Float Pans / Float Shoes, Edger, Finish & Combination Blades Explained

Understanding the difference between edger blades, finish blades, combination blades, and clip-on float blades is key when you're working with power trowels or walk-behind floats for concrete finishing. Each type has its own purpose depending on the stage of the finishing process and the result you're aiming for. 

1. Edger Blades

Purpose: Get in tight to edges, corners, and walls where larger blades can’t go.

Design: Smaller than standard blades, with rounded or beveled corners to avoid chipping walls or damaging forms.

Use: Think of these as your precision tools for perimeter work. Used near steps, walls, columns, and tight areas.

✅ Good for: Getting up close without damaging finished edges
❌ Not for: Large open areas or smoothing whole slabs

2. Finish Blades

Purpose: Used after the concrete has set up a bit - these are your go-to for the final smoothing pass.

Design: Longer and thinner than float blades, usually flat with a steeper pitch (more angle) to apply pressure and burnish the surface. 

Use: After floating, once the concrete is firmer and bleed water is gone, finish blades bring up paste and polish the surface.

✅ Good for: Tight finishes, high sheen, smooth surfaces
❌ Not for: Early passes or wet concrete

3. Combination Blades

Purpose: A do-it-all blade that handles both initial floating and later finishing. These blades are easy to use - you only need to bolt on one set of blades. Remember to leave the combination blade flat for floating and then adjust the angle of the pitch for finishing.

Design: Medium weight, with a slight angle and more blade surface - more pressure than float blades, less than finish blades. The front side of the combination blade is curved up and the back side is a flat edge.

Use: Perfect if you don’t want to switch blades mid-job. These work from green (early) concrete to a semi-smooth finish.

✅ Good for: Smaller jobs, general-purpose work
❌ Not perfect for: Super-smooth finishes or initial float on very wet concrete

4. Clip-On Float Blades (a.k.a. Float Shoes or Float Pans)

Purpose: Used right after screeding, when the concrete is soft - helps level and embed aggregate without digging into the surface.

Design: Large, flat shoes or pans that attach over your blades (literally clip on), increasing surface area. Your finish blades stay bolted to the trowel and you simply slide the Clip-On Float Blades over the finish blades to start using them.

Use: Early pass - reduces blade pressure so you don’t gouge soft concrete. Ideal for opening up the surface and prepping for finishing. Once you have floated the concrete, just slide the float blades off, and run the finish blades, starting with a slight pitch.

✅ Good for: Initial floating, leveling wet concrete
❌ Not for: Final finishing or polishing