Advice with Nela s.f

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JHA84

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hi all, only been plastering a couple of years now and this is my first comment. Been using MT SS, but after all the chat about s.flex trowels I thought I'd try the Nela. Myself and the much more experienced guy I work with (he uses Ox) both found that although it feels good and leaves a smooth finish with less effort....it still leaves hollows. The SS is rigid enough to fill these however the S.flex seems to just glide over so I've only been using it on final pass
 
hi all, only been plastering a couple of years now and this is my first comment. Been using MT SS, but after all the chat about s.flex trowels I thought I'd try the Nela. Myself and the much more experienced guy I work with (he uses Ox) both found that although it feels good and leaves a smooth finish with less effort....it still leaves hollows. The SS is rigid enough to fill these however the S.flex seems to just glide over so I've only been using it on final pass

Welcome to the forum

any flexible trowel should be used once the plaster has firmed up enough and once you have got it flat and now hollows... :D

Using these new tools means you need to adapt a little :D
 
You need to put on a'lot neater and flatter .Remember any tool is only as good as the man using it. FWIW the speed skims are good to use before the flex .
 
I use my ox ultraflex for all troweling up and its a dream to use . Like i say any tool is only as good as the man using it.
 
I'm surprised how popular Marshalltown is in the UK. MT is pretty common here in the states as well but all the plasterers I work with and who have the option to get one go with Paul Curry trowels. Hard to find even here but you can custom order one and they will custom make it to your exact specifications for about the same cost as a MT. I ordered a 14x4.75 and a 16x4.75 and they're amazing pieces that will work for you for years. They cost a little under $50 each if I recall correctly.

My very first one died last year when it fell off the scaffold and finally broke a few rivets when I was adjusting it back into shape. It survived 14 years I really should have had a little funeral for it. Was a very sad day.

That said I've recently purchased a couple Nela trowels and I'm quite impressed with the build quality. Currently my daily driver is a 14" SS Nela and I final trowel with a 14" s*p*r*lex. I'd be interested in trying this plaziflex I keep hearing about but it doesn't exist in the states.
 
never heard of paul Curry trowels...

Here ya go:

http://www.currytrowel.com/plastering.phtml

Unfortunately their site isn't great but it gives you some idea of what they do. I have never found a poor quality Curry tool.


Bon tool sells a lot of curry stuff. I don't know if they ship to the UK themselves but here I just call Curry directly and tell them what I want and they get it out to me. They'll make custom darby's, slickers (wedge or angle), knotch trowels, to your exact dimensions. They didn't have magnesium hawks last time I ordered but those are by far my favorite.
 
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Here ya go:

http://www.currytrowel.com/plastering.phtml

Unfortunately their site isn't great but it gives you some idea of what they do. I have never found a poor quality Curry tool.


Bon tool sells a lot of curry stuff. I don't know if they ship to the UK themselves but here I just call Curry directly and tell them what I want and they get it out to me. They'll make custom darby's, slickers (wedge or angle), knotch trowels, to your exact dimensions. They didn't have magnesium hawks last time I ordered but those are by far my favorite.

They do sell them on eBay I think.

One seller imports and sells them at a massive mark up.


I bought one a while back, 16" carbon.

Very nice trowel now it's worn in.
 
They do sell them on eBay I think.

One seller imports and sells them at a massive mark up.


I bought one a while back, 16" carbon.

Very nice trowel now it's worn in.

I am going to get one I think... add it to my collection
 
I am going to get one I think... add it to my collection

Yes mate why not?

For a top trowel nowadays, fortunately we're only looking at a lowish percentage of ONE days money, for something we spend 90% of the time using, for YEARS.

AND sometimes they can 'appreciate' financially, if you look after them.
 
Yes mate why not?

For a top trowel nowadays, fortunately we're only looking at a lowish percentage of ONE days money, for something we spend 90% of the time using, for YEARS.

AND sometimes they can 'appreciate' financially, if you look after them.

yeah just look at the tools that chippies need :D and plasterers moan about the cost of a mixer :D
 
Yeah , I ran a taping company for years and spent silly money on tools looking back now. Sold the lot when I returned to plastering so I'd never do it again !
 
Yeah , I ran a taping company for years and spent silly money on tools looking back now. Sold the lot when I returned to plastering so I'd never do it again !

I've got some taping tools as well. Spent so much on em I don't have the courage to burn that bridge and get rid of em. Hats off to you for having the guts to do it.
 
Hi guys. New to the forum so not sure what I done to disagree with bobski. Just pressed the wrong button I guess! I use the mediflex for last 2 trowels but agree it needs to be bang on flat before using it. Enjoying all the posts. Keep up the good work.

Welcome along :D
 
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