The use of floating discs (or pans) on riding trowels provides the contractor the high Flatness Numbers when specified for a finsihed of a concrete floor. The flat pan tolerances cut bumps and fill low spots in the concrete floor.
Float discs/pans are an alternative to float blades. Float discs/pans increase the overall flatness of the concrete slab as they offer a larger footprint on the fresh concrete compared to blades. They are used for floating the concrete surface during the initial stage of the concrete finishing process.
Power trowel combo blades are made from hgh-carbon steel. These blades are used for both floating and finishing. The blade are smaller than the float blades and larger than the finishing blades. During fininshing, the trailing edge is flat to give the concrete a hard, smooth finish. One advantage a finishing blade has over a combo blade is that it has two edges for wearing. The combination blade can’t be reversed once the blade is worn.
Combination and finish power trowel blades come in range of thickness. They also come in a range of steel types that work better on either walk behind or ride-on trowel machines. The life expectancy of the blade determines whether your choice is the most effective for your needs.
Once the concrete sets and tightens, steel blades will leave black marks on the surface. This is especially unacceptable for exposed concrete floors. Plastic trowel blades offer an alternative that doesn’t cause the same results. You can purchase plastic combination and finish style blades. Plastic finish blades allow you to eliminate the risk of leaving burnish marks on concrete or epoxy while still providing a hard-polished finish.
