Yeah, but X-ray does catch cold lap.

Tried patching mine with some high temp furnace cement. Held up for a few more projects, at least. Might be worth a shot before you totally scrap it.

That copper pipe trick is a perfect example of how the right tool for the job is often the simplest one, not the strongest one.

Heard the old miner's cabin on the Mount Dickerman trail has a similar flat clearing. Could be worth checking out.

Honestly had the same exact problem with a mag float on a garage slab last year. It kept pulling up too much cream and making a mess. The timing has to be perfect, almost right after the bull float, and the concrete can't be too wet. Switched back to my wood float halfway through and finished the job with it. That old wood tool just gives more control for that final pass sometimes. Felt like a waste of money for how it turned out.