Smaller trowels

Cornelius

Cornelius

Well-Known Member
just been using a little 12 inch trowel which I originally bought for cupboards around kitchens and tricky spaces, I must admit the little fella feels really nice in my hand, does anyone use a smaller trowel for everyday use? Pros? Cons? It's been good this morning for rendering plinths and setting beads up.
 
A lot of the old boys used small trowels I use a 13 but a lot of the young lads think that's small big is better so my first misses use to say
 
Smaller trowels

Got these 2 midget trowels which come worn in and sharp made in italy.
Great trowels for patches or around sockets, i use the bigger of the two to butter my beads on with.
Myke wye is where i got mine in venetian section.
 
Cornelius said:
Old guy I used to work with said that years ago most plasterers used an 11 inch trowel?
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in the late 60s when i first got hold of a marshalltown 14 inch trowel, i had to go to Walthamstow to be able to purchase it. i was using it for floating and skimming the other chaps only used 11 inch Tyzaks they called it a sabre. they were direct employed and my marshalltown was listed as a cement finishing trowel. therefore they would not use a marshalltown as the Tyzak was listed as a plastering trowel.
 
raggles said:
Been mainly using 11in carbon steel since adam was a lad though I have just got an 11in stainless

Sent from my F5121 using Tapatalk
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What makes you keep with the 11 inch when there is such a choice out there? Somebody said smaller trowels are better on your elbows?
 
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Cornelius said:
What makes you keep with the 11 inch when there is such a choice out there? Somebody said smaller trowels are better on your elbows?
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Basically the first two trowels I ever got were 11in ones and I have stuck with them. I do have a 13,14 and 16in trowels and some days a set will get done with one and the next set I will use another.
 
Have a marshalltown 8 inch midget trowel and a couple of similar size trowels that we're custom made by plasterer one stop shop. (Nela stainless.)
Useful on domestics. Standard size I use is 13inch. Worth having a selection of sizes to choose from.
 
I use used an 11" carbon steel for my first 5 years plastering, the old boy who taught me gave me the trowel, still use it now on smaller bits but 90% of the time I spread with a 14" mt ss, just getting into the 16" refina s*p*r*lex for finishing, I didn't get it at first but after using it for around a month Iv come round to it and I finish every set with it now
 
raggles said:
Basically the first two trowels I ever got were 11in ones and I have stuck with them. I do have a 13,14 and 16in trowels and some days a set will get done with one and the next set I will use another.
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Yeah I do that change trowels to keep myself entertained
 
Cornelius said:
just been using a little 12 inch trowel which I originally bought for cupboards around kitchens and tricky spaces, I must admit the little fella feels really nice in my hand, does anyone use a smaller trowel for everyday use? Pros? Cons? It's been good this morning for rendering plinths and setting beads up.
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You know me mate I've had a few , but since I picked up a 13inch mt ( only because they didn't have 14 and my mate adviced me to try it) I've never used anything bigger since (except st 600 ) I even found the new 11 inch ox one I bought only slightly different tbh to use than the 13 inch , tendons have been better for it imo and I don't think I'll ever use 14 or upwards again, don't see the point ,
And especially all these guys with 18 inch and bigger I think it's pointless they just giving it the big balls b*ll***s imo
 
Vincey said:
You know me mate I've had a few , but since I picked up a 13inch mt ( only because they didn't have 14 and my mate adviced me to try it) I've never used anything bigger since (except st 600 ) I even found the new 11 inch ox one I bought only slightly different tbh to use than the 13 inch , tendons have been better for it imo and I don't think I'll ever use 14 or upwards again, don't see the point ,
And especially all these guys with 18 inch and bigger I think it's pointless they just giving it the big balls b*ll***s imo
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I used to skim with a 16 inch and it was good for bigger walls or ceilings, but for areas with sockets wires and awkward stuff going on it wasn't right. 13 and 14 good all rounder but the 12 was a pleasure today
 
I started with a 12" curry and the old geezers on the crew all used 12" curry trowels for everything. I went to a 14 after a few years and really liked it so that's been my go to size for years now. I briefly tried using a 16 but it's obnoxious when you have to go around things and I really don't think it's any faster than the 14 so I went back after a couple days of trying.

You've inspired me to pull out the ol' 12" curry and give it a mix or two. Maybe those old guys were on to something.
 
Heritage Plasters said:
I started with a 12" curry and the old geezers on the crew all used 12" curry trowels for everything. I went to a 14 after a few years and really liked it so that's been my go to size for years now. I briefly tried using a 16 but it's obnoxious when you have to go around things and I really don't think it's any faster than the 14 so I went back after a couple days of trying.

You've inspired me to pull out the ol' 12" curry and give it a mix or two. Maybe those old guys were on to something.
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Keep the pictures coming mate, we like a bit of trowel porn so a snap of the curry would be great (y)
 
Cornelius said:
Keep the pictures coming mate, we like a bit of trowel porn so a snap of the curry would be great (y)
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This is the trowel that started it all. It's been in cold storage for quite awhile though.
Smaller trowels

These are the curry triplets. 12, 14, 16. This 14 and 16 are now strictly for stucco (render) but with a diamond stone and a few minutes I could get them in shape for interior again.
Smaller trowels

The curry 16" pool trowel for when they don't care so much about flat (because Framers went blind and there is only so much mud framing I have time for) but want it makes things look smooth. (or very handy for doing barrel/domed ceilings)
Smaller trowels

Current daily drivers. 14" ss curry, 14" ss nela, and 14" nela s*p*r*lex. Never leave home without these 3.
Smaller trowels

I'm redoing my interior plaster bag so I'll try to get pictures of my everyday kit when I put it all back together.
 
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I've used 14in forever . For any tight bits. Round sockets, down side of Arcis I cant use midget trowel for some reason. But I swear by pound shop pack of 5 little scrapers . Blades are thin and flimsy and work a treat
 
Heritage Plasters said:
This is the trowel that started it all. It's been in cold storage for quite awhile though.
View attachment 19017

These are the curry triplets. 12, 14, 16. This 14 and 16 are now strictly for stucco (render) but with a diamond stone and a few minutes I could get them in shape for interior again.
View attachment 19018

The curry 16" pool trowel for when they don't care so much about flat (because Framers went blind and there is only so much mud framing I have time for) but want it makes things look smooth. (or very handy for doing barrel/domed ceilings)
View attachment 19019

Current daily drivers. 14" ss curry, 14" ss nela, and 14" nela s*p*r*lex. Never leave home without these 3.
View attachment 19020

I'm redoing my interior plaster bag so I'll try to get pictures of my everyday kit when I put it all back together.
Click to expand...
A nice collection of well looked after tools (y) I love pictures of trowels :D
 
Cornelius said:
just been using a little 12 inch trowel which I originally bought for cupboards around kitchens and tricky spaces, I must admit the little fella feels really nice in my hand, does anyone use a smaller trowel for everyday use? Pros? Cons? It's been good this morning for rendering plinths and setting beads up.
Click to expand...
Everyday
 
Laying on with my 14 “ Nela and trowelling up with my 12”carbon today. Can’t go wrong with trowelling up carbon style, done some rendering with it on Saturday and feels small for rendering but also trying it out on skimming today and it’s ok for laying on skimming not slow (I guess it’s only two inches smaller than my normal 14 ) been paying attention to the guys saying it’s better for your elbows than the bigger trowels.
 
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