renosteinke
Senior Member
- Location
- NE Arkansas
The bolts slip into the fresh concrete quite readily. If it seems hard, push down while vibrating the concrete.
"Striking" the form is one way to vibrate the concrete. Better yet, leave the blade out of your saws-it-all and let the shoe vibrate the form. Best of all is to use an actual concrete vibrator, and slip it into the mud. The purpose of this vibrating is to eliminate air pockets and bring the 'cream' to the top. Don't get too carried away, or the mix will be weakened.
Finishing the top is best done by someone who has had some training and practice. There's also no getting away from using a STEEL float. Poor surface finishing will result in a weak face, one that will spall off within months.
"Striking" the form is one way to vibrate the concrete. Better yet, leave the blade out of your saws-it-all and let the shoe vibrate the form. Best of all is to use an actual concrete vibrator, and slip it into the mud. The purpose of this vibrating is to eliminate air pockets and bring the 'cream' to the top. Don't get too carried away, or the mix will be weakened.
Finishing the top is best done by someone who has had some training and practice. There's also no getting away from using a STEEL float. Poor surface finishing will result in a weak face, one that will spall off within months.