Bit of advice lads (trowels)

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john simpson

john simpson

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TBH never heard of any of these new trowels until reading on here , Nela etc.
So im thinking of trying one out , thinking Nela 16"

All my work is domestic , lot of boarded ceilings but double boarded mainly so not that flat.
PVA skim rooms , dot dab etc etc , very odd float and skim extensions etc. No site work or large areas.

I dont mix much at a time , usually a gorilla bucket with a bag and a half a lift( i tend to myself)

My understanding is use my MT for 1st and 2nd coats and then use these other trowels for close in and finish.

Will i benefit from using one?

If so what size and make? I use a `14" -4" MT

I know this sounds stupid , but is that serious that you can use some trowel on a stick to do ceilings? Does that work on domestics? Be well handy if it did but cant see how it works? Sure your ceiling lines would be dog rough?

Any advice appreciated , I dont do new tools so this a big purchase :)
 
Get yourself a 14 or 16 s*p*r*lex. It's used after you've flattened with your mt. It's just a bit easier on the old joints IMO.
The spat is ace for ceilings, larger they are the more beneficial they are as you've to pull in and tidy your angles with trowel, was just speaking to Marshy who has been a great help of advice with my spat, got a ceiling with 19 boards to do on my own on Tuesday, will be flattened & finished with the spat.
 
Could you explain to me Olican, the benefits of speedskim? They only flatten if I'm correct?
The spats do the whole job?
I'm not being smart genuinely want to be educated!
 
Speedskim just 4 flatten the blue one is good. I have the eze spat 600 don't think I'd try and finish with it. Maybe I should tho
 
Have a look on speedskim website.
I think they have a 'speedskim SF' which can be used for flattening and finishing. With/without Pole attachments.
 
Thanks, sorry will replies later, ended up out for a few drinks.
How do you put pressure on the stick when finishing ceiling?
If you don't mind ill try upload a pic to learn that on mobile
 
Test Bit of advice lads (trowels)
Bit of advice lads (trowels)
 
john simpson said:
Thanks, sorry will replies later, ended up out for a few drinks.
How do you put pressure on the stick when finishing ceiling?
If you don't mind ill try upload a pic to learn that on mobile
Click to expand...

That's the beauty of it, it's like a s*p*r*lex trowel, not much pressure needed at all.
 
BigK said:
Could you explain to me Olican, the benefits of speedskim? They only flatten if I'm correct?
The spats do the whole job?
I'm not being smart genuinely want to be educated!
Click to expand...

True they only flatten bud, lots of vids on YouTube showing them in use to give you better perspective. On big walls I love the 1200, and for ceilings a Speedskim on a pole is a godsend.
 
Very hard to describe but if I don't put weight on then it would be rough?
Happy enough with mt and closing in a matt finish for painting but still put a fair bit of weight to get to that point. Would it not be all fatty and shite looking?
 
Done a bit of stuff in the states with darbys to close in but no matter how much I tried, was still rough as a badgers arse, that was kinda the point over there.
Suppose it's old habits, all my life shining walls but learnt now to lose a trowel or two and leave a flat surface, keen to try something new if it makes it easier.
Just alien not to put weight into it
 
john simpson said:
Done a bit of stuff in the states with darbys to close in but no matter how much I tried, was still rough as a badgers arse, that was kinda the point over there.
Suppose it's old habits, all my life shining walls but learnt now to lose a trowel or two and leave a flat surface, keen to try something new if it makes it easier.
Just alien not to put weight into it
Click to expand...
Mate I was the same always used mt and still do. 16 for skim and 14 for float. I brought the refina speed scam 1200 and super flex 16 and use the speed scam to flatten first coat but always pull from edge and hit it wet just gives more time before second coat.
Flexi trowel I don't use but it's like marmite You either love it or hate it.
We got taught back in the day treat your trowel like a woman and always mt nice bow like shape.
Flatten, wet trowel and final..,
 
BigK said:
Could you explain to me Olican, the benefits of speedskim? They only flatten if I'm correct?
The spats do the whole job?
I'm not being smart genuinely want to be educated!
Click to expand...
I use a speed skim, I cut the 1200 down to 900.i lay on with mt and then flatten with the speed skim I then do two wet passes with the ss, I go both ways on each pass ie left right up down. Finally I go once over with a s*p*r*lex, leaves a mint finish I did a 40m ceiling last week il get a pic tomoz if they haven't painted it.
 
Thanks guys ,
suppose its hard to say too much till i try it , will pick one up next week and see how it goes.
If you dont mind then ill quiz you all on the pole/stick thing , that would be mad handy as i dont do stilts and cant bring planks/trestles in and out of a house
 
john simpson said:
Thanks guys ,
suppose its hard to say too much till i try it , will pick one up next week and see how it goes.
If you dont mind then ill quiz you all on the pole/stick thing , that would be mad handy as i dont do stilts and cant bring planks/trestles in and out of a house
Click to expand...
You still got to lay it on ,pole or not
 
yeah understand that but as good as i am at closing in , i have to put a bit of weight into the final trowels, just seems weird to go light over it as i would imagine its all fatty and crap looking , not dissing it , just dont understand it
 
john simpson said:
yeah understand that but as good as i am at closing in , i have to put a bit of weight into the final trowels, just seems weird to go light over it as i would imagine its all fatty and crap looking , not dissing it , just dont understand it
Click to expand...

Exactly John, see how you get on with it, what is also better for domestics is that you use next to no water for troweling
 
right was gonna buy one , that plasterers one shop fairly gets the arm in for delivery , is that some sort of joke?
£25 , jokers
 
john simpson said:
yeah understand that but as good as i am at closing in , i have to put a bit of weight into the final trowels, just seems weird to go light over it as i would imagine its all fatty and crap looking , not dissing it , just dont understand it
Click to expand...

I am with on you on this... it doesnt make sense to me either... but it works for some :-\
 
We have NeLa Ireland as a dealer over there. Sadly the little stretch of water costs a fair sack to get it across. We can offer it for £15 but it will be a 2-3 day service.

Your best bet is speaking to Colm at NeLa Ireland - great lad and will be happy to help
 
Plasterers1StopShop said:
We have NeLa Ireland as a dealer over there. Sadly the little stretch of water costs a fair sack to get it across. We can offer it for £15 but it will be a 2-3 day service.

Your best bet is speaking to Colm at NeLa Ireland - great lad and will be happy to help
Click to expand...

cheers :)
we get a bit sore over postage to here , at least you offer it , loads don't
Its a bank holiday over here , ill drop him a line tomorrow
 
Thanks for advice all ,
went for the 14" one and need a new HAWK so ordered one of them too.
Gysumtools did free delivery to NI , got good reviews on FB so went for them in the end.
Ill let you know how i get on.
 
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