New Trowel

[junfan]

hi just brought a pre worn 18"martial town trowel. used it today and noticed after that the trowel had got specs of green all over it and on the edges of it.
looks like rust but green is this normal for a brand new trowel.

 

[external]

unless its made of copper no.

 

[Micilin]

Maybe it's a slightly eco friendly one?

I can't think why there should be green on it apart from coming in to contact with something

 

[NickB_99]

I can't think why there should be green on it apart from coming in to contact with something

Copper wiring?

Junfan - was it a stainless steel marshalltown?

 

[junfan]

Hi m8 i dont think that it is stainless steel,do they actualy make stainless steel marshall town trowels.its a pre worn one.

 

[trowelmonkey1]

stainless are as common as carbon steel, stainless are low maintenance and will do the job perfectly well, carbon will break in much quicker and will therefore give a better finish sooner but need cleaning AND oiling after each use, sounds like you've got yourself a carbon trowel there junfan, not sure where the green has come from though.[/b]

 

[roy c]

You haven't been cleaning it with green oxide sand paper have you?

 

[robbie77]

I was amazed at how quickly my new Marshall Town trowel began to rust actualy. There was someone else using it to and maybe his cleaning techniques were not the best but it started to rust like billy o very quickly!

 

[noseall]

do they actualy make stainless steel marshall town trowels.its a pre worn one.

My Marshaltown is a pre-worn stainless fella.

 

[NickB_99]

I was amazed at how quickly my new Marshall Town trowel began to rust actualy. There was someone else using it to and maybe his cleaning techniques were not the best but it started to rust like billy o very quickly!

I find the two (marshalltown) s/s ones I have don't rust, but are prone to picking up like a plaster 'film' on the bottom after a reasonable amount of use. Especially where it is machined down the middle on the bottom.

It cleans off fairly easily tho and leaves a clean trowel for next time, so not a problem.
My cheapo steel one I use for Bonding, is a bit rusty tho.
(I find the rust actually helps when doing Float & Set as it holds a bigger quantity on the trowel. I have tried with my marshalltown one but it had a tendency to slide off easier! Poor technique I'm sure doesn't help).

You're a brave man lending your trowel out though.
I'm getting quite possessive of my two Marshalltown ones and after a lot of care, breaking in etc, wouldn't like to risk loaning them and getting a notch taken out

 

[robbie77]

getting a notch taken out

Ha! Yes indeed. As it happens my builder mate (he's 76) tried to create a pre worn trowel by attempting to create a bevelled edge! (DO NOT try this at home) He came clean when he saw the replacement.

He's helping me with my house for free while I am at work so I not going to stop him grafting even if he does break stuff from time to time. [/quote]