MX 1200 Mixer- Pictures and thoughts

[leakyroof]

Not really a review as it's too new of a tool for me to post that.  More of a 'What's in the Box' type post... [wink]
The Mixer comes with a general purpose mixing blade, part HS2.  Other blades are available, some mix from the top toward the bottom, and others are in the reverse.  Very different blade styles to choose from as well.
I bought 2 extra, different blades, to supplement the stock one from Festool.  WS and CS were the ones I chose.
No systainer, just a cardboard box for this tool, sort of like the Shinex.  Festool includes a metric 22mm x 19mm open end wrench with the tool, you use it to install or remove the blades into the internal arbor of the Mixer.
  The ErgoFix quick coupler has more to it than you might first think.  It allows height adjustment of a bit as well by allowing the inner arbor to be adjusted out of the Mixer spindle/motor shaft up to 8cm according to Festool, with each 'step' of 2cm, 5 total.  That's 0.8" to 3.2 inches for we non-Metric peoples...
The ON-Off switch has a flexible plastic covering over it to protect it. The Speed Dial is mounted close to the switch as well.  The motor is Soft-Start to prevent you flinging your mixture all over the place when you start the Mixer.... [embarassed]
No Plug-It cord for this tool, it's a hard wired one.  Not sure if I'll be tempted to get a Systainer for the Mixer just yet, since the blades aren't going to fit one anyway.... [big grin] 
Pictures to follow.    Motor Speeds are from 360 to 670 RPMs, so this Mixer is geared pretty low. Festool notes that each mixing blade and what you're trying to mix will affect those listed Speeds as well...... [scratch chin]

 

[leakyroof]

Boxed view of the tool.

 

[leakyroof]

Bottom view of the Mixer, showing the Speed control and that covered switch...

 

[leakyroof]

Close-up of the ErgoFix coupler and how the blades attach to it.

 

[leakyroof]

Blade extended by a few clicks/grooves out of the spindle.

 

[leakyroof]

adapter/arbor fully removed from the tool....Single large coarse thread on the end of any of the blades ,screws into the arbor/adapter, which in turn slides down into the hollow spindle of the Mixer. ...

 

[live4ever]

Thanks for posting.  I seriously thought about this mixer, but not for any good reason.  I'll have a lot of concrete and drywall compound to mix over the next few months and years, but nowhere close to a pro mudding all day everyday. 

And coupled with the fact it would be difficult to integrate into a systainer-based storage system, didn't feel like there was enough to justify the pricetag over the $75 mixers.  I can burn through 5 of them and still be under what the MX1200 costs.  And the cheapo one I got fits in a SYS4 and has a two part attachment that also fits inside with it.

 

[Corwin]

...
  The ErgoFix quick coupler has more to it than you might first think.  It allows height adjustment of a bit as well by allowing the inner arbor to be adjusted out of the Mixer spindle/motor shaft up to 8cm according to Festool, with each 'step' of 2cm, 5 total.  That's .08" to 3.2 inches for we non-Metric peoples...
...

Heh, heh. I'm sure you meant 0.8" rather than .08". Don't you just hate converting between measuring systems?  [scared] [big grin]

Maybe their price is off by a decimal also?  [eek]

 

[leakyroof]

...
  The ErgoFix quick coupler has more to it than you might first think.  It allows height adjustment of a bit as well by allowing the inner arbor to be adjusted out of the Mixer spindle/motor shaft up to 8cm according to Festool, with each 'step' of 2cm, 5 total.  That's .08" to 3.2 inches for we non-Metric peoples...
...

Heh, heh. I'm sure you meant 0.8" rather than .08". Don't you just hate converting between measuring systems?  [scared] [big grin]

Maybe their price is off by a decimal also?  [eek]

  As usual, you are right... Slipped a bit with that Typo.... [embarassed]
I think their price is spot on, not off at all though.... [wink]

 

[leakyroof]

Thanks for posting.  I seriously thought about this mixer, but not for any good reason.  I'll have a lot of concrete and drywall compound to mix over the next few months and years, but nowhere close to a pro mudding all day everyday. 

And coupled with the fact it would be difficult to integrate into a systainer-based storage system, didn't feel like there was enough to justify the pricetag over the $75 mixers.  I can burn through 5 of them and still be under what the MX1200 costs.  And the cheapo one I got fits in a SYS4 and has a two part attachment that also fits inside with it.

  I looked into this last night after reading your post, and found out that the Mixer will fit into a Sys 5, and so will the blades once an easy mod is performed on them.  Once I get my 14mm coupler from Mc-Master Carr, I'll post what I came up with..... [popcorn]

 

[live4ever]

Cool, look forward to seeing what you come up with.

 

[Mike S]

Bottom view of the Mixer, showing the Speed control and that covered switch...

Now go mix up a bucket of mud and let us know how it does!

:-D

 

[leakyroof]

Okay, here is my Mod to allow the mixing blades to fit into a Sys 5 along with the Mixer itself.  Parts,  Stainless Steel Shaft Coupler, 14mm inner diameter to match the 14mm outer diameter of the mixing blade shafts.  This is a rigid coupler, with cuts made to it to hold the shaft like a collet, instead of just jamming set screws into the metal of the shaft, which would leave marks after just once use.  We don't want that since the plan is to be able to move multiple mixing blades from the coupler as needed for whatever the job requires.
This style coupler leaves every blade undamaged for mounting and removal since the plan is to be able to swap out shortened mixing blades into this 'arbor' with the coupler with no fuss or issues.
  Ruland Coupler, Mc-Master Carr's # is 2469K19, Rulands is MCLX-14-14-SS.  The allen bolts in the coupler are 5/32" head, so I got a decent T-style Allen Wrench from Eklind to be able to leave in the Systainer, #51610 is Eklinds number on that wrench.

Dimensions:  Stock blades are about 24" or 600mm long as is.  With adding the Mixer's internal adapter perm. mounted on one half of a blade, you gain a new length of about 29 1/2 " or 750mm.  Next, by cutting the blade at a length of 14 3/4" or 375mm, you have a short enough assembly that fits inside the Systainer.  pictures to follow.

 

[leakyroof]

New perm. mounted arbor on shortened shaft with that SS coupler, ready to accept any of the other blades once they're shorted as well.

 

[leakyroof]

Close-up of the coupler.  Very beefy.

 

[leakyroof]

Shortened mixing blade, I'm only doing one at the moment so I can test out the coupler's holding power under actual mixing loads with drywall compound. If all goes well, I'll modify my other 2 blades.

 

[leakyroof]

Mixer and blade assembly neatly fitting into that new Sys 5.

 

[Brice Burrell]

Interesting idea.  My first thought was about it holding up to the torque.  Be sure to let us know how this mod works and how you like the mixer in general.

 

[leakyroof]

Interesting idea.  My first thought was about it holding up to the torque.  Be sure to let us know how this mod works and how you like the mixer in general.

  Will do... I'm about to go out of town so I won't get to do my 'real' world test of this until next week when I get back. If this style coupler doesn't work then I will probably try a simple set screw style, and put some flats on the blade shaft so the screws have something to bite into and not slip.

 

[live4ever]

Nicely done.  Great solution if it can handle the torque.  I'm really surprised Festool missed the opportunity to do something similar with these mixers.  Sure, the Ergofix is a nice feature but transport/storage is a key part of the Festool system (not to mention a major justification for the price premium).  I guess they just wanted to source the blades instead of dealing with manufacturing/modifying themselves.