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Pouring concrete is labor-intensive, requiring several steps and many hours of work. Screeding is one of the most important steps because it flattens the surface to prepare it for finishing. There are many types of screeds to choose from, but the MARSHALLTOWN Gas Powered Spin Screed® will make your life easier and your concrete more durable. This piece of equipment is a lightweight roller screed designed to screed concrete faster, easier, and with more accuracy than traditional screeds. The Gas Powered Spin Screed® features an aluminum pipe connected to a power head and a dead-end T-handle. The power head houses a Honda® GX35 power unit, supplying power to the pipe and making it spin. As the pipe spins, it flattens the concrete. Using a Spin Screed® is simple – just follow five steps.
Wet concrete can be damaging to exposed skin. Always wear the proper protective gear when working with concrete.
Using the Spin Screed®
Step 1: Prep Work
Before you can pour concrete, make sure your forms are set for proper drainage and you've prepared your subgrade. For help with the prep work, check out our post on Pouring a Concrete Slab.
Step 2: Pour Concrete
Starting in one corner, begin pouring in the concrete. Place the concrete toward the edges and into the corner with a MARSHALLTOWN Placer.
Step 3: Align and Start the Screed
As soon as the concrete is poured and placed, screeding can take place. Screeding in sections is the best method as it ensures consistent results. Start by resting the pipe on the form, aligning it with the front edge. The form will support the screed and help guide it. When the pipe is placed, start the engine and throttle it up to make the pipe spin. It will spin away from the direction you are moving.
Step 4: Screed the Concrete
During this step, two of you will be running the screed – one operating the power end of the screed and one operating the dead-end T-handle. Start by slowly pulling the screed over the concrete while moving backward. Be sure to keep the pipe parallel to the front edge. As the spinning pipe moves across the form, it flattens out the concrete while keeping the aggregate just below the surface resulting in a higher quality, more durable slab.
As you continue this process, laborers will need to use placers to move excess concrete away from the pipe. It is common for the pipe to throw concrete behind it, but this will get worked out during the finishing process. Sometimes, low spots and voids will form if there isn't enough concrete in front of the pipe. If this is an issue, place additional concrete in those spots and screed over the areas again. Repeat this process until you've screeded the entire length of the slab and you are satisfied with your work.
Step 5: Clean-Up
Once screeding is complete, make sure to clean the pipe. This is an easy task – spray the pipe with a water hose as it spins. Make sure you are complying with local codes and regulations when cleaning equipment.
Explore Spin Screed® Accessories
With three power head options, pipes ranging in size from 4 feet to 22 feet, and several attachment types, we have you covered, whether you are screeding a smaller walkway, a large concrete slab, or a grain bin pad. Watch the video below to see the accessory options.
Screeding in Action: A Circular Pour
The Pivot Point Adapter is the perfect accessory for circular concrete pours, like a grain bin pad. Watch the video below to learn how to use your Spin Screed® for a circular slab.
The lightweight MARSHALLTOWN Spin Screed® is the tool to use for a faster, easier, more convenient screeding process. With a variety of accessories to choose from, you can create a Spin Screed® combination that works best for all of your concrete jobs.
