Power Trowel Action plus instruction

Timing is essential in the concrete flatwork business. The quality of the floor is established inside the period between placing and curing of the concrete. Concrete contractors know their livelihood depends on their capability to have the right device ready at the right time.

This is where the rental center enters the scene. Power trowel rentals can be a win-win situation for both the rental center operator plus service provider. The time saved on the job by renting a power trowel can far outweigh the actual rental price of the device plus will keep the service provider coming back for more trowel rentals.

Power trowels are used for together floating plus finishing large slabs. Compared to ordinary hand tools, power trowels radically add to production plus decrease expenses via their capacity to envelop additional square footage of slab area per day. At the same time, they enhance the condition of the concrete surface and help sustain flatness of the slab. Power trowels are divided into two styles, walk-behind plus ride-on.

Walk-behind trowels usually have one rotor with 4 blades, are driven by a gas engine plus are available in 32-, 36- plus 48-inch blade diameters. In general, hand tools might finish 300 to 600 square feet per day where as a 36-inch walk-behind power trowel can finish 700 to 1500 square feet per day depending on job circumstances and weather conditions.

Ride-on trowels generally have two rotors each with four or five blades are powered by one or two gasoline engines and are available in 36- plus 48-inch (single rotor diameter) models. Ride-on models can dramatically add to production. Generally, a ride-on can envelop three to five times as much concrete compared to walk-behind units. Depending on the jobsite conditions and operator proficiency, one ride-on model can replace three to four walk-behind units. Another advantage with ride-on units is improved condition and flatness off the slab.

Ride-on trowels operate in two different configurations, overlapping and non-overlapping. Usually, the non-overlapping position of the blades requires higher torque plus can accommodate pans during the floating action. The overlapping position is often used at faster rotor speeds and provides seamless coverage during the finishing process.

Besides the trowel themselves, rental center operators need to offer the correct blades for the job. In general, blades are interchangeable between most brands of walk-behind plus ride-on power trowels as long as both are the same size, i.e. 36- or 48-inch. Standard finish, combination and float blades are made of high quality steel and bolted to the trowel arms.

Float blades are 10 inches wide, with the edges turned up so the blade won't penetrate or tear the fresh concrete surface. These blades are the first blades used on fresh concrete plus are usually rotated at a relatively low rpm. Float blades should be adjusted to little or no pitch (flat on the surface).

Finish blades are sometimes referred to as troweling blades. They are 6 inches wide with the ends turned up and are commonly rotated at a high rpm. Finish blades follow the floating function. They apply more pressure to density the surface as the concrete hardens. They are used to complete the power troweling procedure.