Trowels are small hand tools used in many gardening and construction applications to dig, smooth, and move small amounts of material around. Most commonly consisting of a flat, curved, pointed, or notched blade made out of metal and a short handle for easy manipulation. At DeFusco Industrial Supply we offer a selection of trowels in many shapes, styles, and sizes that are designed to make your job easier while saving you money. Our High quality and low prices can’t be beat!
Flat trowels or finishing trowels are tools used to smooth out plaster or mortar. Consisting of a very flat blade and a curved handle, these rectangular tools are used by firmly placing and moving the blade across a surface that needs to be smoothed. The blades on a finishing trowel are very straight, flat, and come to sharp points in the corners. You should always use caution while using a finishing trowel to ensure you do not harm yourself, others, or the materials you are working with.
Curved trowels have a rounded point almost like a shovel and are a great multipurpose tool for use in the garden. The slight bend in the blade makes them perfect for scooping, while the blades edges are beveled and slice through dirt and other substances with ease. Due to the appearance of a curved trowel they are often referred to as miniature shovels or hand spades.
Pointed trowels have a blade that is triangular in shape, which is usually about five inches long and attached to a plastic or wooden handle. Often referred to as a bricklayer’s tool, pointed trowels are mainly used to fill and shape the mortar between bricks, a process called pointing. Pointing trowels are also great for separating concrete from forms while it is being poured and evenly spreading out materials in tight spaces.
Notched trowels are required for applying tile floors. Notched trowels are available in different sizes, with rectangular or v-shaped notches, and varying depths. To determine which notched trowel is right for your applications, you will have to take into consideration the type of setting materials you’re going to use, the size of your tiles, and the surface they will be applied to. The most common rule of thumb is to use a notched trowel with a depth that is two-thirds of the thickness of your tiles.
No matter which trowel you’re using, it’s very important that you always clean it off after use. Failing to clean off adhesives and mortars before they set will require chipping them away and may cause damage to your trowel. If you’re not sure which trowel is right for your application, contact us. One of your skilled staff members will happily guide you through the process of selecting the correct trowels for your projects.
