My big mistake with a cheap power trowel blade

Back when I started, I was always trying to save a buck on tools. Bought a no-name power trowel blade for about $60 less than the good ones. Figured steel was steel. First big pour on a garage slab in Tempe, the thing just gave up. The blade warped halfway through, left waves in the finish I couldn't fix. Had to stop, swap it out, and rework a huge section. Lost almost three hours of labor, which was way more than the $60 I saved. The client wasn't happy about the delay either. Now I only buy blades from brands I trust, even if it hurts up front. Anyone have a go-to brand that's lasted you years?

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3 Comments

robin7777mo ago

Yeah, that Tempe sun will cook a cheap blade in no time. Learned that lesson on a driveway years back, same deal with the warping. I've been running Marshalltown blades for about a decade now and they just don't quit. That extra cost up front is just paying for your own time later, because you're right, fixing a bad finish costs way more.

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owens.matthew7mo ago

Eh, how bad can it really get?

9

eva_lewis6mo ago

Totally! That upfront cost is really just buying peace of mind. A warped blade can ruin your whole day and your reputation in one shot. It's the kind of mistake you only make once.

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