Smooth concrete

[Will]

Anyone know how the professionals get such a smooth finish on their concrete - mine always has air pockets and a rough surface?

[Andy Dingley]

There's a good book out there on "Concrete countertops", how to do decorative concrete in kitchens and even bathrooms.

Vibrating pokers are one part, for de-bubbling (mine's home made and goes on the Mutleymaster). Plasticised mixes too. Then you float while it's wet and grind when it's dry.

[Grimly Curmudgeon]

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember "Will" saying something like:

On small areas a length of batten flittered on the surface does it.

[Tinkerer]

Talk of concrete reminds me of a pet grudge. Why is it that you can drive on concrete motorways on the continent and they are smooth and quiet. Drive on one over here (e.g. M25) and it is like driving over corrugated iron; and you can't hear yourself think for the road noise.

[dom]

It's the only Fein thing I've ever had issue with. All their other kit, and all the other multimaster accessories have been excellent.

[dom]

Not tried a HF one, I usually hire a small electric unit from HSS (though I should have bought one by now, for what I've paid in hire charges).

The small electric ones (shoebox size power unit containing the motor, plus 3-4m hose and vibrating head) - have been excellent. Readily comparable with the large compressor driven units used on construction sites.

[TheScullster]

"Grimly Curmudgeon" wrote

What does flittered mean in this context exactly? Something similar to "tamped" perhaps?

Phil

[TheOldFellow]

Some ex-spurt sold the guvmint on it as a elfin dafty jobby. The ridges see, they stop vehicles sliding abart in the ice. Said ex-spurt works for a tyre company. Go figure.

R.

[Grimly Curmudgeon]

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember "TheScullster" saying something like:

Tamping but edge or side on, not lengthways.

[Tinkerer]

Thanks for the explanation. Sounds similar to a story about the minister who got Beeching to ditch the railways being tied up with a firm that built motorways. ;o)