Carbon Steel or Stainless Steel

[Plasterers1StopShop]

Hi Guys,

Just some information required my end on the types of trowel you use.
Whether you use Carbon Steel or Stainless Steel

If you can answer in the poll I would be very grateful, if you answer SS, can you comment the reasons why, if you use Carbon, also please comment why

Thanks for taking time to do this

Ryan

 

[Dr.B]

I use stainless because they are easily cleaned.

 

[GrantyBoy]

Stainless hassle free, I can't be arsed messing about with carbon although I appreciate they are nice to use.

 

[paulf]

SS for me, can't be bothered with the faff involved with wearing in and cleaning CS trowels plastering is a job for me not a hobby.

 

[Gibbo]

Got ss at mo but prefer carbon much lighter and sharper and just as easy to look after if you know the patina trick

 

[Danny]

Got ss at mo but prefer carbon much lighter and sharper and just as easy to look after if you know the patina trick

is that the vinegar thing

 

[Gibbo]

No mate

 

[Pug]

Stainless for me. What's the patina trick Gary?

 

[Gibbo]

Let the trowel go rusty then clean rust off underneath the trowel will be black and wont rust again

 

[Cornelius]

Recently got a carbon and very impressed. Leaves a nice finish and the trowel is very light. I leave it in a rag that I drenched in wd40 and at the end of the day I'll spend literally a minute with a bit of sandpaper keeping it clean and dry. It's not high maintenance. Always previously used stainless and still use nela premium stainless. Nela handle is more comfortable but carbon mt has better blade in my opinion.

 

[Danny]

Let the trowel go rusty then clean rust off underneath the trowel will be black and wont rust again

how do you mean clean it off? sand it?

 

[Gibbo]

Yes or one a those window scrapers

 

[Danny]

Yes or one a those window scrapers

I see... and it will not rust again?

 

[Gibbo]

No as long as you dry it

 

[uni-king]

Ss as its hassle free as every1 has said..i call carbons rust buckets..never had 1 nor never will

 

[Gibbo]

Its takes the same to clean as stainless fact

 

[roryston]

Used a carbon mt for rendering the past year, broke in a hell of a lot quicker than a stainless also lighter.

Have used it for skimming but hate it when it starts rusting up. Been using a brand new ss mt lately for rendering has also been a pleasure but you can definitely feel the difference

 

[Gibbo]

Coat it in water and leave it out in the air so it really rusts up then scrape rust off it will go black trust me it works

 

[Olican]

Carbon steel , even more so since finding out about forced patina and the Japanese whetstone, slate barbers strop technique

 

[Olican]

Ss as its hassle free as every1 has said..i call carbons rust buckets..never had 1 nor never will

I use a carbon every day, never rusts.

 

[stuart23]

Stainless as I only like to clean it once or twice a year

 

[Marshy]

I prefer stainless but it's the bloke using the trowel that makes the difference pal

 

[whitebeam]

I prefer carbon, as for me leaves a better finish personally but still have a couple of SS.

 

[Marshy]

Stainless as I only like to clean it once or twice a year

Whaaaaaat!!!!

 

[Marshy]

I prefer carbon, as for me leaves a better finish personally but still have a couple of SS.

What you have some Gestapo are they for bad payers??

 

[stuart23]

Whaaaaaat!!!!

Ok, just once if your lucky!

 

[Ashleyscoob]

Used both started 30 years ago with carbon then went to ss now just gone back to carbon as prefer it and end of day just spray with wd40 easy

 

[jregan]

Carbon steel since I started 10 years ago. I personally think the edge on a carbon is a lot finer and smoother and has a slight bit more flex than ss.
Each to his own

 

[Arti]

Carbon steel for me. Just dry it off after you use it. Leave it in vinegar for a weekend every now and again

 

[mark ross]

Best setters I've had have been carbon. The metal remains true. Some SS I've had have warped. Normally once they have become good for setting.

 

[Squarehead]

Always used ss because of hassle factor, although the best trowel I've ever used was the guy who taught me's well worn in carbon steel, was a dream.

 

[Nicm]

Carbon for me,not glamourous or shiny but a great trowel for finishing skim.Each to their own.

 

[Grant Singer]

Tried carbon for the first time over the last couple months and wins for me hands down lighter and effortless to use. Spent a good couple hours breaking in with oil stone then straight on to strop.then the forced patina looked Quality. Wee sand and oily rag keeps it in shape.

 

[paulf]

If carbon steel is so good why do you need to get a patina, stick it in vinegar, wrap it in an oily rag and carry a carborundum stone, cos the blade is easily nicked. Carbon steel trowels was all we had back in the early 80's and i'm happy with today's SS trowels a bit of a rub with wet an dry that's it cleaned. I have an old mt CS from that time and its shaped like a v an as sharp as a scalpel but I don't use it simply cos it needs TLC and my ss trowels don't

 

[A.plasterer]

Stainless as all I've ever used .