Power Trowel

What Is A Power Trowel?

A power trowel, also known as a power float, is a construction tool used to apply a smooth finish to concrete slabs. You get ride on power trowels and walk-behind power trowels.

Walk-behind power trowels and ride-on units can cover far more surface area. While walk-behind units are ideal for spaces with tight corners and projects that require maneuverability or lighter equipment, ride-on power trowels will cover thousands of square feet quickly and easily.

The Total Tools Power Trowel is walk-behind and petrol operated.

A ride on power trowel is used with an operator sitting on a seat and controlling the power trowel. Although they are operated differently, they still have the same purpose. With every concrete pour, troweling is important because it allows the concrete to continue hardening and squeezing residual water out. Removing any excess water from concrete decreases the chances of it cracking.

In addition to finishing concrete, power trowels can also be used for polishing and grinding that same surface. While the method isn’t right for every concrete floor, the benefits can’t be beaten. Power trowel polishing saves a significant amount of labour, cuts down on production time, and has minimal start-up costs. It’s also a wet process, so your team won’t be at risk from airborne silica hazards. What’s not to love?

You will need a few other tools for efficient slurry management with power trowel polishing. Those include a sump pump, flocculant, and dewatering slurry bags. It is important to dispose of concrete waste responsibly. Here are five methods that you could look into:

1.      Renting a dumpster

2.      Building supplies retailers

3.      Contact a landscaping company

4.      Recycling

5.      Dumping the waste yourself

Going beyond what a power trowel does, every brand has similarities and differences starting with blades. On a Total Tools Power Trowel, there are four combination blades. Combination blades can be used for both floating and finishing operations. The combination blade has three edges which allows it to be used flat in the floating position and tiled in the finish position. These blades are also stainless steel which are high-quality and non-blades. Power trowels sometimes comes with a pan that sits under the blades. The pan is a large metal disc that attaches to the bottom of the unit by clipping onto the trowel blades. Pans are used in the early stages of troweling and used to get started on the concrete slab early to start the troweling process. The Total Tools Power Trowel comes with an iron pan.

Now that you know the main components of a power trowel, lets discuss some of the key features to look for in a power trowel. When using a power trowel make sure the engine works. Investing in a power trowel that has a name brand, reliable engine such as Kohler or Honda will help you achieve the best results on your job site. Other engines may work for a few jobs but will certainly fail you and bring your job site to a halt, while your concrete hardens in an unfinished state.

Additionally, use a power trowel that has safety features. Make sure your power trowel has either a cut-off switch or dead-man’s switch so that if you lose control the power trowel does not hit you or go on a spinning rampage. Also, look for a power trowel that has simplicity, something with quick pitch, and electronic has the risk of breaking easily. Remember this simple acronym: KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid). Lastly, look for a lifting hook or lifting handles. When you need to bring a trowel out of your truck to the concrete slab, they can be heavy and awkward. Make the job easier by getting a power trowel with a lifting hook.

Power Trowels are a key component in the finishing process and is a step that should not be missed. Using one will make your job easier and your work more professional.