Tried a magnesium bull float for the first time this spring

I always used the standard aluminum floats on my driveway jobs around Cleveland. Switched to magnesium for a 40 yard pour last Tuesday and the difference in how it glides over the mix was night and day. Less tearing on the surface and the cream came up way smoother. Has anyone else switched materials and noticed a big change in their finish?

2 comments

2 Comments

paul_burns9d ago

I did the same switch on a 50 yard slab up in Mentor last September. The first pass with the magnesium float felt like dragging butter compared to what I was used to. I didn't realize how much extra drag the aluminum was causing until I didn't have to fight it anymore. The surface came out cleaner with way less pulling and I didn't have to go back over trouble spots. It made me wish I had tried one years ago.

blair_dixon9d ago

Did your buddy ever try going back to the aluminum float just to see? I had a guy I knew from a job in Akron who swore by his aluminum float for years. He finally borrowed a magnesium one from a coworker on a big driveway pour and said the same thing, felt like night and day. He told me after that first pass he just stood there staring at the finish for a minute, wondering why he'd been fighting his tools for so long. Ended up buying one that same week and never touched the aluminum again. Funny how you don't realize you're making things harder until you try the easier way.