Bull float- make, buy or rent?

[cwr]

Hey folks,

Hopefully in about 2 weeks time I'll be putting down the 150mm slab that will for the workshop floor, which will be 4.5m x 6m.

Reading up on how to get the required finish looks like I'll need a bull float, though having seen the prices I'm wondering why a bit of steel of aluminum that is sufficiently flat with a simple handle would not do the job.

Any thoughts on why making one would not work?

Bearing in mind that I have zero experience in leveling concrete, so I'm not exactly expecting perfection regardless of how good the tools I have are...

Thanks.

 

[PeterW]

Hire !!
 

And also have a proper look at one as they have an adjustable knuckle at the head which changes the angle when you turn the handle. Plenty of videos on YouTube

 

 

[Onoff]

I tamped my bathroom concrete floor by attaching screed rails to the walls. Slab came out flatter than a flat thing:

 

 

 

[Russell griffiths]

if you have zero knowledge then go and hire a powered tamping beam, or a beam screed, you can hire the bull float as well, you will also need two friends one on each end of the screed and one in the middle raking out the concrete. 

 

Do not underestimate the work in this. 

 

Make sure you can get the concrete truck truck right up to the pour area.