HELP - WANTED - Delehedy 14" foam backed plastic trowel blade

[WindsorPlastering]

Hi All,

This is my first post.

I am VERY much looking to buy a Delehedy 14" foam backed plastic trowel blade. Just a replacement blade as I have the mini trowel. It may be that these are not made anymore as I have looked on eBay and the only size available is the 12 inch which is to small. If anyone knows where I can purchase one it would be very much appreciated. Or if anyone has one for sale in any reasonable state I would be happy to pay a VERY good price for it. Thanks.

 

[MakeItSmooth]

I suppose you could try Ramboo, but (like almost everywhere else) they're only listing 12" as being currently in stock:

Link Removed

This shop is listing what you want, but no mention of whether they actually have any in stock:

Link Removed


I've nothing at all against Delehedy, but I have to ask you the logical question:

Instead of driving yourself mad trying to locate something that clearly many other people have also been hunting for, why not just jump over to a Refina Plaziflex equivalent, for the timebeing?

I had a quick hunt around the 'net and it seems likely Delehedy may be struggling to source raw materials (high quality plastics) or perhaps (I hope not) even struggling to stay afloat during current events (fewer tradespeople working, so less demand for tools = less cashflow to keep company afloat).

 

[SmoothCriminal]

Used both an found them very similar.. even rifina edging it overall. I purchased a 24” helehedy an didn’t like it so cut it down to a 16” worked fine.

 

[SmoothCriminal]

Used both an found them very similar.. even rifina edging it overall. I purchased a 24” helehedy an didn’t like it so cut it down to a 16” worked fine.

Doesn’t seem to be any sizes available apart from 12.

 

[MakeItSmooth]

Used both an found them very similar.. even rifina edging it overall. I purchased a 24” helehedy an didn’t like it so cut it down to a 16” worked fine.

I generally only use my Refina plazi (16") for a final wipe (often don't bother using it at all), but I think they could increase sales by making the central spine (30mm or so) of the blades much stiffer, for anything over 16" - to my mind, they're just too floppy at much over 16".

I suspect that might be partly what the nelaMax was attempting to achieve, although that design perhaps didn't allow as much gradual flex of the blade, widthways. The foam-back Refina plazi blades are good widthways, allowing gradual flex and smooth curving of the blade under pressure.
The original Nela plastic trowel (steel spine but plastic blade) presumably has reasonable lengthways stiffness, but I wonder if it maybe also lacks the Refina foam-backs gradual widthways flex and smooth curving of the blade under pressure, because, without foam to spread the pressure, its 1mm blade might have a tendency to bend acutely along the edge where the steel plate begins? Not saying this is actually the case, though.

Ryan would know:

www.plasterersforum.com/threads/delehedy-interchangable-s-p-r-lex.72815/post-1169732



Anyway, none of the plastic trowels I've seen so far have been able to hit that sweetspot of curving gradually widthways but being stiff lengthways for longer lengths. If such a trowel appeared, it could serve as a comfortable one-handed-spat (so to speak) with a trowel-type handle rather than traditional spats.

I'm not the only one thinking this way:

www.plasterersforum.com/threads/home-made-trowel.62717/post-923520

(no foam but still an interesting variation)
www.plasterersforum.com/threads/plastic-trowels.77192/post-1286875

(unfortunately, both of the above lack the widthways flexibility of the Refina foamback blade)


I don't mind whether it's Delehedy, Refina, Nela, or whoever, but I'd like to see something like I've described, released once current global events have calmed down and normality has resumed. Even though plenty of spreads dislike plazis, there's still an opportunity to innovate in this segment of the trowel market!

 

[SmoothCriminal]

I generally only use my Refina plazi (16") for a final wipe (often don't bother using it at all), but I think they could increase sales by making the central spine (30mm or so) of the blades much stiffer, for anything over 16" - to my mind, they're just too floppy at much over 16".

I suspect that might be partly what the nelaMax was attempting to achieve, although that design perhaps didn't allow as much gradual flex of the blade, widthways. The foam-back Refina plazi blades are good widthways, allowing gradual flex and smooth curving of the blade under pressure.
The original Nela plastic trowel (steel spine but plastic blade) presumably has reasonable lengthways stiffness, but I wonder if it maybe also lacks the Refina foam-backs gradual widthways flex and smooth curving of the blade under pressure, because, without foam to spread the pressure, its 1mm blade might have a tendency to bend acutely along the edge where the steel plate begins? Not saying this is actually the case, though.

Ryan would know:

www.plasterersforum.com/threads/delehedy-interchangable-s-p-r-lex.72815/post-1169732



Anyway, none of the plastic trowels I've seen so far have been able to hit that sweetspot of curving gradually widthways but being stiff lengthways for longer lengths. If such a trowel appeared, it could serve as a comfortable one-handed-spat (so to speak) with a trowel-type handle rather than traditional spats.

I'm not the only one thinking this way:

www.plasterersforum.com/threads/home-made-trowel.62717/post-923520

(no foam but still an interesting variation)
www.plasterersforum.com/threads/plastic-trowels.77192/post-1286875



I don't mind whether it's Delehedy, Refina, Nela, or whoever, but I'd like to see something like I've described, released once current global events have calmed down and normality has resumed. Even though plenty of spreads dislike plazis, there's still an opportunity to innovate in this segment of the trowel market!

I found the max very stiff after using the dele an rifina. Now thinking why.: you could be right.. widthways to stiff. The foam seemed better. I did purchase a hard back rifina but never found much luck. The fine line scratches was the end of my run with the plastics. Even after sanding they just appeared again an again. Maybe there is a sweet spot still to be found on plastic. Speedskim seem to have a great balance for flattening an are god send. Maybe they could come up with a plastic trowel.

 

[Ritch]

Hi All,

This is my first post.

I am VERY much looking to buy a Delehedy 14" foam backed plastic trowel blade. Just a replacement blade as I have the mini trowel. It may be that these are not made anymore as I have looked on eBay and the only size available is the 12 inch which is to small. If anyone knows where I can purchase one it would be very much appreciated. Or if anyone has one for sale in any reasonable state I would be happy to pay a VERY good price for it. Thanks.

@Casper