Trowel

A handy hand tool used for leveling, spreading or shaping substances, a trowel has been in use for a long time . It is a flat-bladed hand tool. Used specially in construction and gardening, a trowel comes in various shapes and sizes. It consist of a metal flat blade attached to a short handle. Trowels are variously used to spread, scoop, dig, and place. The blade may be attached to the handle with a curve or lift as in a shovel or straight, like in a spade. Trowels are referred to as hand spades or miniature shovels.


Types of blades

• Carbon Steel (straight or notched)
• Stainless Steel (straight or notched)
• PVC
• Sponge rubber in different colors thickness and density

Types of handles

• Wooden handles
• Plastic handles
• Plastic handles
• Soft Rubber Handle

Features of trowels
Depending on the application, trowels are variously shaped. The shape of the blade varies with some being rounded while others come to a point. In other words , the metal flat blade comes in various shapes like pointed, scoop, rectangular or triangular. In some cases, the blade can also be curved. The blade can also be notched at the sides. The blade of the metal is made of high grade metal. The metal is properly forged, heated, tempered and properly shaped. Some trowels have short aluminum alloy mounting. Curved hardwood handle is attached to the blade. In some cases, the handle has a rubber grip. In some trowels, the blade is removable and different blades can be attached to the handle depending on the application. There are flexible blades as well which can bend to almost any radius. Most trowels are broad, but there are some with a narrower design, just like a transplanter, and they are marked with graduated measurements.

Uses of trowels
Depending on the shape of the blades, the trowels are used for various purposes. For example:

• Cultivating the soil after it’s been initially broken up.
• Digging in small area.
• Planting or potting in situations where transplanter is too small.
• Weeding.
• Mixing, like for instance mixing soil with fertilizer.
• Trowel with serrated sides is used in slicing roots and weeds etc.

Applications
Trowels are widely used in construction trades. Some construction trade professionals who practice the crafts known as the Trowel Trades use trowels as part of their everyday use tools. For example: Trowels are used by:

• Tile setters
• Marble setters
• Terrazzo setters
• Bricklayers
• Cement masons
• Concrete finishers
• Drywall finishers
• Plasterers etc.

Types of trowels

• Brick trowel: Brick trowels are used to pick up mortar and spread it on the wall for the next course of brick, concrete block or stone. Experienced masons use them to cut bricks. Width at the heel or the back end of the trowel is between 5" and 5-1/2", with the most popular length being 11".
  
  Two shapes of brick trowels have become almost standard: Both patterns that can be used for laying block are as follows:
  • Philadelphia Pattern: Available with a square heel, its the most popular pattern.
  • London Pattern: This pattern, comes with a rounded heel so the mortar is carried a little farther forward on the blade.
  
  
• Float or Finishing Trowel: This type of trowel has a large, flat rectangular blade and is used to smooth a surface. They are available in a variety of widths and lengths to suit the job. Floats are made of aluminum, magnesium, wood, cork or rubber. The most popular with cement finishers are wood and magnesium. The best-selling sizes in wood are 12" x 5" and 16" x 3-1/2" while the popular magnesium float is 16" x 3-1/8". Floats are used mostly with concrete work.
  
  
• Flooring Trowel: The flooring trowel is shaped like a lancet arch, having a rectangular back and a pointed front made to fit corners and used for laying concrete.
  
  
• Gauging Trowel: The gauging trowel is easily recognized by its rounded tip, along with the characteristic V-shaped back. The trowel is used for gauging or mixing in specified proportions, small amounts of quick set plaster.
  
  
• Corner Trowel: Corner trowels are used to form inside and outside corners, used for accurate corner finishing when plastering. It is a V-shaped trowel to fit the inside of a corner joint.
  
  
• Margin Trowel: It has a V-shaped back with a rectangular front. The trowel is used for scooping, to mix thin set and other material, and also for spreading material like adhesives in tight spots.
  
  
• Notch Trowel: There are square, rectangular, scoop and v-notch trowels. Notch style helps to control depth and amount of adhesive applied. Used to spread adhesive on the base surface before laying tile or other floor coverings. While the V-notch, square and scoop trowels are used for spreading ceramic tile adhesive, square and rectangular notch trowels are used to apply thin set mortar for floor tile.
  
  
• Pointing Trowel: Pointing trowels, 5-1/2" or 6" in blade size, are used by bricklayers for pointing up their work. Pointing trowels are used for patchwork and for cleaning other tools. High quality pointing trowels are forged in one piece and made about the same as a brick trowel. The length of pointing trowels may be from 4-1/2" to 7". The most popular lengths of trowels are 5" and 6".
  
  
• Plastering trowel: Plastering trowels are used to carry plaster to the wall or ceiling when two or three coats are applied. They have a lightweight flexible blade with an average size of 11" x 4-1/2". They are available with a choice of two handles, either straight or curved, called the California pattern.