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The great debate on my crew: magnesium vs. aluminum floats for garage slabs
I used to swear by magnesium for everything, but after a tricky pour in high humidity last fall, I switched to aluminum for the initial pass. It seems to cut down on bleed water issues when the air is thick. Which one do you guys reach for first on a residential job?
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dylan4133mo ago
Forget aluminum, magnesium is just more forgiving on a real jobsite. Lee_grant97's buddy got lucky last July, but aluminum can stick and leave marks if the concrete sets up fast. I'll take magnesium every time for a smooth finish.
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troy_sanchez81mo ago
Yeah man, I've been there too. I had a batch start setting up faster than I expected one time, and my aluminum float just drug and tore the surface up. Switched to magnesium and it glided right over, saved the whole slab. That's why I stick with magnesium now when I'm not sure about the mix.
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