My old bull float vs the magnesium one I finally bought

I ran a float with a wood handle for probably 15 years. Swore by it. Then I grabbed a magnesium float from a supply house outside of Nashville three summers ago. That first pass on a slab felt completely different. The metal just glides and I was getting a way smoother surface with way less arm work. Took me way too long to switch. Has anybody else made a similar switch and felt the same?

2 comments

2 Comments

dakotawood1d ago

And that first pass really tells the story, doesn't it? I had the same moment as you, @rubyk86, where you can feel the difference in your hands right away. With the wood float you're constantly pushing and fighting and your arms are burning by the end of the day. But the magnesium one just slides across the cream and you barely break a sweat. I still can't believe I fought it for 15 years thinking I was doing it the right way. Now if someone hands me a wood float on a job I feel like I'm working twice as hard for a worse result.

rubyk861d ago

I was the same way. Used a wooden handled float for a decade and thought the magnesium ones were for guys who just wanted to look like they knew what they were doing. Then a buddy left his in my truck and I tried it on a garage floor I was pouring. That smooth finish without having to fight the drag the whole time made me order my own that same night. Never went back.