Serious question, has anyone else gone back to a magnesium float after trying the plastic ones?

For a long time I was sure the new plastic floats were the way to go... everyone on my crew in Phoenix switched over and said they were lighter and easier to clean. I used them for about six months on a bunch of flatwork jobs. But I kept getting these tiny surface tears on the final pass that I just couldn't get rid of, especially when the concrete was setting up fast in the heat. I finally grabbed my old 14-inch magnesium float on a pour last week just to see, and the finish was way smoother, no pulling at all. It just seems to cut better when you're closing up. Maybe it's the weight? I'm not going back. Has anyone else had this happen, or am I just using the plastic ones wrong?

4 comments

4 Comments

emeryj661mo ago

Grabbed my old mag float out of the truck last Tuesday on a whim after fighting with a plastic one on a hot driveway all morning, and man the difference was night and day like you said. @karenb97 hit it right with that friend analogy, because the plastic one just couldn't close the surface without leaving little marks no matter how careful I was. I guess sometimes the heavy stuff just does what it's supposed to do even if your arm gets tired.

michael_green443mo ago

You used plastic floats in Phoenix heat? That's a bold move, man. The mag just glides when it's baking out.

jana8812mo ago

Plastic floats have come a long way. The new ones are made with better stuff that doesn't just melt in the sun. They're way lighter so your arms don't get tired after a full day, and they still get the job done flat. Sometimes new tech is just better, even in the heat.

karenb973mo ago

The plastic ones are like that friend who promises to help you move but shows up with a tiny car. They look good on paper but just can't handle the real work. Sometimes the old heavy tools are the right ones for the job.