Claiming that one brand is the finest is always going to be debatable because different people have different tastes based on perceptions of quality. However, a high-quality plastering trowel should have these characteristics, which make it suitable for most plastering tasks.
A plasterer should invest in a sturdy trowel that will hold up to years of work.
As such, how does one go about determining which trowel is the best? In order to select the best, you need to be aware of the qualities to look for.
Plaster is essential for the stability of any building.
There are several distinct types of plaster. However, a high-quality plastering job depends on the plasterer using the appropriate set of tools.
An excellent plastering trowel is subjectively defined differently by different master plasterers. When deciding between different trowels, there are several basics to keep in mind.
Plastering trowels may be purchased at any hardware store, and many amateurs think that this is the best option. Buying a generic trowel is risky because you can’t be sure it will produce a satisfactory result.
Generic trowels won’t hold up to typical wear and tear and will deform after repeated use.
If you’re intent on launching a plastering company, there are some considerations you should make.
If you want to work as a plasterer for any length of time, you need to invest in a high-quality trowel.
As such, how does one go about determining which trowel is the best? In order to select the best, you need to be aware of the qualities to look for.
Claiming that one brand is the finest is always going to be debatable because different people have different tastes based on perceptions of quality.
Below, however, are a few characteristics of a high-quality trowel that are suitable for the vast majority of plastering tasks.
Plastering doesn’t have to be a challenge the next time you do it. You may create a professional look with little effort if you use the right trowel. When working with plaster or a comparable medium, take careful not to leave any marks.
A plastering trowel makes it easier to achieve a smooth, professional look.
Plastering calls for a steady hand and some skill. If you want to get your plastering jobs done quickly and efficiently, you need the correct equipment.
The Ultimate Guide to Buying a Plastering Trowel
Plastering is a highly skilled profession in the construction industry. Our extensive selection of materials and tools reflects our understanding that you require them to get a high-quality result with little investment of time and effort.
Plasterers typically only need two sizes of trowels.
The 11-inch trowel is better suited for amateurs and do-it-yourselfers due to its ease of usage. When plastering, longer trowels, at least 13 inches in length, allow the worker to cover more ground in less time.
For maximum flexibility, a plasterer should have access to all three sizes. Both the small and large Nela trowels are composed of a material that is not easily deformed.
Plaster is applied, repaired, flattened, and polished mostly with the trowel. If this is the only way you can feel connected to the surface you are working on, you better love it.
It’s important to use the right kind of trowel and to keep it clean.
If you can afford it, buy a brand-new trowel rather than using one you found lying about. Real plastering requires a real plastering trowel. Low in price and easy to get, these trowels are ideal for every gardener.
The stuff the blade is made of
The blade’s material comes up next on the list of considerations. Again, the best result can be achieved with high-quality materials. Carbon steel and stainless steel are the two best metals used in the production of plastering trowels.
The combination of these two materials produces superior trowels.
The final look of the plastering is affected by the tendency of the stainless steel ones to wrap.
For fear of their stainless steel trowels warping, some companies produced an abundance.
Carbon steel blades are stronger and can withstand more frequent use. The material must be maintained with great care, however, because carbon steel rusts over time.
Producers have discovered how to make stainless steel trowels that keep their original form. Nonetheless, carbon steel outlasts stainless steel in terms of durability.
Carbon steel can eventually corrode, thus it needs to be oiled and sanded down after use for maintenance.
In spite of its rust-resistance and light weight, the plaster may not dry flat after finishing. Some manufacturers have developed methods of making stainless steel trowels that can be bent without losing their original form.
Carbon steel, however, outlasts stainless steel in terms of durability.
Carbon steel ultimately corrodes, thus it needs to be maintained by being oiled and sanded down after use.
The Last
The quality of the finished product is a major factor when plasterers evaluate different plastering trowel manufacturers. The quality of the plasterer’s work can be judged by looking at the finished surface.
Many plastering trowels are also made from a flexible material, which reduces the likelihood of warping. For instance, the Nela trowel is one of the most popular options available. Plastering tools like the Nela are available from reputable sellers on the internet.
When plastering, it’s most important to think about how the wall will look when you’re done.
Take the following into account: Even though you bought a high-end, expensive trowel, the wall still turned out uneven.
There are many options and varieties of trowels that can make the job easier, but we think it’s safest to recommend consulting an expert.
Composition of the Grip
The blade is essential for keeping the wall’s plaster in good shape, but the material used to make the handle is just as important if you want a firm grip. You shouldn’t buy a trowel only because the blade is excellent, no matter how nice the blade is.
If you can’t get a firm grip on the trowel, you won’t be able to apply plaster evenly, and your money will have been wasted. Therefore, it’s important to select a handle that feels comfortable in your hand and gives you a good grip.
The traditional trowel has a wooden handle, but new innovations have led to the introduction of trowels with rubber grips.
The rubber-handled trowels, however, will cost you more than their wooden counterparts. You should get these if you can afford to, but a regular wooden handle would do in a pinch.
Modern variations offer improved grip and control with the addition of rubberized handles.
Plastering trowels from Nela come with either wooden or cork handles, both of which are lightweight and comfortable to use.
As with any tool, the plasterer’s own preference will determine the best material for the handle. Some people, despite the sophistication of contemporary designs, continue to favour more traditional wooden handles.
Depending on the job at hand, the best trowel could be a matter of opinion. Investing heavily on durable, high-quality trowels is a common practise among professionals.
Mid-range trowels are a good compromise between price and quality, making them a good option for novice or do-it-yourself plasterers.
Repetition Rate
You need to get a trowel that can withstand the wear and tear of everyday use. If you plan on using your trowel for a variety of purposes, you may want to invest in one made of stainless steel.
Multiple companies provide high-quality, long-lasting stainless steel trowels that won’t rust or bend.
A typical trowel from the assortment of plastering tools dealers sell online might be adequate for a one-time home improvement endeavour. Low-cost trowels can also be found at hardware stores and home improvement centres.
What You Know/Can Do
If the user is weak and unable to apply the appropriate pressure, the angle at which the trowel is held away from the wall becomes even more important. Again, proper technique will be crucial in the absence of brute force.
You should trowel the plaster thereafter; the trowel’s surface area on the wall will be greater if it is virtually flat against the wall, requiring more pressure.
However, when the trowel or its leading edge is further from the wall, less of the trowel’s surface area is in contact with the wall, and the trowel functions more like a scraper.
This is an essential consideration when determining whether to use a long or short trowel. Do not forget that a longer trowel blade is trickier to control.
If you have no expertise with plastering, a short trowel is the best tool to start with.
Trowelling can be done in three ways: by filling in holes, by adding more plaster where it’s needed, and by pressing down firmly to compress the highs into the lows.
The last technique is called “scraping and filling,” and it entails taking plaster off the highs and putting it on the lows. If you are just starting off, you may find that a smaller trowel, say 11 inches in length, works well.
In Your Favor: Your Mighty Arm
The force applied by the trowel ensures a smooth finish when plastering.
Consider your arm strength when buying plastering tools like a trowel. If you are unable to apply sufficient pressure, hollow areas may develop.
Even a novice plasterer can get better results by starting with a smaller trowel and working up to a larger one.
Depending on how strong your arm is, you should choose a different trowel for plastering.
Plaster must be driven along the entire length of the trowel at full pressure for a flawless, even finish.
If this doesn’t take place and the trowel doesn’t touch every area of the surface, a lot of voids will go unexplored.
By applying the most force, the trowel will reach all areas of the surface.
You should use a smaller trowel if you don’t have the strength to apply enough pressure, or if you need an efficient application and trowelling method.
Producer (or Maker)
If you need a trowel that will last for years and can withstand normal wear and tear, a readily available Marshalltown brand would do nicely.
If you just occasionally plaster, even the cheapest trowel from the hardware store can do the trick since trowels can be overly firm, too flexible, or have the wrong balance or feel. In theory, even the priciest name-brand or middle-range specialised plasterer’s finishing trowel should do the job.
A Marshalltown is a sure bet when uncertainty reigns.
In order to help their customers strike a good balance between cost and quality, manufacturers of plasterer’s trowels use a wide range of materials in their production.
Stainless steel trowels are often the least expensive option, with carbon steel coming in a close second.
While stainless steel hardware lasts a little longer and resists rust better than its non-stainless counterpart, it must be broken in before use to soften any sharp edges.
Pre-worn stainless steel trowels are more expensive, but they avoid damage to plaster walls from sharp edges by being machine-worn. Used gold trowels are the most expensive option, but they typically deliver the greatest results and last the longest.
Problems With Rust
It just takes a few days for rust to appear, so using your trowel frequently will keep it in good condition. Because of this, a rust-proof stainless steel trowel can come in handy.
Stainless steel trowels are quite good, although they have a tendency to bend and get deformed.
The only adjustment needed is to hold the trowel’s leading edge further from the wall than the standard 10-15 mm. In contrast, Marshalltown offers an indestructible Gold Stainless Steel Permashape trowel.
Exactly Where Plaster Will Be Applied
Long plastering trowels aren’t ideal for use in tight spaces. Applying plaster with a long trowel will be difficult because of the space constraints involved. When plastering larger areas, however, a longer trowel is preferable. However, your success in doing so will depend on your confidence and skill.
Regular Upkeep and Repairs
Skilled plasterers know that it’s important to regularly break in new equipment. Since applying the scratch and brown layers of plaster does not necessitate a trowel blade that has been worn to the “sweet spot,” these coats are often applied first using the trowel.
During this time, they can fine-tune the shape of the handle, hone the blade, and evaluate the strength of the components (particularly the rivets).
Once the trowel is comfortable in the hand and the blade has developed a nice “set,” a natural and hardly visible concave curvature, then it is considered an excellent instrument.
Most plasterers carry many trowels of the same size, with varying degrees of wear; some are used for scratching and browning, while others are reserved for the last coats of paint or plaster.
Some of these, even if well-cared-for and used frequently, will lose as much as 10-20% of their initial width over the course of a lifetime.
Without proper care and maintenance, the rivets on a trowel will break long before the blade, shank, or handle.
Avoid putting unnecessary stress on the rivet connections by pulling the blade backwards or using the trowel as a scraper, and stick to the tool’s original function.
Plastering an interior wall requires a “razors edge,” or perfectly smooth, edge. If you think a box cutter is sharp, try (carefully) running it across the edge of a plasterer’s finish trowel now and then.
As the trowel is used to spread and clean the wall, the metal will corrode. Over time, the metal will start to wear down and become easily dented as the square cut edge gives way to a bevelled knife edge.
Conclusion
Since people have different ideas of what makes a good product, claiming that one brand is the greatest is always debatable. However, any decent plastering trowel should have these properties, making it suitable for many plastering projects. Plaster is applied, repaired, levelled, and polished with a trowel. Plastering trowels should be carbon steel or stainless steel. Plastering looks different when stainless steel ones wrap.
Plasterers judge trowels by how well they finish a job. Newer variants have rubberised grips for smoother handling. Some prefer wooden handles despite the current designs’ intricacy. Troweling involves mending holes, putting plaster, and pressing down to compress the highs into the lows. Even a novice plasterer can improve results by starting with a smaller trowel and going up.
Marshalltown plasterers’ trowels are reliable even in bad times. Plaster trowels are usually stainless steel, carbon steel, or gold. The leading edge must be farther from the wall than the usual 10-15 mm. A plasterer’s finish trowel can be upgraded with minimal effort and regular maintenance. Drag your box cutter across a similar instrument to assess its sharpness.
Content Summary
- Claiming that one brand is the finest will always be debatable because different people have different tastes based on perceptions of quality.
- However, a high-quality plastering trowel should have these characteristics, which make it suitable for most plastering tasks.
- A plasterer should invest in a sturdy trowel that will hold up to years of work.
- However, a high-quality plastering job depends on the plasterer using the appropriate set of tools.
- An excellent plastering trowel is subjectively defined differently by different master plasterers.
- If you’re intent on launching a plastering company, there are some considerations you should make.
- If you want to work as a plasterer at any time, you must invest in a high-quality trowel.
- Below are a few characteristics of a high-quality trowel suitable for the vast majority of plastering tasks.
- Both the small and large Nela trowels are composed of a material that is not easily deformed.
- It’s important to use the right kind of trowel and to keep it clean.
- Carbon and stainless steel are the best metals used to produce plastering trowels.
- Nonetheless, carbon steel outlasts stainless steel in terms of durability.
- The quality of the finished product is a major factor when plasterers evaluate different plastering trowel manufacturers.
- The quality of the plasterer’s work can be judged by looking at the finished surface.
- When plastering, it’s most important to think about how the wall will look when you’re done.
- The blade is essential for keeping the wall’s plaster in good shape, but the material used to make the handle is just as important if you want a firm grip.
- It would be best if you didn’t buy a trowel only because the blade is excellent, no matter how nice the blade is.
- If you can’t get a firm grip on the trowel, you won’t be able to apply plaster evenly, and your money will have been wasted.
- Therefore, selecting a handle that feels comfortable in your hand and gives you a good grip is important.
- As with any tool, the plasterer’s preference will determine the best material for the handle.
- If you plan on using your trowel for various purposes, invest in one made of stainless steel.
- Multiple companies provide high-quality, long-lasting stainless steel trowels that won’t rust or bend.
- This is essential when determining whether to use a long or short trowel.
- If you need to gain expertise with plastering, a short trowel is the best tool.
- Consider your arm strength when buying plastering tools like a trowel.
- Even a novice plasterer can get better results by starting with a smaller trowel and working to a larger one.
- By applying the most force, the trowel will reach all areas of the surface.
- You should use a smaller trowel if you need more strength to apply enough pressure or an efficient application and trowelling method.
- A readily available Marshalltown brand would do nicely if you need a trowel that will last for years and withstand normal wear and tear.
- In theory, even the priciest name-brand or middle-range specialised plasterer’s finishing trowel should do the job.
- It just takes a few days for rust to appear, so using your trowel frequently will keep it in good condition.
- Long plastering trowels could be better for use in tight spaces.
- Applying plaster with a long trowel will be difficult because of the space constraints involved.
- During this time, they can fine-tune the shape of the handle, hone the blade, and evaluate the strength of the components (particularly the rivets).
- Once the trowel is comfortable in hand, and the blade has developed a nice “set,” a natural and hardly visible concave curvature, it is considered an excellent instrument.
- Without proper care and maintenance, the rivets on a trowel will break long before the blade, shank, or handle.
- Avoid putting unnecessary stress on the rivet connections by pulling the blade backwards or using the trowel as a scraper, and stick to the tool’s original function.
- Plastering an interior wall requires a “razor’s edge,” a perfectly smooth edge.
- If you think a box cutter is sharp, try (carefully) running it across the edge of a plasterer’s finish trowel now and then.
Frequently Asked Questions About Plastering Trowel
What Is a Plastering Trowel?
Plastering trowels apply the plaster onto the surface and even the materials out for a smooth finish. When using this tool, who should place the correct amount of plaster on its flat surface to apply to the wall or floor. Like most things, using a plastering trowel is easy once you know how to.
What Are Different Trowels Used For?
A trowel is a small hand tool used for digging, applying, smoothing, or moving small amounts of viscous or particulate material. Common varieties include the masonry trowel, garden trowel, and float trowel.
What’s the Difference Between a Plastering Trowel and a Finishing Trowel?
Application of the Finish Coat requires the edge of the plastering trowel to be perfectly flat, smooth and free from any nicks. Therefore, if a good finish is to be obtained so whereas who can use any trowel for the backing coat, a good trowel in good condition is a must if a good finish is to be achieved.
How to Choose a Plastering Trowel?
You must consider the following factors when selecting your plastering trowel: Ideal trowel size, which will affect your control, speed and pressure when plastering, and then the finishing trowel, which, if light and ultra-flexible, will take all the pressure from your joints.
What Size Trowel Is Best for Plastering?
Use a 14″ plastering trowel. This sized trowel can spread a good amount of plaster with optimum control. It’s isn’t too stressful on your joints, and it’s a great weight to work with.
