I've been plastering for seven years and am thinking about buying a machine. The thing I can't understand is why there are so many models for different purposes. Why not just make a machine which applies all materials. It seems like if I want to buy a machine for skim coats I can, but if I want to do rendering then I have to use a different machine. Apparently the M100 is the only machine that will spray finish. I do a lot of finish. But I also do a lot of rendering (conventional site mix) and I want to get into Monocouche. So what do I do? Buy two machines??? I can't afford that.

Advice anyone?

Who told you that the M100 is the only machine that will spray finish?! You're talking about gypsum multifinish? It sounds like someone just wants to sell you the M100. I've done it with the G4, G5, and Quattro (very similar to the G4). And I'm sure there are a few other machines out there too, the Ritmo for example and the Wagner PC25.

I wouldnt buy the M100 as it's application use is more limited than anything else, same as the ritmo and wagner. Just wouldnt buy them. But with a G4,G5 Quattro or similar then you can apply gypsum products, render products and MP75 and MPFinish ... which replaces the need to pump gypsum onto boards anyway. Buying a machine solely to pump multifinish is my opinion a total waste of money. And it's still not really any quicker when you consider how many people are in a typical gang. How many do you intend to lay on for? Ten??? Then stick multifinish on by hand, that's what it was made for and you will leave a better job.

Utiform Addressed this issue quite well with the Utiform Mini. In fact very well I think.

Here's a breakdown of benefits and see if how many machines out there match it:

Can easily be used as BOTH 3phase (400v) and single phase (240v). It's simple to change from whichever one you need. And you have two motors instead of one: a 3Kw and a 5Kw.

Set up with 3 phase power, it will pump all of your monocouche renders and internal plasters - Webers Monopraul and Knauf MP75, and GMPL etc. All day long.

Then you can set up on single phase power with the 3kw motor (for lighter material applications). Such as skim coat plasters (for example MP Finish, Gypsum Multifinish)and ready mixed thincoat renders such as Weberplast TF etc. This set up requires a change of components from the stator plate down, a change of rotor and stator, hoses and gun for example, but it's very quick and simple.

And there you have it. One of the most versatile machines on the market!

the PFT ritmo m will spray multi finish ,hardwall, mp75, bagged renders including krend silicone, thin coat systems, bucket coat materials ie sto alsecco etc..., alltek betokontact, and pretty much anything else that comes pre bagged , you can also buy a roller attachment and paint your house with it

Ive got a PFT machine myself, a G4, but I wouldnt be using a 240v ritmo to be pumping up render 3 or 4 lifts high. It just wouldnt do it so why say that it does? Is this a PFT plug? The ritmo will spray render wetter than you need it, slower than you want it, and through one hose only unlesss you intend to send its gutless motor to the grave and it is simply NOT A RENDERING MACHINE for any large scale. I have done enough rendering to know that there is not truly one machine for all no more than there is one material for all but some machines manage better than others. For rendering stick to 3 phaze and you will be glad you did.

i've had a G5 then i had an mtec m300 which was a terrible machine and now i've got a G4 so i'm kinda guessing i know what i'm talking about , i've been doing external render systems for over 10 years mate and been using machines for 6 of those, the ritmo is certainly not a gutless machine mate ok it won't pump as far as the G4/G5s but it will still pump 15m my point was it's a versatile machine which is capable of doing everything i said earlier, it will spray it how you want it and you can adjust the speed of it, for plasterers who want a machine that will do a bit of everything then thois is the machine if your wanting a machine just for renders then obviously a bigger machine will be better suited

Yeah, exactly my point (it is not a rendering machine) so why go getting all defensive about it like you've got something to prove. Ten years? So what? 12 years for me so does that make me 2 years better than you then? In Germany and Belgium for nine of those years. Who cares! Why do you say the M300 is a terrible machine. I think its a great machine. I have nearly had enough of forums and i am a member on most of them. All you get are members sent from machine distributurs to say good things about their machines rather than telling it how it is. A bit sad really. I am here because I say it how it is not because I have a vested interest. I have read all of your posts on here so far and all you talk about is PFT this and PFT that. YOU ARE PFT!

shut up you knob the original post was one machine for all , all i'm saying is that the Ritmo will do it all i aint getting defensive about it the question was asked and i gave an opinion ok so it won't pump it as far but it will still do it a a rate you can earn good money, as for the mtec i had mine brand new and the pump motor broke off 3 times whilst the machine was running i used to have to keep a bag of bolts in the tool rack on the side as it kept on breaking them, and thats just the tip of the iceberg with it

james i can see your point, but i must also agree with ivor. and add more... Mtech machines have a reputation in the trade for being very unreliable. And also with regards scotts comment to the machine that does the lot. put your money where your mouth is and arrange a realistic demo of this machine. Cos i can tell you for a fact that i have seen this machine attempting to spray bg multi and it was a mess. If you have sorted things lets have a look or post a you tube video like the ritmo powercoat

the ritmo can do it all if you get a 240v one but for a tradesman it would be not an ideal choice as his only machine. as a second machine it would be ideal because then you can truly spray everything and have a back up for a few days use

here is the ritmo spraying multi

its not playing from here so here is the link , just put the www. in front of it.

youtube.com/watch?v=43OWsFnPqUM

Who did you have the demo with? Any demo pre 2009 shouldn't have been done with multifinish (or any Gypsum product) as it has only quite recently been developed for it. We have been working specifically on diverse application, hence encompassing the ability to switch from single phase to 3 phase, all in one machine. (Three phase being needed to maintain the power and ability to confidently pump render and most heavier aggregates vertically over quite some distance). For lightweight Gypsum products, we've enable the flow output to be controlled both via the size of rotor and stator but also via electronic revolution control, that is to say you can vary the output capacity from 0 to 17 l/min with a switch (speed control).

Anyway, and now this is where the total bullshit and the real truth is separated and becomes apparent in all this posting and forum malarky on the internet. Because I will say that I personally think that we still need to do an extended run of R&D with new Mini, which I am personally seeing to. It's all about continued refinement and optimum workability over the most diverse material range possible. And when this is complete, yes, you'll not only see gypsum spayed on U tube with it, but also a run of materials one after the other, showing change overs and times ... as a complete and unbroken video.

I don't personally care for PFT Central's sales, PFT Northern's, or anyone else's for that matter and I'm sure I won't be going over to their forums and saying "my trowel is bigger than your trowel ... na, na, na" .. and any of that stuff in some desperate attempt to make more sales for myself. I really don't need to. I have a successful business to run, and it will continue to be successful irrespective of this forum.

I've used many, many, many machines in my machine plastering career, and I continue to do so. Do I have a bad word to say about them? Not really. In fact, after all these years my preferred machine is still the M-Tec DuoMix. Still have it, still use everyday alongside a fleet of 4 other machines, and still love it. All of PFT's customers and even Distributors' views are welcome on here, if that's how they want to spend their time. Heck, I don't even particularly mind blatant advertising or even denigrating comments. Let them get on with it.

I really do have other more important things to do, particularly where continued development of the mini is concerned. The video will be ready once I'm satisfied (as a machine plasterer) that the Minis' objectives are complete to exacting standards and what I expect and need from a machine in the scope of efficient and optimum profitable business.

Anyway, good luck with your machine.

it wasnt a demo scott it was that banana lewis had supplied with a spread and told him it could do multi. it was horrifying to say the least.
anyway it would be good to see a machine that can spray both but a 3 kw motor isnt pushing my buttons at the moment. but if it works then who the fuck am i to say different.
as for machines i been using the DFT ump machine this year and as an end user will say its a lovely little machine. granted it has its teething problems but its absolutely tiny and i can put it on my van on its own and it takes up hardly any room. There is nothing else like that on todays market have a look at you tube

scott , the demo was done a few months back and proved to a success we even had the guys from british gypsum come along, i think it will be very difficult to develop a 3 phase machine that will mix and convey all bagged materials over a long distance the ritmo will be a success as its a small compact machine but it's not a machine that we are constantly pushing to sell, as you most likely do yourself we listen to our customers needs and we then advise them what machine would be best for them , for me it would be to small as i do all the external renders weber etc so a bigger machine that has a greater conveying distance is better for me . the M300 is actually a good machine but it has a lot of design faults that don't make it practical for external reners on building sites , using it inside and i'd imagine it would be fine, but if i'm genuinly honest they say it has a revolutionary mixing concept which improves the mix but if you put a mtec and another 3 phase electris machine side by side and sprayed the same material you wouldn't really be able to tell the differance, and if were honest then the quattro and the g4 and a few others are pretty much the same machine using the same components

yeah, they all copied the g4..... FACT....end of

Hi Scott, I have an mtec duomix 2000 which I bought secondhand a while ago. It's had the tlc of its life and is itching to come out to play from my garage. Do you have any tips or things to look out for when you use it?

hahahahahahahahah duo mix hahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahaha

Hi Darran,

To be honest ... Yeah, keep it well serviced and calibrated (meaning regularly, as in once a year minimum). It must be the expense I guess of regular servicing, but many people seem to use them up until the point that they won't work properly anymore and THEN get them fixed. Which is nearly as logical as only getting your van serviced when it finally breaks down on the M25!

Andy Hill at PFT Central knows his way around the MTec range very well (would recommend) and Markhams of Sheffield, again, equally as good.

Good luck with it and see you around on here.

nicely put