Trowel strokes

[ChrispyUK]

Here’s something potentially of interest

Obviously over time everything becomes quite subconscious, but especially for the big hitters, do you minimise or think about the lowest amount of trowel strokes to get everything flat and finished? Or, do you find yourself laying on and trowelling up and zoning out in between without any thought to the fact you could be doing more work than needed?!

 

[bobski]

I generally zone out and 25 years passed

 

[paulf]

Here’s something potentially of interest

Obviously over time everything becomes quite subconscious, but especially for the big hitters, do you minimise or think about the lowest amount of trowel strokes to get everything flat and finished? Or, do you find yourself laying on and trowelling up and zoning out in between without any thought to the fact you could be doing more work than needed?!

The jobs done in your head once you've been doing it for years, so I'm focused on nothing else. I don't care about doing more, I know what needs to be done. Site work is different more you do more you earn but if that's your bread and butter you'll zone into your process.
That's why I'm an advocate for a proper Apprenticeship it builds the mentality, you're expected to make mistakes at that stage and you will be corrected quickly.
No course or enthusiastic diyer experience will build that, we get so many newbies on here that look for ridiculous stuff like what price or how many metres you should do in a day etc. Then there's the type that have clearly bitten more off more than they can chew and refuse to believe they're about gain a hard lesson which is nothing about plastering.

I read that in the Plastering Mindset, absolutely seminal that book.

 

[Spitandpolish]

Here’s something potentially of interest

Obviously over time everything becomes quite subconscious, but especially for the big hitters, do you minimise or think about the lowest amount of trowel strokes to get everything flat and finished? Or, do you find yourself laying on and trowelling up and zoning out in between without any thought to the fact you could be doing more work than needed?!

No, that never happens.....now shut up !

 

[bobski]

After a very minor injury back around (just over) 20 odd years ago (rota)

I had to really rethink the laying on technique.

At this point I realised it was like a blessing in disguise. An absolute blessing in disguise.

I had to change my own movements to be more efficient, pattern of laying on, and method of troweling up.

I became so much faster with a lot less effort. A lot.

Anyway, back to point, since that time, I thankfully became so efficient that it takes no thinking. I'm on autopilot whilst working constantly. Mind is everywhere and thinking of all sorts, but not really having to focus on what's in front.

So - I am now passing the same onto the lads I train. (Those that care to listen - (f**k**g dingbats mostly))
The methods and patterns etc.....

 

[Spitandpolish]

After a very minor injury back around (just over) 20 odd years ago (rota)

I had to really rethink the laying on technique.

At this point I realised it was like a blessing in disguise. An absolute blessing in disguise.

I had to change my own movements to be more efficient, pattern of laying on, and method of troweling up.

I became so much faster with a lot less effort. A lot.

Anyway, back to point, since that time, I thankfully became so efficient that it takes no thinking. I'm on autopilot whilst working constantly. Mind is everywhere and thinking of all sorts, but not really having to focus on what's in front.

So - I am now passing the same onto the lads I train. (Those that care to listen - (f**k**g dingbats mostly))
The methods and patterns etc.....

That's good mate, at least you won't be kept awake at night wishing that you'd shared your amazing technique, I just hope that the young uns appreciate how lucky they are.