Got a crazy hot pour in Phoenix and my bull float was sticking like glue.

I was about to lose my mind because the surface was setting up way too fast. On a total whim, I sprayed the float blade with a light mist of water from my spray bottle between passes. It glided like butter and saved the whole slab. What's your go-to trick when the concrete starts fighting you like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

julia8433mo ago

Oh man, that water trick is a lifesaver. My go-to move is usually just sweating and swearing a lot, which honestly has a zero percent success rate. I did try spraying a bit of form release on my float once in a panic, which worked great but then I spent an hour cleaning the stupid thing. Your way sounds much smarter.

dylan_green581mo ago

Water trick works but you gotta be careful with how much you use. Too much and it can mess up your surface finish, leave little craters or something. Form release on a float is actually a solid idea though, just gotta wipe it down before it dries on there. I've seen guys keep a spray bottle with soapy water and just give their tools a quick spritz between uses, keeps everything sliding nice. Still, sweating and swearing is the classic move, can't argue with tradition.

wrenstone3mo ago

I mean, is it really that big a deal if the float sticks a little? Idk, maybe it's just me but I've never had a pour get totally ruined by it.