Warning: That blade oil hack ruined my finish

I saw a bunch of guys online saying to spray wd-40 on your trowel blades to keep the concrete from sticking during hot weather. Tried it on a driveway pour in Phoenix last August, about 95 degrees. The concrete was setting fast so I figured it would help. Nope. The oil left weird dark splotches all over the surface that didn't fade even after curing. Owner had us grind it down and reseal, cost me $400 in time and materials. Learned my lesson: stick to plain water on the blades if you need anti-stick. Has anyone else had a bad result with oil-based stuff on fresh concrete?

2 comments

2 Comments

umathompson2d ago

Same dude, WD-40 on a patio slab and it looked like a chemical burn disaster.

grace_allen2d ago

My buddy tried diesel fuel on his trowel once... big mistake.