We level the screed without unnecessary problems: do-it-yourself vibrating screed
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Pouring a concrete screed in a house is a rather labor-intensive process. Not only do you need to prepare the solution, it needs to be carefully leveled over the beacons. Most often, the usual rule is used for these purposes. And today we’ll talk about how you can use it and some other parts and tools to make a vibrating screed, with which it will be much easier to level the concrete. And the author of the YouTube channel Sharp Hammer knows how to do this.
Platform for installing vibration motor
To make a platform for the engine you will need two wide brackets. You can find them at a metal warehouse, or perhaps someone has similar ones lying around in their garage or shed. As a last resort, you can purchase a small piece of cable duct and unravel it using a grinder. The width of the staple should be 5–7 cm, this will be enough.
To make the platform, you will need to weld these brackets to the handle of the paint roller. In words, everything can be difficult to understand, so we suggest you pay attention to the photo example posted below.
That's all the welding work that was mentioned at the beginning of the article.
Materials
All the materials that you will need to make this design yourself can be purchased in specialized stores and construction markets.
In addition, some of them have probably been collecting dust in your garage or home workshop for a long time. Here is their list:
- Channel, which will become the basis of the frame.
- Steel or aluminum corners.
- Bolts.
- Vibration installation.
- Electric motor of the required power.
- Rubber for insulation.
- Starter for an electric motor with variable speed control.
- Three-phase electrical cable.
- Two pieces of reinforcement, each about a meter long, which will be useful for making handles.
When making a vibrating screed, you will have to use a tool that does not necessarily need to be purchased specifically for this case. Perhaps you or someone you know has it.
What you will need to make this equipment:
- Welding machine. It should be used carefully, with mandatory use of protection for the face and hands. If you are not confident in your abilities, ask a professional welder to do this work. This work will not cost much, but you will have confidence that it will be done efficiently, which means that the equipment will last a long time.
- Drill and set of drills for metal.
- Screwdriver.
What to use as a vibrating screed motor
When starting to make such a tool, you should understand that it must be universal. The point is that pouring the screed is a one-time job, which means that the engine from the vibrating screed (if the latter is not needed) should be used for other purposes. Therefore, the best option here would be to use a conventional vibration grinder as a motor.
There is another advantage to using a grinder: you don’t need to trick a regular motor shaft by turning it into a vibrating one. All that remains is to think about how to attach the electrical equipment to the platform so as not to damage the grinder.
Vibrating screed rental
Professional vibrating screeds cost from 20,000 rubles (electric) and from 40,000 rubles (gasoline). Not everyone can afford this.
Also, many developers do not see the point in spending that kind of money, and when screeding the floor and foundation, they cannot do without this tool.
Examples of good vibrating screeds
The Spanish vibrating screed ENAR is perfect for professional use.
The features of this tool are:
- ease of use;
- compacts concrete to a depth of 15 centimeters;
- does not sink into the concrete surface;
- profile length reaches 4 meters;
- Ideal for working on freshly laid concrete.
The price range for a vibration screed with a Honda gasoline engine with a power of 0.7 hp starts from 44,000 to 51,000 rubles. Weight depends on the chosen model and varies from 15 to 25 kg.
Aluminum
vibrating screed is designed for processing freshly laid concrete. Designed for private construction. Thanks to its lightness, it is easy to manage.
Based on the type of engine, there are gasoline and electric vibrating screeds.
READ How Long Can You Use a Jackhammer?
As noted above, vibrating screed is more powerful and, accordingly, more expensive. Electric vibrating screeds have less power, but they are recommended for use in enclosed spaces.
Usage
You insert a curved drill into the chuck of an electric drill and connect it to the mains, thereby creating vibration movements of your board.
What is the most convenient way to connect a grinder?
Here you can simply attach a socket to the long handle, into which the grinder plug will be plugged. However, there is a better idea. It is quite feasible if you find an old drill with a burnt-out motor in the closet. The engine is removed from it, but everything else will be used.
To begin with, wires are removed from the drill that will be used to power the grinder. Next, they are passed through a small piece of pipe with a diameter of 50 mm and a round socket from the extension cord is attached to them. If you put everything together, you get some kind of pistol with a rather long and thick barrel.
PHOTO: YouTube.com This drill is quite suitable for a vibrating screed
Now, when you connect the drill to the network, power will be supplied to the socket, but only if you press the key. Moreover, the harder the operator presses, the more tension will be applied to the grinder. All that remains is to secure the resulting structure to the handle, which can be done using regular tape.
PHOTO: YouTube.com This socket will be on the back side of the sewer pipe
Manufacturing options for basic elements
The design of the vibrating plate is quite simple. It consists of four main nodes:
- engine;
- slabs;
- frames;
- vibrator.
Sources:
https://kladembeton.ru/montazh/prisposoblenia/vibrorejka-dlya-betona.html https://zenbook.ru/vibrorejka-iz-shlifmashinki-dlya-zaglazhivaniya-betona-svoimi-rukami https://domsdelat.ru/ fundament/vibrorejka-dlya-betona-kak-sdelat-svoimi.html https://tehnika.expert/dlya-remonta/prochaya-stroitelnaya-texnika/samodelnaya-vibroplita-i-vibrorejka.html
Mount for grinder
The sander can be secured to the platform using two pieces of DIN rail. They must be screwed in such a way that the power tool can be tightened using bolts on both sides. Elementary clamps that are very easy to disassemble if necessary, and then use the vibrating grinder for its intended purpose.
PHOTO: YouTube.com Attaching a sander to a platform can be ridiculously simple
Installation of the main element of the vibration rack
Well, now it’s time to work with the rule. It is necessary to drill 4 holes in it so that it can be connected to the side ribs of the platform with bolts. And again, fasteners from the “couldn’t get simpler” series. If necessary, the rule can be removed and used manually, or replaced with a longer or shorter one.
PHOTO: YouTube.com The rule has been established, which means you can assemble and check the vibrating screed for functionality
Final assembly of the tool
All that remains is to do a mere trifle - stick the handle into the place intended for it on the handle of the roller and connect the plug of the vibration grinder to the socket in the pipe. After this, you can begin practical tests.
PHOTO: YouTube.com Finishing touches: the handle is inserted into the handle of the roller - you can connect the vibrating screed
Real world testing
After completing the work on making the vibrating screed, you can begin pouring the floor. To do this, mix a solution (the more, the better), which is laid out between the beacons. Do not be afraid that the solution will not be produced. When working with a vibrating screed, the time required for leveling concrete will be reduced by approximately 10 times.
When the solution is laid out in a mountain between the beacons, the vibrating screed turns on and simply drags along the guides with slight pressure. Here the master himself will notice how much easier it is to work with such a tool than with the usual rule.
PHOTO: YouTube.com The vibrating screed showed itself perfectly, which means the work was not done in vain
Making pens
In order to make a homemade vibrating screed, you need to have some knowledge of electricity and how to operate a welding machine.
If you don’t have such skills, you can recruit friends who know how to work with such tools. The design of a vibrating screed always begins with the handles, which must consist of reinforcement. They should be bent a little, giving them an arched shape. Using welding, the made handles are connected to the profile; in order for the part to be fixed more securely, it should be additionally secured with bolts. Assembly is carried out on a workbench or an ordinary flat table, because it is necessary to maintain maximum evenness, and this is difficult to achieve on a raised surface.
To ensure safety, it is recommended to insulate the handles with a rubber coating. The rubber must have a decent thickness, because when working with a vibrating screed, a lot of vibration is created, which is transferred to the handles, which, in turn, makes using the tool inconvenient. There are cases when the device is made with one handle - this is not practical. Experts advise making one pair, this makes it easier to manipulate the vibrating screed.
Final word
This tool is extremely convenient to use. At the same time, it compares favorably with the one that can be purchased in a store. After all, it is much cheaper. At the same time, a homemade vibrating screed can be disassembled and parts from it can be used as an independent tool. This approach will help relieve the home craftsman’s pantry, relieving him of the need to store disposable items that would be a shame to throw away.
We really hope that everything we tell you today will be useful to you. Despite the fact that the author tried to present everything in the simplest possible language, it is possible that something remains not completely clear. If so, ask your questions in the discussions below. The HouseChief editors will be happy to clarify any unclear points. There you can comment on what you read and express your personal opinion on the advisability of assembling such a tool yourself. If you found the article interesting, don't forget to rate it. Every opinion is extremely important to us. Take care of yourself, your loved ones and be healthy!
Source
How to make a vibrating screed for concrete with your own hands? Step-by-step instructions + Video
Concrete is the most commonly used building material.
Due to its performance properties, concrete is used in almost all stages of house construction: the foundation, blind area, floor surface, walls and partitions. To achieve strength and durability, concrete must be made from a quality mixture and the right tools.
If the concrete solution is properly compacted, the finished surface will be free of cracks. The most important tool when working with concrete is a vibrating screed.
Application of Vibrating Slats for Concrete
The tool is often used during industrial-scale work.
Vibrating screed for laying concrete is used in private and industrial construction. The main area of its application, of course, remains concreting surfaces. The mechanism compacts huge masses of mortar and, by removing water from the concrete, gives it strength. The equipment also removes air from the viscous mass, resulting in a durable and high-quality structure. The industrial and civil engineering sectors include its use for laying industrial concrete floors in warehouses, shopping centers with heavy traffic or pedestrian traffic, as well as when performing road work and tunneling. In addition, it is used in road construction.
What is a vibrating screed
Types of vibrating slats
A vibrating screed for concrete is a popular construction tool for screeding. Professional vibrating screeds are divided into several types.
floating
Using guides, the top layer of concrete is leveled.
The engine power compacts the concrete solution to a depth of 15 centimeters.
Telescopic
Such devices have sliding slats, which allows you to level a large area at the same time.
Before starting work, the slats are fixed to the required distance, which simplifies the work.
Sectional
They have a large grip, which is ideal for industrial construction. They have a collapsible design, which makes them convenient for transportation from site to site. Equipped with a powerful engine.
Making a vibratory screed for laying concrete
It is the vibrating screed for laying concrete that makes this coating as durable and high-quality as possible.
The concrete coating itself has a huge number of advantages.
However, in order for it to really have high technical characteristics, it must be filled in accordance with all the rules of existing technology.
Correctly preparing the solution and setting up the formwork is only half the battle; concrete must be laid correctly and competently.
If, after drying, there are airy areas and voids inside the concrete base, then such a coating most likely will not last for a long time and will greatly lose in quality.
Therefore, it is very important during the process of pouring cement mortar to thoroughly tamp and compact it. This will allow the trapped air to be released and thus remove voids.
This work can be done manually, by piercing the fresh mortar with a piece of reinforcement, but no one guarantees the quality of such concrete, and even if the pouring area is large, this will not be easy and quite problematic.
It is precisely in order to simplify the work and make the coating of the highest quality possible that a universal vibrating screed for concrete is used, which you can buy or you can make at home with your own hands.
DIY vibration screed
For small jobs, you can use a homemade vibrating screed.
Manufacturing
The simplest option is to assemble a vibrating screed from a board, timber and drill.
Usage
It is easy to use.
Flaws
Vibrating screed option with aluminum profile
It will be more difficult to make a vibrating screed with a metal lath with your own hands. In addition to the monetary costs, you also need to have technical knowledge.
Instead of a board, in this version an aluminum profile will be used. This design will last you longer. The function of the handle will be performed by a pipe, and, of course, a vibration motor.
We do not recommend using welding in this option. For safety reasons, cover the handle of such equipment with insulating material.
Adviсe
Types of vibrating slats
There are various modifications of the device:
- Floating. Installed on a concrete surface. It is used to compact concrete mixtures whose depth does not exceed 20 cm.
- With guides. Such a vibrating screed can handle concrete with a thickness of 30 cm. Equipment productivity increases thanks to guides of the desired configuration and length.
- With reverse. Reversible devices are able to work on concrete in different directions, which speeds up work and makes the process more efficient.
- Sliding. The universal device levels floors in small and large areas with equal efficiency. To do this, you need to set the necessary parameters. Metal components are used in production. This vibrating screed can be used to compact and level the mixture over the entire surface.
- Sectional. This type of vibrating device is capable of achieving the greatest grip on concrete (from 15 to 25 m depending on the drive). To make it more convenient to use vibrating screeds for laying concrete, builders additionally equip them with winches.
How to make your own vibrating screed for concrete compaction
Concrete coating is one of the most popular and widely used in construction. It is characterized by high wear resistance, strength, and long-term operation. Screed, blind area, floor, columns, as well as many other options for using concrete require a competent approach to pouring technologies. In order for the quality of the coating to be high, you need to have on hand not only good building materials, but also special tools. Therefore, a master who follows the instructions must have a vibrating screed. It will help compact, compact and level the mortar mass.
Purpose and varieties
A vibrating screed is equipment used for several operations when pouring concrete:
The vibrating screed removes remaining air bubbles and water from the concrete. This prevents the formation of cavities inside the hardened concrete, which can subsequently cause structural failure. Modern tool models allow you to obtain a perfectly smooth finishing surface.
Vibrating screeds for concrete compaction are used both on an industrial scale (bridges, overpasses, hydraulic structures) and in individual construction (foundation, floor, blind area). A professional tool is expensive, but for home use it is quite possible to make a simple mechanism with good performance characteristics.
Such models are installed on concrete and smoothly pull themselves, while compacting and compacting a layer up to 18 cm deep. Grip length – from 1.5 to 5 m. Used for freshly laid surfaces. They are operated by one specialist, for whom operation of the device does not present any problems.
2. Working according to guides.
More productive and efficient, they compact the layer up to 30 cm. The power of the tool allows you to do without deep vibrators. They have a lot of weight, which is precisely what determines the use of guides, thanks to which the rail does not sink into the concrete.
Engineering is progressing, so new models are appearing that combine the characteristics of basic and innovative capabilities. Reversible vibrating screeds can move not only forward, but also backward. And sectional (sliding) ones allow you to capture a width of up to 25 meters.
Any vibrating screed consists of two main parts - a profile and a power unit. The shapes of the structures are very diverse. An aluminum, magnesium or steel profile is used. It is possible to use a gasoline or electric engine.
Homemade concrete smoother or ideal screed when building a house
First, you should list the necessary components for the vibration rack. The list includes:
1. channel (for creating the frame frame);
4. electronic engine;
8. starter for the electric motor, regulating the speed;
To make a vibrating screed, you will need the following tools and equipment:
- apparatus with a protective mask and gloves;
- drill, metal drills;
- screwdriver
There is an option to rent a welder or invite a specialist. This will cost more, but there will be a 100% guarantee of high-quality work of the seams and fastenings. How correctly the welding work is performed determines the durability and performance characteristics of the equipment being created.
Those who still dare to make a vibrating screed on their own without outside help need certain abilities, specifically speaking:
- production experience with a welding machine;
- knowledge from the field of electrical engineering;
- General accuracy, ability to follow instructions and read diagrams.
From time to time, for an amateur craftsman, the main obstacle becomes his own “creativity”. Instead of following the advice correctly, a person wants to make “unique equipment”, but in the end he gets a completely wrong result. In order for the vibrating screed for screeding a concrete floor to come out as it will fit, it is important to follow what remains to be done by our client in the instructions.
The process of assembling the electronic rail is carried out on a flat surface (table, workbench) in the indicated sequence:
