right here on this very page.

For me, the best plaster mixers have to be a combination of the following things- affordable, easy to use, and powerful enough to mix the more viscous materials when needed. The VonHaus paddle mixer drill certainly delivers in all of those categories.

As this model has the second largest electric motor of all our tested products, we thought we would put it to the test by mixing a fairly stiff mortar and seeing how it coped. The results were very pleasing, and The VonHaus plaster mixer handled the task with ease.
There are two speed settings to choose from, the first is 0-680rpm, and the second is 0-990rpm. Both are pretty quick, and in the absence of a soft start feature, it is a good thing that the trigger can be used to control how quick the speed comes on with a little practice.

To prevent accidental starts, Vonhaus have included a two-step starting procedure that requires the user to push two buttons at once. These buttons are conveniently placed close to each other on the handle but in a way that it would be difficult to press both at the same time accidentally.

The handles themselves are a good size and ergonomically shaped so that the hands grip them more comfortably and securely. They also feel solid, and there is a very low level of vibration felt while using this plaster mixer, even on the highest speed.

The paddle measures 140mm x 590mm and has been designed so that it is universal and can be used to mix a wide range of materials and not just plaster. As we said, we used it for mortar but you could mix paint, glue, or cement just as easily.

Assembling this VonHaus plaster mixer is very simple as it arrives in just three parts, the handle/motor body, the shaft, and the paddle. All that is needed is to screw them into each other using the tools provided and you are set. This also means that you can easily dismantle it for cleaning and storage too.

This is a great all-rounder that could save you a lot of money and bother if you’re used to hiring a cement mixer for your DIY jobs. While It isn’t the cheapest model available, it is still in a very affordable price bracket and the extra power that it has, plus the solid build quality, make it worth paying that little extra for.

If you’re going to be using your plaster mixer on a frequent basis, you need to have a model that is built to take that kind of punishment and keep on ticking, day in, day out. That’s what you get with the Refina 1000W Mega mixer, a piece of German engineering that is built to last and handle any job that you throw it at.

The 1000W motor has plenty of power to tackle the thickest mixes, and because of the excellent design and build quality of the motor it won’t ever feel labored or out of its depth.

Even though the top speed setting is 450rpm, much lower than the VonHaus, this plaster mixer still has plenty of power and the high quality motor keeps that speed and power consistent to give you a smoother plaster mixture.

What’s more, the Refina has a soft start feature that brings the power on gradually for you and can help to avoid making an unexpected mess around the work area. Unlike the twin parallel handle handles that can be found on models like the VonHaus and Evolution tools plaster mixes, this one has a single trigger handle at the rear and a large horizontal secondary handle situated on top of the drill body, just behind the main shaft. When you combine this with the very low weight of the Refina (it weighs just 3.1kg), you have a plaster mixer that is incredibly easy to handle and manoeuvre and is perfect for the professional to use on job sites.

Refina are a trusted name in this business and have built their reputation around the durability and longevity of their products. This plaster mixer lives up to that reputation with a solid feeling throughout despite its lightweight nature and I would have no qualms about betting money on this baby lasting long enough for you to get your money’s worth. And that’s the only thing that might put some buyers off, the price, but if you want top quality, you have got to be willing to pay for it.

This plaster mixer comes with an excellent mixing paddle that can handle large quantities, and if you want to use it for a more commercial sized job, no problem as the paddle can be interchanged with other types.

One of the things I liked best about the Refina was the length of the shaft. It is longer than what you commonly see and this allowed me to mix without having to stoop over all the time, and for a person like me, who’s had his fair share of knocks over the years, anything that can save my back is worth its weight in gold.

For around the same price as the VonHaus plaster mixer, you can also get your hands on this Evolution Power Tools twister model. Its general design is somewhat similar too, with control coming from ergonomic twin parallel handles with a trigger start. I have to say though, that I did prefer the way this plaster mixer felt in my hands to the Vonhaus. Vibration levels were about the same, very low.

The variable speed control is better on this model too, and instead of just having a switch to change power modes, there is a small dial on the handle that you can adjust with your thumb and control the speed through 250-750rpm. The speed picks up gradually before accelerating automatically.

There is another feature that I liked, the choice to lock the plaster mixer on while you work. It’s only a small thing, but if you’re going to be using it all day, every little bit of energy saved in your hands helps at the end of the day.
Setting up the tool is a piece of cake and the spanners for assembly are included in the packaging. You simply connect the paddle and shaft to the motor and you’re good to go.
At 4.9 kilograms, the Evolution plaster mixer is quite lightweight and won’t break your back if you use it for extended periods, and the good quality handles make controlling the paddle a pleasant experience.

Now, there is one flaw with this model that I just can’t avoid talking about, and that is the mixing paddle itself. The quality of it is actually very good, and there’s nothing wrong with the spiral design that allows you to mix a lot of different materials.
No, the problem is with the size of the paddle. It’s just not big enough to deal with jobs that are a bit more heavy duty. This is a shame because other than this flaw, this is an excellent plaster mixer.

I suppose if you are only doing DIY work, then it should be more than adequate, but if you have professional jobs in mind with bigger quantities of thicker substances to mix, you should replace the paddle with a larger one.

Overall build quality is good for the price, and although there are moulded plastic parts, they are well done and made from good materials so even the clumsier among you should be safe.

4. SwitZer New Heavy Duty 1400W Electric Single Paddle Plaster Plastering Mortar Paint Mixer

This is a very good option for those of you who don’t want to spend too much but still get a very capable plaster mixer. Priced at under 45 pounds, I wasn’t expecting too much from the Switzer heavy duty mixer but I was very wrong to think so. The 1400 watt motor is a beast and easily provides enough power to mix most medium viscous materials.

And it mixes them quickly too. With a top speed of 760rpm this budget beast will mix a 20 kilogram bag of cement in about a minute and a half. That’s excellent performance for a tool in this price range.

Speed control comes by the way of a thumb dial on the handle so you don’t have to take your hands off the tool to change the rpm. The mixer Switzer don’t seem to have skipped on the build quality either. The handles are nice and solid with rubberized grips that work well. The handles have also been angled with a 15 degree tilt and this makes operating this plaster mixer feel more natural and less strain on the wrists and forearms.

The 14cm diameter paddle is more than enough for most DIY tasks that you’ll find yourself attempting around the house, and the paddle feels strong enough to give you confidence in its reliability.

With a net weight of 4.6 kilograms, the Switzer plaster mixer handles very well without giving you aching shoulders or arms, but the shaft is a little on the short size and I did find that I had to bend a little at the waist to use it in a normal sized bucket that was held between my legs.

To protect the inner workings the motor housing is made of a robust fibre reinforced nylon material, and the carbon brushes can be accessed from the outside. The latter makes maintenance a much simpler affair as it’s usually the brushes that start to wear down first in any kind of drill tool.

We only tested this over a couple of days so we can’t say for sure how long it will keep ticking, but from what we saw it should be good to go for a while. As far as low cost plaster mixers go, this is definitely one of the best I’ve seen. A real bargain.

Also available for under 60 pounds is this plaster mixer from Apex One. It is fitted with a powerful 2100W motor, the largest of our featured mixers, and so will have no problems mixing plaster, cement, glue, and mortar, to name just a few.

To keep the motor ticking along, Apex One has included two free replacement carbon brushes which is always helpful as these are the parts that wear out the fastest. The brushes can be quickly accessed and changed by simply unscrewing them using a flat head screwdriver.

A speed control dial with six settings lets you work within the 0-800rpm range giving you plenty of options for mixing different materials at varying stages. While it has no soft start function, you can use the speed dial to start-off in lower gear before increasing, which serves the same purpose.

There’s a switch lock located on the handle that once pressed will keep the motor running without the need to keep the trigger pressed manually, and the button is easy to find on the inside of the handle and press with your thumb.

The handles themselves are moulded plastic, but they are fairly ergonomic and not uncomfortable to hold for long periods. They do a decent job of reducing the amount of vibration felt, and are pretty sturdy to boot.

The total length of the Apex One plaster mixer is about 82cm, with 21cm of that being the motor housing and the shaft and paddle making up the other 61cm. That places it at about medium length when compared to a lot of the other models and should be fine for most people.

To be honest, there’s really not much need to stoop anyway as it is extremely lightweight and there’s no need to support the tool with anything other than your hands and arms. At under four kilograms it is unlikely to cause anyone any bother due to its weight unless they have pre-existing medical conditions.

Now, this is a low budget plaster mixer so there are bound to be some issues that crop up during testing and the one thing we noticed was that although the motor is powerful and spins the paddles quickly, when trying to mix really thick materials, it began to sound quite labored and the speed of the paddles would not stay constant.

This was mixing tile adhesive though which is a bit of a challenge for a low cost model, and the motor performed fine with all other materials that we tested it on.
At the end of the day, this is a good product for the price and will be fine working on plaster, cement, and most other materials.


We finish off this reviews section with yet another low cost plaster mixer, this time from Vitrex. This 850W model has the same kind of ‘trigger’ style rear handle and horizontal secondary handle on top like the Refina plaster mixer we reviewed above.
It also has a metal handle similar to the one on top of the tool, but this one is actually designed to be used as a stand when placing the mixer down so as to prevent any accidental damage to the mixer head.

The Vitrex has a maximum no load speed of 550rpm so it isn’t the fastest or most powerful model available but will still be enough for mixing plaster and paint without any problems.
This plaster mixer comes with both variable speed control and a lock on switch for continuous operation like most of the best models, and the trigger action feels nice to operate.

I did have a problem with the lock on function getting stuck after being pressed down on the model we tested, but a little bang with the hand on the plastic handle made it pop back out.
The build quality of the motor housing and handles is actually quite good for the lower price and has a solidity that feels reassuring.

The secondary handle has ergonomic curves to it to help it sit in the hand better, but I did think the rear handle could have had more attention spent on it. It’s not bad, I’ve just seen better on similarly priced products.

Again, this is a very lightweight plaster mixer that you can use all day with no fear of feeling too fatigued by it, and the way the handles are positioned seems more comfortable, for me anyway.

The shaft is about average length and the paddle/blade measures 120mm, so it should be fine to tackle whatever DIY jobs you’ve got in mind, just don’t think it is up to professional level tasks. For that you’d need to shell out a bit more money and go for something like the Refina plaster mixer.

Best Plaster Mixers Buyer’s Guide

Plaster mixers are often used to mix all sorts of materials, from cement to adhesives, so it is important that you get a model that ticks all the boxes when it comes to our shortlist of features that should be present on all the best plaster mixers.

Here we have highlighted them for you and give a bit of information and advice on each one.

The motor

The electric motor is probably the most important factor when it comes to deciding on a plaster mixer. The higher the wattage, the more power it can produce.

Now, there is a wide range of models out there with varying sizes of motor, and you shouldn’t necessarily go for the biggest one straight away. If you only intend on mixing liquids that are not that thick, you really won’t need anything more than 1000 watts, and anything between 1300-2000W should be more than enough for home use.

Equally, if not more, important is the actual build quality of the motor as this will also heavily impact performance and also longevity. Some cheaper motors may have a high wattage but when put to the test with thick mixtures, they start to struggle. The opposite can also be true, with good quality motors having slower rpm but keeping a constant speed better through even the thickest motor or adhesive. To assist with this process you want a reliable power supply so take a look at these power cable extension reels if you don’t have one with a circuit breaker for safety.

Weight and ergonomics

This is something that needs to be considered before you make a purchase. No matter which plaster mixer model you buy, using it will entail you standing there, holding it for extended periods so the overall weight of the tool is very important.

As too is the design of the handles. Are they ergonomically shaped? Do they have rubberised grips for comfort? What about the vibration levels that come through while using the mixer? You should know the answers to all of these questions before parting ways with your money.

Maximum mixing capacity

If you look at the product pages for any plaster mixer, you should see a mixing capacity that is measured in kilograms. This indicates how much you can mix at any one time with that particular model without it getting into trouble and overheating and eventually breaking. For home DIY use, 25 kilograms is often enough with anything over that a bonus. There’s only so much you need to knock up at home. It’s hardly like you are in a panicked rush doing a bit of DIY at home.

Length of the shaft and paddle

If you’re over six foot, you’ll need to find a model that has a longer shaft and paddle section or you’ll be spending a lot of time bending over to mix your plaster and end up with a bad back. Get a tape measure and see how long it is from your waist height to an inch or so above the ground and that’ll give you an idea of the overall length of the tool that would be right for you.

Sturdiness and durability

With any tool, durability is right up there at the top of features you should be interested in.

It might be tempting to save a few quid and buy that lowest cost plaster mixer you’ve seen, but most of the time that is a mistake and will only see you holding a broken product after a few days or weeks.

There are exceptions to this, and we have featured some well-built budget models in our review, but for true longevity, it is usually best to spend a bit more. This more often than not ensures that not only the outer casing is built more strongly and of higher grade materials, but also the inner workings which are the most important on a power tool.


About Terry Smith

I’m Terry Smith from gardentoolbox.co.uk, a professional landscape designer, hobbyist gardener, and barbecue fanatic with 20 years experience building and restoring. So as you go through my site you'll watch me document some of the professional garden installs I make as well as the major projects I take on at home. While sharing those experiences and guiding you, I'll be recommending some great tools I use to enable this along the way so you can really buy in confidence. Always feel free to pop me a message: info@gardentoolbox.co.uk

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