PSA: I switched from a standard 10-inch trowel to a 12-inch for a big foundation job in Tacoma.

The extra width let me lay more mortar per pull, so I finished the first course in about 30% less time. Anyone else find a bigger trowel speeds up your work on long runs?

3 comments

3 Comments

jamie_carter875d ago

Ever try going up to a 14 inch? I made that jump last year on a long block wall and it felt like cheating. You really notice the difference when you're not stopping to reload the trowel every two seconds. That extra bit of mortar makes a huge difference on a straight run. Once you get used to the weight, you just fly through the work.

ellis.susan4d ago

That's a solid point from @jamie_carter87 about the 14 inch. Read a forum post a while back where a guy said the same thing, that it turns long walls into a breeze once your arm adjusts. The real trick is keeping your mortar stiff enough so it doesn't slide off a bigger trowel, right? Makes you wonder why more people don't switch up for those big runs. Seems like a no brainer if you're doing a lot of block.

dianaanderson4d ago

Honestly though, is the extra weight and learning curve really worth it for a few less loads? My 12 inch does fine on long runs, and I'm not fighting a bigger trowel all day. Seems like a lot of hype for a couple inches of steel.