Bought a cheap magnesium float from a truck sale and it cracked on the second pour
Saw a guy selling tools out of his truck near the job site in Tacoma, figured I'd grab a new float for $25. First day it felt okay, but the second morning I went to finish a garage slab and the handle snapped clean off. Had to stop everything, drive 20 minutes to the supply house, and buy a proper one for $70. Lost about an hour and a half of work time plus the original cash. Anyone got a brand they trust that won't fall apart?
Honestly, you might have just got a bad one. I've bought a couple of those truck tools over the years (a trowel and a hammer) and they're still kicking. For twenty-five bucks, it's almost worth the gamble if you're in a real pinch and the supply house is closed. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.