i thought as stated before plastic trowels are only for certain external finishs and epoxy plastering.......no good for normal plastering as for putting a good shine on your work, bet the decorator behind you swears his head off, you shouldnt shine up your work cause the paint does not adhear to it properly, the painter will have to sand your work to get a key, so theres certainly no point to that. If i saw one of my boys shining up work id give him a cuff round the ear....or a peice of sandpaper and tell him to go back in 4 days time....and probably call him a donkey in thye process lol ;D