matthew_owens9•18d agoMost Upvoted

Remembering the old school magnesium floats versus the new plastic ones

Back when I started in '98, my first boss swore by his heavy magnesium float. He said it gave a tighter finish and you could feel the concrete through the handle. When I set up my own truck in 2010, I had to choose between buying a set of those or going with the newer, lighter plastic ones everyone was starting to use. I went with the magnesium, mostly out of habit, and they worked great for years on driveways and patios. But man, after a 1200 square foot garage pour last summer, my arms were dead by lunchtime. A younger guy on the crew let me try his plastic float, and I was shocked at how much easier it was to push without losing control of the finish. I still keep my old mag float for certain jobs, but I finally bought a plastic one for the big slabs. Has anyone else made the switch and found a brand that holds up well?

2 comments

2 Comments

betty_scott1818d ago

Is the weight difference really that big a deal?

felix_thomas7318d ago

Actually started in '99, not '98. Memory's going. But yeah, the weight difference is no joke on big pours. My old mag float collects dust now.