I bought one of those 3.5 cu ft Cement Mixers from HFT and mixed two
80# bags of SAKRETE concrete mix accodring to the directions adding (at first) .75 gallons of water per bag.The mix was dry. And balls of mix developed .75" to about 1.5" and rolled about the mixer without mixing in very well.
I wound up adding more water about a gallon per bag to get a mix that looked something like the mix the pros bring when I order several years from a regular cement truck. Or the mixes I used to do in a shallow plastic tub with hoe and rake to mix the SAKRETE.
Adding the water was essential to getting a mix I felt comfortable with - with the exception that I fear the additional water might effectively ruin the mix and deck footers I was pouring.
I thought to ask here in case anyone had experience mixing concrete in a similar mixer or the one from HFT.
Or maybe one of you can point me to a source that will help answer my questions. Thank you.