Which trowel for base coat?

[MICH43L]

When starting from brick, I'd be interested to know whether you should use a different trowel for the base hardwall coat than in the later skim coat stages?

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

Yes, I keep my best trowels for finishing.

 

[NickB_99]

When starting from brick, I'd be interested to know whether you should use a different trowel for the base hardwall coat than in the later skim coat stages?

I agree with PBOD.
I use a cheap 12" steel one for laying on undercoat plasters on brick. Recently bought a larger cheap steel one too when you have larger areas to lay on. I was finding the 12" trowel meant a lot of returns to the spot board!

My marshalltown stainless steel ones are only used with finish plaster.

 

[MICH43L]

Thanks, I was thinking along the same lines - both in terms of size and keeping my Marshalltown trowel from getting too beaten up.

 

[joe-90]

I use a 13 or 18 inch for undercoat plasters. Then the finishing trowel for polishing. Marshaltown are for poseurs not plasterers.

BTW bonding is for brick - not hardwall.