Abstract: The surface of a mouldable material such as wet cement is shaped to a desired configuration by a profile forming device moved longitudinally relative to the material and rotated about an axis transverse to the direction of bodily movement. The profile forming device is eccentrically mounted or otherwise shaped to produce cyclic variation in level in the longitudinal direction and has a variable configuration along its length to provide a transverse variation in level of the surface. The profile forming device is driven at a speed to cause rubbing over the surface. It may also be moved bodily in a cyclic manner in the direction of its axis and/or away from and towards the surface.