What is a Hand Trowel and What is it Used For? | Multiquip

A walk-behind power trowel with a teal protective cage and a black engine, designed for smoothing concrete surfaces.

Hand trowels are important tools in construction and gardening. These small, handheld tools are used for different jobs involving applying, smoothing, and moving materials. In this blog you’ll learn precisely what a hand trowel is, and how they’re used.

Key Points About Hand Trowels

  • Important tools for construction and gardening
  • Small, handheld tools for precise jobs
  • Feature a flat or curved blade with a handle
  • Used for applying, smoothing, and moving materials
  • Come in different shapes and sizes for specific uses
  • Main types: masonry, garden, and special trowels
  • Used for concrete work, bricklaying, and planting
  • Made for jobs needing precision and control

Understanding Hand Trowels

A hand trowel is a small tool with a flat or slightly curved blade attached to a handle. It’s used for jobs that need precision and control when working with materials like concrete, mortar, or soil. Multiquip sells different hand trowels for various construction jobs.

Hand trowels come in different shapes and sizes, each made for specific uses. The blade can be pointed, rounded, or square, while the handle is usually made of wood, plastic, or rubber for a comfortable grip. The size and shape of the blade often determine what the trowel is mainly used for, with bigger blades good for covering more area and smaller, more specialised shapes for detailed work.

Types of Hand Trowels

There are several types of hand trowels, each made for specific jobs:

Masonry Trowels

Masonry trowels are used in bricklaying and concrete work. They include:

  • Bricklayer’s trowels: Used for spreading mortar and setting bricks
  • Pointing trowels: For filling and finishing joints between bricks
  • Float trowels: Used for smoothing and levelling concrete surfaces

Garden Trowels

Garden trowels are used for planting, weeding, and moving small amounts of soil. They usually have a more curved blade than masonry trowels. These trowels often have a pointed tip to dig into soil easier, and may have depth markings on the blade to help with planting at the same depth.

Specialised Construction Trowels

Multiquip offers several special trowels for construction work:

Pointed hand trowels are great for working in tight corners and creating detailed finishes. Round to square hand trowels are versatile for different concrete finishing jobs. For larger flat surfaces, square to square hand trowels are ideal.

What is a Hand Trowel used for in Construction

Hand trowels are used in various construction jobs:

Concrete Work

Cement trowels are used for finishing concrete surfaces, creating a smooth and even finish. For special surfaces like swimming pools, pool trowels are designed to create the perfect texture. These trowels often have slightly rounded edges to prevent leaving marks on the concrete surface.

Masonry and Bricklaying

Trowels are essential for spreading mortar and setting bricks or stones in place. The shape and size of the trowel blade can affect how much mortar is applied and how precisely it’s placed, making it important to choose the right trowel for the specific masonry job.

Plastering

Plasterers use trowels to apply and smooth plaster on walls and ceilings. Different sizes and shapes of trowels are used for various stages of plastering, from initial application to final smoothing.

Tiling and Grouting

Notched trowels are used to apply adhesive for tile installation, while smaller trowels help with grouting. The size and shape of the notches on tiling trowels are designed to create the right thickness of adhesive for different types and sizes of tiles.

Specialised Hand Trowels in Multiquip’s Range

Multiquip offers several specialised trowels for specific construction needs:

Magnesium hand trowels are light and ideal for working with concrete. For creating textured finishes, texture floats are the tool of choice. When precision is needed along edges, edger trowels come in handy.

Conclusion: The Important Role of Hand Trowels in Construction

Now that you know what a hand trowel is, we’re sure you can also see what makes them essential tools in construction and landscaping. They offer precision, control, and versatility for many different tasks. By choosing the right trowel and using it properly, you can achieve professional results in your projects.

Remember to select high-quality tools that match your specific needs. Kraft hand trowels, as available from Multiquip, are known for their durability and performance in various construction applications.

To stay updated on the latest techniques and industry trends, be sure to check out the Multiquip blog. With the right tools and knowledge, you’ll be well-equipped to tackle any trowel-related task in your construction projects.

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