Editor picks
Recommended Tools — What Pro Contractors Keep on the Truck
A short, opinionated list of jobsite tools (mixers, floats, trowels, levels, knee pads) that Pour Tech editors actually use. Amazon search links include our affiliate tag (adeal0dc-20) — purchases may earn Pour Tech a commission.
These are tools Pour Tech editors actually keep on the truck. Each link opens an Amazon search so you can compare price and availability; we earn a small commission if you buy through these links — see our Affiliate Disclosure for how the site is funded.
Mixing & Placing
- Portable concrete mixerA small tow-behind or wheelbarrow-style mixer turns a 60–80 bag pour from a sweat job into something one person can run. Look for a 3.5–4 cu ft drum — big enough for one slab pour's worth, small enough to fit on the truck.
- Mixing paddleA spiral paddle chucked into a 1/2 in corded drill mixes thinset, mortar, and small mud batches in under a minute. Get one with a hex shaft — round shafts slip in the chuck under load.
Finishing
- Magnesium floatA magnesium bull float (or a hand float for edges) opens the cream and pushes down the aggregate so the steel trowel has a smooth surface to work with. Go 48 in for pours wider than 12 ft.
- Steel trowelA finishing trowel with a broken-in (rounded) edge keeps the surface tight without leaving a dark line from a sharp corner. Pick a 16 in for floors, a 14 in for walls and small pours.
Layout & Comfort
- String line levelA line level hung on a mason's line beats a transit for footings, block courses, and grade checks on a slab. 100 ft of mason line and a 3-hook level fits in a nail pouch.
- Knee padsGel knee pads matter more than any finishing tool — every minute you're on a slab is a minute your knees are paying for on Friday. Hard-cap, strap-on style stays put; soft-shell slips every other step.