Ran into a retired finisher at a hardware store in Spokane last month

He saw me grabbing a magnesium float and said 'Kid, that's for the first pass, but keep a wood one in your back pocket for the final set.' I've been doing it on every pour since, and the finish is way smoother. What's one old-school tip you still use every day?

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3 Comments

mitchell.daniel7mo ago

Actually magnesium is for the final finish, not the first pass. You use aluminum or wood first to bring up the cream. That old timer might have mixed up his tools.

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julia_carter6mo ago

My grandpa always said a wood float gives you that perfect, smooth finish.

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jennyflores7mo ago

That bit about the wood float is a perfect example. The simplest tools often give you the best control, and that's true for way more than concrete. It's easy to forget the basics when everything gets so complicated.

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