Concrete rodder and methods of use and manufacture of same

A process of making a rodding tool comprising the steps of:

• one of constructing a metal rod and planing and routing a piece of dimensional lumber, to comprise one of a smooth surface, a stepped surface, a dovetail surface, and a grooved surface, to be adapted for;
• one of painting and layering a fiberglass layer along the length of the piece of dimensional lumber;
• and
• curing the fiberglass layer to a degree of hardness suitable for working the fiberglass covered dimensional lumber to perform the rodding of a concrete pour with the rodding tool.

An improved efficiency method of rodding a freshly-poured concrete pour within a form having first and second ends to form a smooth concrete surface before drying and curing of the concrete, comprising the steps of:

• pouring freshly-mixed concrete into the form;
• standing near the first end of the form while holding an apparatus for rodding concrete, the apparatus comprising:
• a rigid base member arranged for maintaining a tight tolerance of levelness along its length, adapted for connecting an additional working layer surface;
• and
• a working layer on the rigid base member, comprising a durable material capable of being finished to a smooth surface suitable for direct contact with poured wet concrete;
• extending the user's arms to reach and engage in contacting relationship the durable material on the apparatus to the poured wet concrete;
• retracting the user's arms to pull the durable material partially within and along an upper surface of the poured wet concrete such that the concrete is smoothed by the durable material as it is pulled toward the user's feet;
• taking a step rearwardly toward the second end of the form;
• and
• repeating the previous three steps of the process a minimal number of times to achieve a sufficiently smooth surface able to be successfully bull floated with a substantially lesser degree of effort compared to had the surface been rodded using a completely wooden, or completely metal, apparatus.