Darbies are long, hand-held floats that are:

Darbies are long, hand-held floats that are:

• A. Made of wood or magnesium; used for the same purpose as bull floats; particularly useful near side forms when a long-handled bull float is hard to manipulate around obstructions or penetrations
• B. Made of steel; used for cutting joints
• C. Disposable; for quick smoothing
• D. Used to mix concrete

Answer: (A)

Darbies are finished-load, hand-held floats used to smooth and blend the concrete surface in tight spaces where a long-handled bull float can’t easily reach. They’re typically made from wood or magnesium because these materials are light and provide a gentler, more controlled touch that helps create a uniform surface without gouging the formwork or pushing aggregate up. Their purpose mirrors that of a bull float—to bring the cream up, knock down ridges, and produce a smooth, even surface—but they excel near side forms and around obstructions or penetrations where maneuvering a long-handled bull float is difficult. The other options describe tools or uses that don’t fit the function of darbies.

Darbies are finished-load, hand-held floats used to smooth and blend the concrete surface in tight spaces where a long-handled bull float can’t easily reach. They’re typically made from wood or magnesium because these materials are light and provide a gentler, more controlled touch that helps create a uniform surface without gouging the formwork or pushing aggregate up. Their purpose mirrors that of a bull float—to bring the cream up, knock down ridges, and produce a smooth, even surface—but they excel near side forms and around obstructions or penetrations where maneuvering a long-handled bull float is difficult. The other options describe tools or uses that don’t fit the function of darbies.