What Plastering Tools Does An Apprentice Need?

plaster-to-plaster

So you’re about to embark on the road to becoming a fully trained professional plasterer? That’s great news – but what exactly do you need to get started?

Understanding what tools an apprentice plasterer needs can be challenging, especially if you’re completely new to the industry and starting from square one. That’s where we come in!

As one of the UK’s leading suppliers of plastering and dry lining equipment, we’re perfectly placed to help you get the tools you need at a great price.

What tools do you need as part of your apprentice kit? Don’t panic, we’re going to run through a complete kit so you know exactly which tools you need to start your plastering journey.

This is the complete apprentice plastering kit checklist so get your notepad out, here we go!

The Checklist

As a minimum, any plastering apprentice will need the following tools to start work on site:

  • Plastering Trowel
  • Bucket Trowel
  • Hawk
  • Water Brush
  • Corner Trowel

These tools are required for any novice plasterer learning their trade – as time passes, you’ll need a few more as your skill level improves, but the list above covers the basic techniques. All our apprentice kits contain these tools as a minimum, so check these out if you’re looking for a comprehensive collection of plastering tools.

Before we get to the tools in more detail, there’s one brief but important point that needs to be made. We often get asked if buying cheap plastering tools is worth it, and the short answer is no – you’ll never get a high quality finish from a low quality piece of equipment, so if you’re serious about becoming a professional and reputable plasterer, you need to invest in your tools set.

Not only do the better tools give you a better finish, they’ll also speed up your work and generally make life on site that bit easier for you.

Anyway, back to the list! First up, we have the most important tool in your arsenal…

Plastering Trowel

If you’re going to plaster a wall or ceiling, you’re going to need a trowel of course. Choosing the right trowel for you can be tough as there are thousands on the market, but our apprentice kits use trowels selected from respected brands like Marshalltown and Nela.

When you’re starting out and learning how to plaster, we’d suggest starting out with a 14” trowel as this brings the perfect balance of size and control. Too small a trowel and you’ll struggle to hold the plaster when applying it to a wall; too big and you won’t be able to develop your technique effectively.

Learning how to use your plastering trowel correctly will be tough at first, but once you get the hang of it you can look to upgrade your tool.

Whatever you do here, don’t go for something cheap – your plastering trowel is what will deliver the high quality finish so it makes sense to invest. We recommend the Marshalltown 14” trowel which comes as part of the Marshalltown apprentice kit.

Bucket Trowel

Another key tool is the bucket trowel, used for scooping up your plaster before applying it to the surface. Again there are thousands of options here just like the plastering trowel, but it’s slightly less critical to invest in quality here as this tool doesn’t directly impact the finish of your work.

All our apprentice kits contain a bucket trowel as standard.

Hawk

You have a choice of material when it comes to plastering hawks – plastic or aluminium.

In some cases, apprentices can find plastic hawks easier to use due to their lighter weight. That said, because they’re made from plastic they have a tendency to snap after periods of extended use.

Aluminium hawks are included in our apprentice packs as they are stronger and more durable, making them a longer-lasting option. They can be slightly more tricky to use because of their weight, but aluminium is still quite light and there’s no risk of the hawk snapping.

Water Brush

All apprentices will need a water brush as this is used towards the end of the plastering process to give a perfect finish to the final coat of plaster.

It’s also a handy tool to have around when you’re running behind schedule and the plaster is starting to set – a quick wipe with your water brush and you can save your walls.

Again, water brushes are dime a dozen but the cheap knock-off versions will leave bristles in your plaster and delay you on site. Invest in a reliable branded tool here.

Corner Trowel

Last but by no means least, we have the corner trowel. Another crucial tool in your kit, the corner trowel is used to smooth down the plaster in the corner of a room.

When you’re working on an entire room, you’re going to need to plaster in the corners where the walls meet. Without a corner trowel, leaving a high quality finish at a 90 degree angle will be almost impossible.

Our apprentice kits always include a corner trowel as standard, usually from reputable brands like Marshalltown and RST.

Summary

This concludes our list of the key plastering tools any apprentice needs to start their journey of becoming a professional plasterer. This isn’t an exhaustive list and it’s likely that you’ll need many more tools on the job, but this list is a great place to start.

Don’t forget to check out our range of apprentice kits designed to give you all the tools you need at a fantastic price!

Secure Your Plastering & Drylining Tools With Armorgard

Armorgard OxBox

After a long day on site, it’s time to down tools and head home for a well-deserved break before starting up again the next day.

The plastering or drylining tools you’ve worked hard and paid for need to be stored safely overnight under lock and key until the next morning, so it’s important to know they’re in a safe place away from the possibility of damage or worse, theft.

When it comes to high quality secure storage options for tools of all shapes and sizes, Armorgard offer some of the best products on the current market. From concept and design through to manufacture and servicing, their team support the UK’s network of plasterers and drylining with robust tool storage systems built around the needs of the everyday user.

We’re delighted to stock a selection of plastering and drylining tool storage products from Armorgard to our customers. We’ve chosen to partner with Armorgard because of their continued attention to detail and value for money across their entire product range – something we know our customers have benefitted from time and time again.

Not only that, Armorgard understand that storing drylining tools safely shouldn’t be taken lightly. Theft from building sites or the work vehicles of professional tradesmen is unfortunately all too common these days, so keeping your tools protected in an Armorgard storage unit can provide the security and reliability you need.

This brand understands that their products will ‘take a knock’ every now and then, especially on site, which is why their range is designed with a core focus on strength and durability.

If you need a safe way to store your tools, Armorgard offer a variety of different options to suit the size and weight of your products. All Armorgard products are tested to a strict quality control standard to ensure the very best quality and guarantee the safety of your plastering or drylining tools.

Not only are these storage systems safe, they also pay attention to small details that can make using the system that little bit easier, for example:

  • Powerful gas-powered struts are used on each storage box to help open and close the lid, taking away the weight and allowing you to focus on grabbing the tools you need.
  • Heavy duty Chubb-style keys come as standard and won’t snap easily. They can also be removed from the lock when the box is unlocked for ease of access.
  • Each product is branded with a unique serial number for additional security and this gives you the option of a guaranteed replacement key service in the event you misplace your existing set.
  • Forklift skids are in place on all the storage system products for extra mobility and come with pre-drilled holes which allow castors to be added simply and easily.

During the development of all their products, the Armorgard team spend a significant amount of time on construction and works sites to ensure their next set of tool storage options are tailored to the needs of the market. New products must continue to match the already high standards set by their predecessors and, most importantly, remain innovative and versatile.

Here at Gypsumtools, we’re proud to provide a selection of Armorgard products including the ever-popular OxBox Site Box as well as the mobile Cutting Station and Folding Board Trolley. All of these products combine stylish design with reliability, something that is almost guaranteed to improve your productivity when working on site.

As the UK’s go-to brand for durable products that work, Armorgard are comfortably ahead of the competition for tool storage innovation and quality.