I read the article in Rod Maker about the 18 rpm mixing machine and am very interested in building one. I have a 18 rpm drying motor and some ball bearings, now I just need to construct the thing. I am interested in learning how anyone else has built one, specifically what you used between the motor shaft and mixing cup and what frame material was used to hold it at a 45 degree angle. Thanks.

The commercially made mixer that I purchased back in the early 1980's has one of the cleanest designs I've seen. A flat aluminum base, and a 3/4 wide piece of aluminum flat bent into a sort of "C" shape. The lower end attaches to the base with screws, the top end holds the motor, again with screws. The top part of the "C" is bent or twisted to about a 40 degree angle which puts the motor and mix cup on that same angle.

The cup was originally a metal cup that too large for my purposes so I removed it and pushed a short piece of EVA over the motor shaft. On top of that I epoxied a plastic mixing cup identical the ones I use for mixing epoxy. To mix, I just put the epoxy into an indentical cup and drop that one into the one that is attached to the EVA mount. When the epoxy is fully mixed, I just take out that cup and take it over to my finishing area.

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I bought a Flex Coat drying motor and stand and bent the aluminum plate stand at a 45 deg angle. Then I took a piece of velcro and a cup the size I use to mix in and velcroed it to the rubber cover. Just drop in a cup of material and it mixes it up like crazy. I also add the marble like was recommended and it does a great job of keeping everything moving and mixed up. If you dont have plate aluminum, I think you can get it at Home Depot or Lowes. Mount your motor and do the same thing. I also mounted the toggle switch on the face of the plat so I can turn it off and on easily. Be sure it's rated for 110 volt, however.
Dave