Stucco or Plastering Trowels, carbon steel or stainless steel trowels, which ones are better?
Stucco Trowels, carbon steel or stainless steel trowels,
My thoughts on Stucco and or Plastering Trowels.
Stainless Steel is usually offered in the most available sizes of trowels.
These will not typically include rust. They can be used for just about anything and are a higher-quality trowel that lasts longer and will not discolor finish materials.
It is tempered evenly throughout to normalize the structure of the metal and create uniform hardness.
Stainless steel is slightly heavier and less flexible than carbon steel. However, it holds the sharpness of an edge well. Used commonly in concrete and plasterwork.
Carbon Steel is a strong, lightweight option that is more flexible than stainless steel. In addition, it can be tempered harder than stainless steel due to the carbon content. This is also commonly used in concrete and plasterwork.
Blue Steel is tempered at higher degrees; the blue steel is typically a little thinner than carbon steel, allowing the blade to flex slightly. This allows us as plasterers to move the plastering mud where we want it to go using our wrist. Sure the metal is harder but adds a spring to it.
This process also gives the steel the final blue color it is known by.
This is mainly used in the concrete world, but I love plastering, whether inside or externally.
Blue steel is popular for pool trowels due to its hardness with added spring, allowing finishers to easily follow a curve’s radius.
Note: all of these trowels can rust a little bit; if you want to prolong any plastering or stucco trowel, wipe it clean throat for the day’s use, then when storing it, you can swipe a bit of oil on it both sides to prevent rust.
Have I applied oil on both sides of the blade to prevent rusting? Yes, I didn’t care if rust appeared for the first year, the last 35; I simply scrape them on the sidewalk or curb?
One might think, man, that’s a horrible way to treat a trowel, I believe, it’s not really the trowel, but in the skill level in the applicator, as I can use any trowel and make it work, but prefer my handy Dady 20 or 18-inch swim-pool trowel. See below why, as it’s not what most think.
PLASTER TROWEL
https://amzn.to/2X3LHgN/The Trowel in this link is my absolute favoritist and bestests trowel for interior plastering as it’s 5 inches wide by 18 inches long, “unfortunately,” it’s too big for most folks.
Still, the only one that the width is 5 inches thus has much more flex for the plasterer for better controlling and hard steel troweling, perfect for the plasterer who does a lot of lime finishing or just plaster repairs complete walls.
I’d recommend the 16 x 4 1/2 below for more minor patchwork.
It’s called Bon 12-318 Curry Swim Pool Trowel, Carbon steel 16-inch x 4 1/2-inch, Flexible rounded blade, Short shank Camelback wood handle, Lightweight, Designed for extended wear.
The video below explains my preferred choice of trowel for interior or exterior plastering.https://youtu.be/X_SRyTIVMbU/
It’s all about hand-eye coordination
Now you Know.
The videos below are key-worded in all Languages for your education and amusement.
https://youtu.be/iiC8HUKLyHs/ stucco or plaster bonding agents painted wall surfaces
https://youtu.be/9KeC3_-0NkE/ Stucco buckling fixing loose or separated buckling stucco walls.
https://youtu.be/ayrdFd3MmIc/ failures in stucco patching, sh!t happens.
https://youtu.be/9S1goySHDa8/ stucco family working in harmony.
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