Showerthought: Been finishing concrete for 12 years and just realized my trowel angle was all wrong

Was working a driveway in Akron last Tuesday when old Jim from down the street came over and asked if I was trying to scoop the cement up. He showed me how he flattens his trowel almost parallel to the surface and it made a world of difference. My edges have always been a little rough and I just figured that was normal. Anyone else have a basic move they missed for years until someone called them out on it?

3 comments

3 Comments

wendy1311mo agoTop Commenter

Yeah flat trowel changed my LIFE too, Jims are gold.

jana_jones1mo ago

The flat trowel Jims actually cost me $47 at that hardware store on Elm Street, and I still feel ripped off. @wendy131, you must have gotten lucky with yours because mine chipped after THREE uses! I canNOT believe we're paying that much for something that's supposed to be "indestructible." The handle broke clean off on the fourth job, no joke. I'm honestly shocked people rave about them like this.

piperbailey1mo ago

Lucky find doesn't mean the brand's actually good.