Flexi Trowels | The Sad Truth

Thinking of buying a flexi trowel?
watch this video first.
I've tried almost every flexi trowel on the market and ill give you my honest opinion on them and what you need to know.

I'm doing my best to make content that can genuinely help you, it's taken me 20+ years to master my craft and I want to help others as much as I can.

If you appreciate what I'm doing and you understand how much work goes into editing and creating these videos and you would like to show your appreciation then I will happily have a nice cold beer.
you can easily send me a drink with this link...

*I have genuinely been overwhelmed with the support that I have received so I just wanted to let you all know, every penny will go towards buying a better camera and microphone so that I can improve the quality of these videos for you.

thank you so so much.

[ickebins]

I love this guy😊 I'm from Germany and as women learned through his video how to plastering ritly. Sorry for my English, but I'm very happy and excited. And you now wat, I did the whole Haus wall on my own, by myself💪 I'm so proud of myself. Thank you very very much. God bless and kind regards form Germany.🙌👍

[jonnybuckle]

So informative kirk on every video thanks very much

[sigi]

I've got quite a few of these. As I used to do a lot of shiny plaster finishes like Tadelakt and its lookalikes.

Nowadays these seem to mostly be acrylic based. But not too long ago these were either lime (traditional Tadelakt), or cement (most lookalikes).

As these require extended polishing to compact the surface and become shiny, a flexi trowel is a must. Not to mention traditional Tadelakt, where you'll be rubbing a tiny stone over the surface for hours on end.

Using a stainless steel trowel on lime or cement will leave black streaks, which can be a deliberate part of the final look. If these steaks are not wanted, you'd use the plastic.

I even had a custom copper flexi trowel made to play around with green streaks.

[jb]

I am a plasterer with 25 years experience and I think a flexi trowel should only be used for the finale trowel down, never lay on skim with it, and never use on first two trowel Downs. It a very good trowel when used correctly 👍👍

[paulnaylor]

The most honest review of a tool that we all thought was a game changer that I've ever seen cheers kirk 👍

[Sandysand]

I used to work for a builder, when he came on site, he used to rub his fingers on my finished work! So I would always give the wall a polish at finger height, just for him. LOL, It's actually not good to polish a wall too smooth, because the paint doesn't stick to it so well, It's probably best to leave it just flattened in, so the paint has a nice key to stick, they usally use a long pile roller to hold more paint these days anyhow, so point-less making too smooth, but it does please the customer.

[alan]

I do use a 1mtr speed skim to flatten off after 1st and 2nd coat and only use the nela flex for final polish, leaves it nice and matt.
Be very interesting to see how much the speed skim actually flexes when the skim is soft,

[MrPatch]

I used tyzak trowels in the 70s used to break them in on backing coats for 2 - 3 weeks then use as a finishing trowel but all different styles today

[Trekz]

As Kirk mentioned they are perfect for acrylic renders. I use them here In Melbourne to apply coloured texture coats, can get the material on very thin

[jayvincent]

We used to call the blemishes "cats bums"
Like you when the trowel first come out i was using it to flatten after 2nd coat.Big mistake!
Now i use it for the final pass and get a quality finish..I use the nela..
Good informative video as always buddy

[billyt]

I've gone full circle with flexi trowels. I have a nela superflex and a Refina Plaziflex. I only use them for polishing now and also if I'm plastering curves ir barrelled they have their place, but don't go near wet plaster with them anymore. Used to use the plaziflex to lay 2nd coat and flatten in. Looked mint and was a piece of but like u said, once the sunlight peeks in at the side of the it looks like the Yorkshire Dales. Great vid as always. Mind you, I flatten in with a 1200 speedskim and will never go back.

[RAMD]

Great thanks for your knowledge I already knew the flexi trowel was for polishing and speed skims for flatten in but it’s good hearing it from a veteran like you to re assure I’m on the right track. 👍👍

[JayGK]

ive got a 13" MT gold permashap preworne stainless steel trowl, although its hard work it gets on the plaster well and flattens. Ive bought a refina finatex trowel rose gold and found this is a lot easier on arms. there is some flex in the trowol but its semi rigid. Ive also got the superflex 2 and use this for the near last stage to fill out and finner blemishes, 2 trowels over. the plasi flex just fives it a smooth finish.

[jonstafford]

I put on with a MT carbon
Flatten quickly with a speedskim then"Lay it down" (2nd coat) with carbon.
Flatten again with speedskim.
1st and second trowel with carbon.
Then and only then use a MT flexi to polish...that's all I've found the flexi good for cos I think you can polish pretty much straight away with it.... Great video fella 👍

[stevengordon]

Bang on about flexible trowels 👌..Blokes now are on a near impossible climb to make a living.
I don't fault these young guns even old hands for using them.
outside Our profession people just don't understand the wear & tear you suffer as a spread.

I'm one of the lucky ones I'm built for it.
but I've seen many a quality spread finished off by joint problems and carpal tunnel..or the lower back goes.

It's sad that we literally have to almost cripple ourselves to earn a living.

Look after yourselfs fellas..
Great video as always 🍻

🥃

[bernardscott]

I’ve tried all kinds mate and just go all the way through with my carbon trowels now.

[daronwinn]

Great vlog, you really talk sense. I have been using a flexible ox but I will start to use it for the final polish. Daron

[danielabrahams]

I only just started plastering and am learning on lime plaster. I found the finish better with a Flexi Trowel (as you say use only at the end). Because I am a beginner and these are very old walls (definitely not straight!) during the finishing stage I find using water plus some additional plaster to fill in the low spots, flatten with a metal trowel and then use the Flexi Trowel has upped my game. The long setting time of lime is what allows this. One day I will be able to do it all in one pass (yeah right!)

[seannduntdrumspace]

Quality videos Kirk! I think i've watched them all

[LakelandDamproofing]

I can’t believe you just came out with the story of the cavity closer as I made one years ago and screwed two taping knives to it I thought I was the one that invented this and like you I was saying we should patent it, Wowser