Finisher and pumper slang for the moment concrete starts to stiffen, as in 'the slab is kicking' or 'it kicked in the hose'. Heat, sun, wind, accelerators and long waits all make a pour kick early, and once it does the crew has minutes rather than hours to close and finish it. A load that has already kicked in the drum is usually rejected at the chute.
Sun's on the east end and it's kicking, get the machine on it now and forget the second bull float.
Also heard as
- kick off
- go off
- take off
Related terms
Initial set
The point at which fresh concrete stops being workable and begins to stiffen into a solid.
Hot load
A truckload of concrete that is setting faster than it should, from heat, delay or leftover concrete in the drum.
Accelerator
An admixture that speeds up setting and early strength gain, mostly used in cold weather.
Power trowel
A gas or electric machine with rotating blades that floats and trowels large concrete slabs.
Same word, different worlds
To gel or cure suddenly, as in a resin kicking in the cup or a CA kicking with accelerator.
ElectrotechnologyShop verb for a breaker, overload or relay tripping, as in the breaker kicked.
Photonics & LasersTo start a Kerr-lens mode-locked laser by briefly disturbing the cavity so a pulse can form.
RailroadingTo shove a cut of cars, uncouple it on the move and let it roll free onto a track.