Jar Testing: Comparing 6 Gang Mixers on the Market

But which is the best one for your setup?

Which one works best?

What are some low-cost options?

Furthermore, which one do you actually need?

 

Phipps & Bird 7790-910 Steel Jar Tester-Lab Stirrer, Programmable 6-Paddle with Illuminated Base

Pros

• This mixer is a great choice if you are a frequent jar tester.
• This model has six stations to allow you to have six samples going at once. The square jars are included. Furthermore, the jars have valves on the bottom so you can pull water out.
• The valves at the bottom are a great addition to this particular model because they allow you to pull water from the jars without taking the entire jar off of the mixer.

Cons

• Some downsides to this mixer are its size, speed and price. 
• This mixer has six stations. As a bigger gang mixer, it needs some space.
• The mixer is also heavy, weighing 61 pounds.
• This mixer can also only go up to 300 RPM. While we typically do not go above 300 RPM when conducting jar tests, it is always good to have the ability to go higher in case you receive a waste stream that needs more vigorous mixing.

Price

This is also one of the more costly gang mixers, sitting at almost $5,000.

Overview

This jar mixer model is great for everyday jar testing. This model is not convenient for portable testing. However, it has six stations, so it’s great for large-scale testing. If you are willing to pay the cost, then this jar mixer is a great long-term option.

SCILOGEX SCI340-4 Digital Hotplate-Stirrer 4-Channel

Pros

• This mixer is a great choice for small-scale testing.
• Instead of using paddles, like the previous model we looked at, this model uses stir plates.
• This product comes with a heating and a stirring option (so if you need to heat the water, you can do that).
  The speed on this mixer goes up to 1,500 RPM, giving it a large range of speed.
• This model can mix up to 10 liters. 
• It is also chemical resistant. 
• Lastly, it has a heat safety feature. 

Cons

• This mixer only has four stir plates, so you can only test four samples at once. 
• You need to buy your own stir bars. 
• It needs to be plugged in, so while it looks like it would be portable, it does need a plug-in.

Price

This mixer is reasonably priced, sitting at $1,500. 

Overview

For small-scale testing, this is a good mixer option. This is not the traditional jar mixer, but it still serves the same purpose. You will have to buy some extra accessories to go with this setup, such as magnetic stir bars. The heating option is also a nice feature on this model, as is the ability to hold up to 10 liters.

Fristaden Lab Digital Overhead Stirrer

Pros

• This mixer is lightweight (about 20 pounds).
• It's good for making emulsions and mixing large batches. This product would be great for making oil emulsions or when you need to stir a large batch of some liquid. 
• It offers speeds up to 2,000 RPM. 
• This model can mix up to 20 liters. 
• It also has a low noise level. 
• The mixer has an LCD display.
• Lastly, it comes with a one-year warranty

Cons

• Not ideal for jar testing, as it only has one blade.
• If you need more blades, you need to buy directly from the company.

This mixer is not for jar testing, but it is great for making emulsions or stirring large batches of water. It is also reasonably priced.

 

Overall, this jar mixer is a great option because it is on the lower end of the price side but still has good quality and features. If you don’t require a lot of speed for your testing and don't need a full LED display, then this mixer should work well for your jar testing needs.

 

Have a question about jar testing, gang mixers or maybe Dober's offerings? Drop us a line, we'd love to hear from you.