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Unicon Concrete Specialties $65.08 - $131.66Choices of Power Trowel, Floating and Finishing
FLOATING
After the bleed water dissipates and the weight of the operator's footprint leaves no more than an 1/8" depression, the concrete can be power floated. The floating process knocks down imperfections, pushes down the larger aggregates and prepares the surface for finishing. The available options for power trowels are float blades, float pans and combination blades.
Float blades are made from a low-carbon steel and are always used in a completely flat position. Float blades will typically have a slight bend on all four sides so they do not dig into the concrete. Depending on the mounting system, float blades may clip over finish blades or mount directly onto the trowel arms. Even when ride-on power trowels are used, some contractors prefer to make a first-floating pass with a walk-behind trowel. When flatness and production issues arise, riders with float pans become the equipment and accessory of choice.
Float pans are typically used on ride-on trowel machines for the purpose of achieving more production and flatter floors. The coverage area of a float pan is at least the size of the trowel machine's diameter path with the blades attached. The size and coverage area of a pan verses float blades easily illustrates the production and flatness difference. The increased area touching the concrete causes more torque, thus, more power is needed. Thus, it is not recommended to use float pans on walk-behind trowels too large for the operator to handle. A float pan can extend the window of floating because of the size and coverage area.
There exists a myth that you can float early with pans because of the weight distribution, but this may merely push material around unnecessarily and flatness will suffer. Another myth is that a pan needs to be flat. However, a proper "dish" to the pan helps provide equipment performance and flatness. A pan that cannot keep a dish or is too flat may "oil can," causing the equipment to bog down and become difficult to steer. On the other hand, too much dish will be easier to steer, but coverage and flatness may be sacrificed.
Float pans and float blades are similar in thickness, but may not be made from the same type of steel. Proprietary specifications on the raw material steel and flange design allow manufacturers to differentiate themselves. Flange design and type of steel directly make an impact on how well the pan holds its shape for performance and pan and blade life.
There are two basic clip systems for float pans. A "z-clip" style simply allows a pushing point for the trowel blades to spin the pan. Another type of clip, sometimes referred to as a "safety-catch", has a bar that goes over the trowel blade and helps secure the pan under the trowel when being moved. With the "z-clip" system, extended wear may be achieved by rotating the pans (similar to rotating car tires).
A combination blade, made from high carbon steel, can provide both floating and finishing functions. By comparison, it is smaller than a float blade and larger than a finish blade. For the floating function, combination blades are run flat, with the leading edge and sides having a slight upward bend so they do not dig into the concrete (similar to the float blade).
For the finishing function, the trailing edge is flat to give a hard, flat finish. The combination blade is used in one direction and cannot be reversed, unlike a finish blade. Some contractors like to use a combination blade, early on in the finishing process after pan floating, to close the small aggregate drag marks that may be left from the floating process.
FINISHING
After floating, when the concrete has set enough, it is time for finishing.
A finish blade is made of high-carbon steel which provides a flex and swiping action to densify the concrete. Finish blades are always pitched, at least slightly. The pitch is increased as the concrete becomes harder. An advantage of a finish blade is that there are two edges available for wearing. After the one side wears out, the blade may be turned around for a fresh new edge. Wide finish blades (eight-inch) have become popular with their larger surface area for early finishing after panning. For early finishing, the wide finish blade may be more economical than a combination blade because it can be reversed.
Description
Choices of Power Trowel, Floating and Finishing
FLOATING
After the bleed water dissipates and the weight of the operator's footprint leaves no more than an 1/8" depression, the concrete can be power floated. The floating process knocks down imperfections, pushes down the larger aggregates and prepares the surface for finishing. The available options for power trowels are float blades, float pans and combination blades.
Float blades are made from a low-carbon steel and are always used in a completely flat position. Float blades will typically have a slight bend on all four sides so they do not dig into the concrete. Depending on the mounting system, float blades may clip over finish blades or mount directly onto the trowel arms. Even when ride-on power trowels are used, some contractors prefer to make a first-floating pass with a walk-behind trowel. When flatness and production issues arise, riders with float pans become the equipment and accessory of choice.
Float pans are typically used on ride-on trowel machines for the purpose of achieving more production and flatter floors. The coverage area of a float pan is at least the size of the trowel machine's diameter path with the blades attached. The size and coverage area of a pan verses float blades easily illustrates the production and flatness difference. The increased area touching the concrete causes more torque, thus, more power is needed. Thus, it is not recommended to use float pans on walk-behind trowels too large for the operator to handle. A float pan can extend the window of floating because of the size and coverage area.
There exists a myth that you can float early with pans because of the weight distribution, but this may merely push material around unnecessarily and flatness will suffer. Another myth is that a pan needs to be flat. However, a proper "dish" to the pan helps provide equipment performance and flatness. A pan that cannot keep a dish or is too flat may "oil can," causing the equipment to bog down and become difficult to steer. On the other hand, too much dish will be easier to steer, but coverage and flatness may be sacrificed.
Float pans and float blades are similar in thickness, but may not be made from the same type of steel. Proprietary specifications on the raw material steel and flange design allow manufacturers to differentiate themselves. Flange design and type of steel directly make an impact on how well the pan holds its shape for performance and pan and blade life.
There are two basic clip systems for float pans. A "z-clip" style simply allows a pushing point for the trowel blades to spin the pan. Another type of clip, sometimes referred to as a "safety-catch", has a bar that goes over the trowel blade and helps secure the pan under the trowel when being moved. With the "z-clip" system, extended wear may be achieved by rotating the pans (similar to rotating car tires).
A combination blade, made from high carbon steel, can provide both floating and finishing functions. By comparison, it is smaller than a float blade and larger than a finish blade. For the floating function, combination blades are run flat, with the leading edge and sides having a slight upward bend so they do not dig into the concrete (similar to the float blade).
For the finishing function, the trailing edge is flat to give a hard, flat finish. The combination blade is used in one direction and cannot be reversed, unlike a finish blade. Some contractors like to use a combination blade, early on in the finishing process after pan floating, to close the small aggregate drag marks that may be left from the floating process.
FINISHING
After floating, when the concrete has set enough, it is time for finishing.
A finish blade is made of high-carbon steel which provides a flex and swiping action to densify the concrete. Finish blades are always pitched, at least slightly. The pitch is increased as the concrete becomes harder. An advantage of a finish blade is that there are two edges available for wearing. After the one side wears out, the blade may be turned around for a fresh new edge. Wide finish blades (eight-inch) have become popular with their larger surface area for early finishing after panning. For early finishing, the wide finish blade may be more economical than a combination blade because it can be reversed.
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Additional info
SKU:
Make a selection
Width:
15.35
Height:
10.63
Depth:
2.76
Shipping:
Calculated at Checkout
