Decided to go with a Marshalltown trowel over a W Rose last month

I was at the supply house in Columbus and had to pick between a Marshalltown and a W Rose finishing trowel. Heard good things about both but the Marshalltown felt better in my hand right there. The balance was closer to the handle and it didn't flex as much when I pressed down. Been using it for about 3 weeks now on a patio job and I'm happy with how it lays the mortar flat. Only complaint is the handle got a little slick after some rain. Anyone else switch brands and find one worked better for a certain type of brick?

2 comments

2 Comments

oliver_mitchell3d ago

Yeah that part about the handle getting slick after rain hit home. I noticed the same thing with my Marshalltown after a wet morning, had to wrap some friction tape around it just to keep a grip. It's funny how the little things like handle feel or flex can make or break a whole day's work, especially when you're on your knees for hours. That balance point you mentioned matters more than most folks realize, it changes how your wrist feels after the 100th brick. Makes you wonder if companies are focusing on the right stuff when they design these tools, or if they just assume everyone's gonna wear gloves anyway.

burns.ruby3d ago

Honestly, you're spot on about the balance point thing. I've had trowels that felt fine for the first half hour and then my forearm was screaming by lunch because the weight distribution was just off. And yeah, grip is one of those things where I feel like companies cut corners thinking everyone's got padded gloves on, but half the time I'm working with wet hands or no gloves at all because I need the feel. Tbh, if they'd just texture the handles a bit more or use a different rubber compound, it'd save us all a roll of friction tape and a lot of frustration. Makes me wonder if the people designing these things have ever actually laid a brick in the rain.