How to Use a Magnesium Finishing Trowel

A magnesium trowel is a useful tool when finishing concrete. It helps to smooth the surface and give the concrete a good finish. To learn more about the magnesium trowel in the concrete process, read this eHow.

Instructions

1. Place concrete in the forms you created. Depending on what is being poured, the concrete will be reinforced with rebar.

2. Screed out the concrete. A screed will remove the excess concrete as well as fill in any low parts in the concrete. Screed only 3 to 4 feet at a time.

3. Float the concrete with magnesium trowel to settle, slightly, the larger aggregate (stone) and bring up the fines (sand). The weight of the magnesium trowel makes this tool ideal for this process.

4. Allow bleed water to settle out. Use a magnesium float, a long, flat tool, to level the concrete. Make sure the front edge of the float is up so as not to dig into the concrete. A magnesium float is lighter weight than a steel float, and will pass over the surface of the concrete easily.

5. Finish concrete as it begins to set up and support light weight. Use a steel trowel in this process. Tilt the trowel slightly to give the concrete a smooth surface.

6. Allow the concrete to set overnight before putting any weight on it.

Resources

• Marshalltown briefly describes the magnesium trowel's use.