Stop using those cheap magnesium floaters on commercial jobs

I saw a crew out on a warehouse floor in Houston last Thursday using those $12 magnesium floats from Home Depot and the surface looked like garbage by lunch. Those things wear down after 200 square feet and leave a wavy finish that takes forever to grind flat. Why are people still buying these instead of spending $40 on a steel float that actually holds an edge?

2 comments

2 Comments

stellam8920d ago

Had the same problem on a big slab job in Austin last summer. Bought one of those cheap magnesium floats from Lowe's and it was bald by 400 feet, left these weird high spots that took half a day to chase with a grinder. Switched to a steel float after that and it made a world of difference, actually held its edge for the whole pour and the finish came out flat and smooth. Plus the steel one only cost me like $35 at a local tool supply place, which is a no-brainer compared to burning through three of the other kind per job.

lily8920d ago

Heard a buddy had the same issue, @stellam89, his magnesium float wore down on a driveway and left it looking like a washboard.