July 25, 2018
A cove trowel with a shiny, smooth surface glides the best and will require less effort to produce a better looking cove.
Cove trowels used for the application of Dur-A-Flex systems, in some cases, may have imperfections on the working surface or edges due to the manufacturing process. Welding burrs, edge burrs, or even a flange along a trowel’s edge can contribute to application marks in your cove finish.
Most mild welding or edge burrs can be knocked down by simply breaking-in the trowel against a concrete surface with a back and forth motion.
A trowel with significant metal burrs, or edge imperfections may require the use of a flat file to create a clean edge/surface. However, the use of grinders or any aggressive media could damage the working surface of the trowel beyond repair, so practice a “less is more” method when cleaning up finish tools.
Welding burr:
Edge flange:
