Important Things to Know About Hawk and Trowel

If you want to learn to plaster, then you need to know about the plastering tools. Hawk and trowels are the basic tools that you need for plastering work. A hawk is a handheld tool that is used to hold the plaster or mortar. Hawks are designed with a board and you can find a perpendicular handle fixed centrally on the reverse side of a hawk. You can use this handle to move the hawk horizontally and you can apply the mortar on the surface. But, to smooth the surface, you need to use a trowel.

How would you use a Hawk and Trowel?

• Scooping: You can scoop the plaster into a hawk, and you must hold the plaster in the center of the hawk. It will reduce the pressure on your hands, and you can easily hold the hawk for a few minutes.

  

• Scraping: Now you can use a trowel to scrape off the excel plaster and you can seal the edges of the hawk by using a flat trowel. Hold the plaster and give the hawk a slid bounce. It will help you to hold the plaster in the center and then you can apply the plaster or mortar on the wall.

• Smoothen the surface: After applying the mortar on the wall, you need to use a trowel to smooth the surface. An experienced plasterer or concreter can do these steps in a fluid motion, and they can save your time and energy. But, if you want to take it as a DIY task, then you can use a hawk and trowel for the same.

The above steps are for the plastering and you can follow these steps for plastering the walls and ceiling. But if you want to install tiles or stones on the wall or floor then you need to use the hawk and trowels in a different way. In this case, you need to use a notched trowel and you can apply the plaster or mortar on the wall with this trowel. Then you can use a corner trowel to install the tiles in the right position, and you need to apply the adhesive with a small trowel for great finishes. Lastly, you can use a hawk to smooth the surface.

Why would you use a hawk and trowel for drywall?

You can use a hawk and trowel for building drywall. You can use it for mud flooring, and you can use a hawk and trowel for applying multiple layers of mud. Once you apply the water to the surface, you can use a trowel to smooth the surface. It will develop some textures on the drywall, and you can control the thickness of the wall by using a hawk.

Hawk and trowel are different, and both tools are used for plastering and cement finishing. You can use a 16″ by 16″ flat hawk to hold the plaster. Then you can use a flat rectangular trowel to smooth the surface. Trowels are available in different sizes and shapes, and you need to choose the best one according to your needs. But it requires a lot of practice to hold the plaster on the hawk because you cannot transfer the mortar from the hawk to the surface without experience.

Conclusion

You can also use pans and knives for your drywall finishes, but if you want to make some texture on the drywall then you should use a hawk and trowel. You can create some unique styles and textures with these hawks and trowels, and you can search for such templates online. You can search for such hawk and trowels online and choose the best one according to your needs.