Raptor Power Trowels are also known as kelly floats, trowelling machines or power floats. They are one of the most common concrete flooring machines used to apply a smooth finish and correct any imperfections to a concrete slab.
Using A Raptor Walk Behind Power Trowel
Raptor walk-behind power trowels are ideal for jobs that are less than 500 square meters. Because walk-behind trowels are smaller than ride-on models, they are also better for use in tight spaces. Walk-behind trowels are especially useful for flattening concrete around columns, pipes, doors and other obstacles. Raptor walk behind power trowels are an excellent choice for work on residential basements, floors and small commercial projects.
Raptor walk-behind power trowels are more affordable than Raptor ride-on power trowels, making them more accessible to contractors and small businesses. They also offer better portability between job sites and on and off slabs.
Walk behind power trowels have a very simple method for steering the unit – similar to a floor buffer. Pulling up on the handle moves the unit to the left, pushing down on the handle move the unit to the right. An alternative steering method for a walk behind trowel would be to palm down on right handle and palm up on left handle with slight down pressure on the right handle will move the unit right. Palm down on the left handle and palm up on the right handle, with slight down pressure on the left handle will move the unit left. These two simple methods give the operator total control and ease of steering when operating the unit.
The best method for finishing concrete is to slowly walk backwards with the machine, guiding the float machine from side to side, this will cover all footprints on wet concrete. Once you have covered the whole surface, repeat the process but perpendicular to the previous one, following the same pattern. Remember that with each pass, the structure will be strengthened as the concrete will be denser and more compact, and the surface will be flat and soft.
Pitching The Blades Of A Power Trowel
The operator of a Raptor power trowel uses pitch to control how much edge of the blade he wants to put into contact with the concrete in order to accomplish three things: continue the process of burning out the water from the slab (removing excess or trapped water), bring the cream of the cement to the surface, or finishing to the smoothness and hardness to the degree desired.
Pans are usually attached to the bottom of the blades with the blades set at zero pitch. Float blades are attached to finishing blades and are started with a zero to slight pitch. Combo blades are usually started with zero or a very slight pitch and then the blade pitch is gradually increased as the slab hardens and sets. Finishing blades are usually used once the concrete has hardened a little more and the pitch can be set higher to a more acute angle so that the blades ‘burn’ and squeeze the excess water out of the pour.
When pitching you want to avoid pitching the angle too fast to avoid ‘cutting’ into the concrete or slinging mud from the top surface. As a rule of thumb, always start off with a slight angle and increase slowly as required.
When is Concrete Ready to Power Trowel?
Can you power trowel concrete the next day? Absolutely not. You should power trowel when the concrete is not too wet, nor too dry. Virtue lies in the middle. If it is too fresh, it will delaminate the concrete, tearing it up. And if it is too late, it won’t work properly.
Other power trowel finishing aspects to take into consideration are the environmental features such as humidity, temperature and the wind. These characteristics will have an impact on how long it takes before the concrete gets dry.
Among the best power trowel finishing techniques, before using it, we recommend stepping on the concrete when it has started to dry. Your surface is ready to power float when your footprint is ¼” deep or a bit less and it doesn’t bleed much water. If you get much water on the footprint or it is more than ½” deep, wait a little longer and try again this technique. But remember, do not wait too long.
Using A Raptor Premium Ride-On Power Trowel
If you want to cover more ground faster, a Raptor ride-on power trowel is the best choice. It can be as much as four to five times faster than a walk-behind model. Raptor ride-on power trowels also have more horsepower and better contact pressure, providing a more tightly packed skin. With these capabilities, ride-on power trowels are best suited to commercial operations.
When using ride-on trowels, steering is also a simple process but can take a little time to learn the subtle movements and behaviours of the machine. On a ride-on trowel the operator sits on a chair straddled between two spider assemblies fitted with trowel blades.
The operator has two steering control levers to move the machine. One on the right side of his chair and one on their left. The left lever moves in a forward and backward motion which allows the operator to move the unit forward and backward on the left side of the unit. The right handle moves in a ‘cross’ type motion (forward, backward and left and right) this allows the operator to move the unit forward and backward plus move the unit to the left or right.
Moving both handles into the forward potion allows the machine to move forward. Moving both levers into the back position allows the power trowel to move backwards. Moving the right handle to the left moves the machine to the left, and moving the right handle to the right moves the unit to the right. Because the right and left levers can be used simultaneously the range of movement the operator can produce is unique and specific. These types of control handles provide a tremendous range of flexibility in movement. In fact, an experienced power trowel operator can expertly manoeuver the power trowel easily around a large surface to ensure full coverage, as well as navigate pillars and obstacles in their path.
It’s also common to see both types of Raptor power trowels used on large jobs, with ride-on trowels in open areas and walk-behind trowels in tight spaces for maximum efficiency.
Concrete Hand Held Tools
Despite all the high-tech power trowels, power screeds, concrete vibrators, and other super-charged equipment available from Totalsite Supplies to facilitate placement and finishing of concrete, simple no-frills hand tools for finishing are far from obsolete. To smooth and level small residential slabs, perform delicate detail work, blend in surface colour, or manoeuvre in tight areas, such as steps or next to walls, there is no substitute for trusty handheld concrete tools including finishing trowels, magnesium trowels, edgers and screeds.
Totalsite Supplies stock a huge range of concrete hand tools from top brands including Marshalltown, Master Finish and Ox Tools and also offer their own Kea Concrete Tools which are aligned in quality to the big brands but at a more cost effective price.
Get in touch with our friendly team for more information or free advice!