Right, not used them on sand and cement as yet, but recon they could be really good on that, again not tried them on one coat plaster either and also recon they would be able to flatten that down early doors too like a plastic trowel, which I have to say i do not use as your just tempted to go on your work way to early ( my plastic is a refina but i only use it now for one coat plaster ). They blades I have are from Speedskim not from Refina as I didnt think I could borrow any more from my mortgage ( ;o) )........How does it get me to lay more on ....simples.....Lay on my normal ceiling and a wall, and the apprentice lays on his wall or 2 if ok size, then flatten ceiling down with speedskim blades ( I have 240, 180 and a 60cm ) and while apprentice starts a second mix ( yes this is a rolling gauge but instead of just half size of 1st mix......do same size) then flatten that with speed skim, then roll back onto 1st hit with 2nd coat etc............I find that the blades can smooth down a hell of alot earlier than a steel blade without leaving tiger stripes. Today I used a 240cm on a 35m ceiling for second hit of the day while apprentice layed on 2 walls so we mixed separately as we were in different parts on the house. I flattened 1st immediately with speedkskim and layed on 2nd coat with no problems at all.......35m hit was on within 1hr max i recon....no ****.......I then proceeded to have 2 toasties, about 5 fags, a cinnamon swirl.......and a cup of tea and made 3 phone calls..........and muck was wet as an otters pocket still . I was annoyed that I didn't use it on 2nd coat but just want to get me skills up with one on 1st coat for a little while but did yesterday and left a couple of line after the drag ( again getting used to it ). As with any new tool just takes a little while to get to grips with it , but with now 3 hits under my belt its a keeper, less flattening, less arm power, less pain , quicker speed....bigger hits....it a friggin no brainer to me full set £100 or so..................love em.......and I hate sponging work ...and plastic trowels for that matter. Just hope no plasterers in my area get to grips with em for a while. Try them boys worth it.........Years ago I used to use a 18inch trowel to flatten but elbow was playing up ( Im obviously not a big boy lol ) so as a flattening tool , think its hard to beat......honestly
PS a troll is a windup merchant and not a mythical creature...and no I havnt lost it.....I lost it about 10 year ago ;O) and cant find it since