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Appreciation post: That old broom handle trick for avoiding knee grooves
I was on a job out in Snohomish last week and an older finisher showed me how he uses a broom handle laid across the wet concrete to kneel on without leaving divots. It sounds so simple (and probably obvious to some of you), but I've been using boards and they always slip or leave marks. He just sets the handle down, kneels on it, and moves it along as he works. Has anyone else got a weird little trick like that you picked up from a random guy on a jobsite?
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max_ross12d ago
I mean is that really better than just using a scrap of plywood or kneeling pads? I tried the broom handle thing once and it rolled under me and I ate it, plus it puts all your weight on a tiny line instead of spreading it out. Seems like an old timer myth to me.
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gavin_kelly9112d ago
You mention "puts all your weight on a tiny line" but that's the whole point - it forces you to balance better and use your core instead of just crushing your knees into the ground. Old timers had it right, you just gotta learn how to not roll off the thing.
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felix_lane999d ago
That broom handle trick actually works better than you'd think because it forces you to stay off your knees entirely (no weight on the ground at all, just sliding along). The trick is you don't balance on it like a tightrope - you kinda sit back on your heels and let the handle take the pressure of your shins instead. I had the same roll-off problem at first until I realized you gotta grip it with your toes a little to keep it stable.
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