How Does a Concrete Curb Machine Work?

leveling concrete with a tool
  • 1-50 hours
  • Intermediate
  • 0-2,000

A concrete curb machine is a piece of equipment designed for concrete curbing work and is intended for use only as a concrete extruder that forms concrete borders, edging, and mower strips. This machine can be helpful in many concrete-related projects, such as sidewalk projects, golf course edging, etc. This equipment can also create concrete circles and over 500 feet of concrete curbs in an hour, depending on the feeding rate. Here is how the machine works.

Step 1 - Assemble the Concrete Curb Machine

The operator has to assemble the machine before using it. Typically, this piece of equipment has three wheels, a body assembly, different types of slip forms, steering handles, a hopper, etc. All these have to be assembled following the manufacturer’s instructions. Putting together the machine will depend on the model and the manufacturer of the equipment.

Step 2 - Operate the Concrete Curb Machine

mixing concrete in a bucket

In order to make use of the machine and create curbs or concrete edging, one has to first premix concrete. Feed concrete mix into the hopper, while the curbing machine extrudes concrete on the base or ground.

Position the curbing machine at the starting point of the curb. When the equipment is in the correct position, start it by following the manufacturer’s instructions. As the engine starts, concrete mix should be fed to the hopper shovel by shovel. This means that the machine requires at least two people working hand in hand in order to make it work. One will steer the machine and guide it on its path, while the other will feed the hopper with concrete as needed.

As long as the machine has concrete in the hopper, it will continue propelling itself. The auger in the hopper will lead the concrete into the ground as the slip forms carefully form the curb. When there is no more concrete inside the machine, it will automatically stop. The operator can check the movement of the machine through the leveler. It is also the duty of the operator to guide the machine to the correct path, as the equipment won’t follow it in an automatic fashion.

Step 3 - Feed the Hopper

The hopper does not need to be completely filled with concrete. To keep the curb machine moving into the required direction, the trick is to never leave it totally empty. Therefore, the person feeding the hopper has to keep pace if this result is intended. In order to avoid jamming up the hopper, put fine sand in the concrete mix and never add gravel.

Step 4 - Finish Curbs

car pulling up to a curb

A concrete curb machine has its limitations. When curbing into an obstruction such as a wall, a trench or any other object that blocks the way, the remaining portions of the curb have to be done by hand. When finishing circles, the closing edges also require the use of your hands and trowels. At the same time, the concrete curb machine allows for easier curbing in longer curbing applications.