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What Are the Pros and Cons of the Power Trowel?

July 31, 2023

When it comes to working with concrete, choosing the right trowel is crucial for achieving optimal results. Whether it’s a power trowel or a hand trowel, each tool has its own set of advantages and considerations.

Power trowels offer speed, efficiency, and the ability to cover larger areas, while hand trowels provide versatility and precision for smaller-scale projects. In this post, it will explore the pros and cons of both power trowels and hand trowels, helping us make an informed decision based on our specific needs and requirements.

Purpose of Trowels

Trowels are versatile hand tools used primarily in construction, masonry, and gardening for applying, spreading, shaping, and smoothing materials like cement, plaster, mortar, or soil. Their flat, pointed blade allows for precision work in building and repair tasks. In construction, trowels are essential for laying bricks, finishing concrete surfaces, and applying plaster. In gardening, they are used for digging, planting, and weeding. Trowels come in various shapes and sizes to accommodate different tasks, making them indispensable tools in both professional and DIY settings.

Importance of Choosing the Right Trowel

Selecting the appropriate trowel for a particular job is crucial for achieving optimal results in terms of efficiency, quality, and aesthetics. Different trowel types, sizes, and blade shapes are designed for specific applications, ensuring proper coverage, smoothness, and evenness of the material being worked on.

A power trowel, also known as a power float or helicopter, is a machine used to finish and polish concrete surfaces. It consists of one or multiple rotating blades that spin rapidly, providing a smooth and level finish to the concrete by grinding and polishing the surface.

How to Use a Power Trowel

A power trowel is a machine used to smooth and finish concrete surfaces after pouring. It’s especially useful for large-scale concrete projects and ensures a flat, durable finish. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use a power trowel effectively:

1. Preparation

Check the Concrete: Before using the power trowel, ensure the concrete has set to the point where it can support the weight of the machine, but is still soft enough to smooth. A good test is to walk on the surface—your footprint should sink slightly, leaving about a 1/8-inch depression.
Inspect the Power Trowel: Ensure the machine is in good working order, checking fuel, oil levels, and blade conditions.

2. Starting the Power Trowel

Start the Engine: Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for starting the engine, typically by pulling a recoil starter.
Adjust the Blades: The blades on a power trowel can be adjusted based on the stage of the finishing process. For early passes, keep the blades at a flatter angle to avoid gouging the surface. As the concrete hardens, you can tilt the blades slightly for a smoother finish.

3. Operating the Power Trowel

Handle with Control: Grip the handlebar firmly. A power trowel can move quickly and requires you to guide it smoothly over the surface. Keep control by applying gentle pressure on the handle—pushing down will cause the trowel to move left, while lifting will move it right.
Make Passes: Start by making overlapping passes across the surface, much like mowing a lawn. Move steadily, ensuring that you cover the entire area.
Change Blade Angle for a Smoother Finish: After the initial pass, increase the blade angle slightly for subsequent passes to achieve a finer finish.

4. Finishing Touches

Multiple Passes: Depending on the hardness of the concrete, you may need to make several passes with the power trowel. Each pass should smooth the surface more.
Edge Work: Use a hand trowel or an edging trowel to finish the areas where the power trowel can’t reach, such as near walls or corners.

5. Shutting Down

Turn Off the Engine: Once the desired finish is achieved, turn off the machine following the manufacturer’s instructions.
Clean the Trowel: After use, clean the blades and other parts of the trowel to prevent concrete buildup and ensure it’s ready for the next use.

Tips:

Safety First: Always wear protective gear, including gloves, safety glasses, and boots.
Practice: If you’re new to power troweling, practice on a less critical area to get the feel of the machine.
Avoid Overworking the Surface: Don’t go over the concrete too many times, as this can burnish the surface and weaken its strength.

By following these steps, you can efficiently use a power trowel to achieve a smooth, professional finish on concrete surfaces.

The Pros and Cons of a Power Trowel

Pros:

Time-saving and increased productivity: Power trowels can cover larger areas quickly, reducing the time and effort required compared to manual troweling.
Consistent and smoother finish: The rotating blades of a power trowel create a uniform and smooth surface, resulting in a professional-looking finish.
Ability to cover larger areas: Power trowels are designed to handle large-scale projects, making them suitable for larger concrete surfaces.
Reduces physical strain on the user: With the machine doing the majority of the work, operators experience less physical fatigue and strain compared to manual troweling.

Cons:

Cost and maintenance considerations: Power trowels are expensive to purchase and require regular maintenance to ensure optimal performance and longevity.
Noise and exhaust emissions: Power trowels can be noisy during operation and produce exhaust emissions, necessitating proper ventilation in indoor applications.
Requires some level of skill to operate: Operating a power trowel effectively requires training and skill to achieve the desired results while avoiding common mistakes or surface damage.

Looking to Rent a Power Trowel?

Now that you know more about power trowels, you can more easily make a decision on which type best suits your project. Every type of trowel has its own benefits, and it is up to you to decide. If you need to rent a trowel, just contact us and we’ll get you started. And keep in mind that if your rental needs to be serviced, our mechanics can go to your jobsite, or it can be hauled back to the yard. If you need to book equipment for your next project, call 877-740-RENT (7368) today to book with Partner Rentals.