Always thought power trowels were overkill for small slabs until I helped a guy finish a 300 sq ft patio in 20 minutes flat

Ngl I was the guy pushing a hand float for years on every job under 500 sq ft, but watching that thing spin out a glass-smooth finish in a quarter of the time made me rethink my whole setup - anyone else switch sides on a tool you swore you'd never use?

3 comments

3 Comments

charles_chen931mo ago

Buddy of mine @barbara278 and I actually watched a guy lose control of a cheap one at a jobsite last month - thing took off like a Roomba in a panic and nearly hit the neighbor's truck before he could kill the switch. It's wild how the cheap ones fight you the whole time while the good ones just glide. @the_ryan you're right that some have a mind of their own, especially the ones with those stamped steel handles that flex when you lean on them. He ended up buying a used MBW after that and said it was night and day for keeping it in line on the slab.

barbara2782mo ago

Borrowed one once and nearly wore out the control trying to keep it from walking off the edge.

the_ryan2mo ago

Yeah that walking thing is brutal. What model was it you borrowed @barbara278? I always wonder if the cheaper ones are worse about it or if they all do that no matter what you pay. Ive messed with a few and some just seem to have a mind of their own no matter how steady you try to keep your hand.