what did I think of the German Trowel.

[@Jim_Newlands]

Really interesting....I always respect the views of someone who has been around the block and actually experienced working in different countries rather than these clowns who just watch a couple of videos and rip the piss out of anything that is different. Keep these videos coming, Andy. 👏👍

[@bricklayersworldwithandy6277]

Thanks 👍

[@garydonaldson5573]

So true m8 has forgot more than we know lol

[@liamwalters5029]

I’ve given the trowel a go in Germany In the late 90s to just slag it off sums up the average uk bricklayer were stuck well behind with ideas here

[@bricklayersworldwithandy6277]

You know mate 👍

[@wolfganghachmuth5419]

Pick and dip is really only suited for brickwork, that gets raked out. Here in the UK u joint up as u go along, so it's gotta be sealed. The German trowels are designed to work from the bucket/tub. Much easier on the wrist.

[@bricklayersworldwithandy6277]

Totally agree mate, I've been saying this for years. I worked in Germany, Holland and Belgium so know where you are coming from. I am planning on doing a vid on the subject when the opportunity arises 👍

[@nickturnbull4105]

Thanks Andy another open minded honest review . I worked in Germany also in the 90s and loved the whole experience and trying different trowels ,the swan neck may take some getting used to ,but greatly reduces wrist hand strain . I was well looked after and much appreciated in lovely Germany ,much more so than here . As you already know Andy , people with any kind of trade are well respected in most European countries ,but sadly looked down upon now in the UK ,how T F has it got to this totally absurd and cruel idea that anyone who does anything very important and essential that may involve getting dirty n dusty ,is somehow subhuman? Yes that's how it now feels in the UK . Love your Posts and intelligence Andy . Keep posting mate ,best wishes ,Nick . Have a nice Christmas .

[@bricklayersworldwithandy6277]

thanks Nick have a great Christmas mate 👍

[@garyreed9509]

Great video mate looks good anything that saves on the oid joints, I suffer from arthritis after bricklaying for years and being outside in the damp I hope it makes it easier for you, keep up the good work

[@lukethestonemason2822]

Great video Andy, looking forward to see more of this trowel in action. I recently picked up a French Reims pattern trowel. It's not very big but I like it for little jobs like replacing single bricks. It's a bit like a cross between a London pattern and a pointing trowel.

[@bricklayersworldwithandy6277]

Yea they are handy for working out of buckets.👍

[@kevocos]

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.” Mark Twain

[@bricklayersworldwithandy6277]

Been saying that for years 👍👍

[@paulpurves484]

Interesting video enjoyed it.

[@2_shoes]

I worked in Germany in the 90s and I must admit I never came across the Berlin pattern trowel, most common was the square/bucket/gauging trowel. When I was in Hannover building a house in block work I was given a trowel that was like a scoop with teeth on it, this was similar to a tilers float. Never come across anything like it in this country. 👍🛠

[@bricklayersworldwithandy6277]

That was for the thin bed system, I did that as well in Germany it's a great system but because it's not traditional it hasn't caught on here, we are just to backward and volumetric builders are just to gready to invest in a bit of training to a product that works fine in Europe for the last 50 years.👍

[@2_shoes]

@@bricklayersworldwithandy6277 it was the thin bed system, the blocks were bigger as well, a lot bigger than the 2 or 3DF blocks. Keep up the good work Andy 👏

[@bricklayersworldwithandy6277]

@@2_shoes Thanks mate, I did one job in Germany thin bed and the blocks were around 4 foot long and maybe 18 inches high similar to Durox/Ytong, that whent up quick.

[@liamwalters5029]

@@bricklayersworldwithandy6277 did you lay the first course with muck? Checked with a laser level so it’s mm perfect

[@bricklayersworldwithandy6277]

@@liamwalters5029 Yea mate, first course layed in muck and levelled across.

[@danishbriclayer-andersgamings]

Great you give it a try, im sure you Will love when get used to it 😉 cheers from Anders 😊

[@bricklayersworldwithandy6277]

👍

[@stephenmckenna7663]

Had really bad tennis elbow but what worked for me was it sounds stupid but if u point your index finger on your trowel and grip it with other three fingers it stops the pain

[@jeztickles4361]

Andy… you’re a pioneer

[@bricklayersworldwithandy6277]

I've been called lots of other things 😁👍

[@jeztickles4361]

@@bricklayersworldwithandy6277 such as? 🤣

[@lmilne4859]

A dry ish frog type brick would be perfect. Always said pick n dip only suits certain bricks. Or if lab hasn’t knocked up the gear then need revert to pick in dip regardless lol

[@jackrussell9811]

on the 80/s TOPS course we all got issued with the whs and rabone level ,finding the marshalltown was a revolution thought we were the kiddies with a 19/11 ,only when you get older and the trowels are worn down to about 8 inches do you realise the benefit of a small comfortable trowel , a big trowel will not lay more bricks over a day , iv still got my dads old whs broadback , heavy small handle and got an army surplus stamp on it

[@bricklayersworldwithandy6277]

Nice one Jack, what stamp does it have on it? Most just have a 1940s stamp on it. I did the TOPS course in 1977 fuck knows why they stopped it, it was a great alternative to those who fucked up in life early on and missed out on an Apprenticeship who could get on the ladder and make a life out of it .I know lots of great Bricklayers who came from the TOPS course, what made it was the instructors were proper old school bricklayers who were passionate about the trade and we're getting paid properly👍

[@jackrussell9811]

@@bricklayersworldwithandy6277 Andy, its stamped WHS HUNT & SONS BRADES , bottom left is another stamp to worn to read looks like a serial number and made in england , seen one sold on e bay £45

[@bricklayersworldwithandy6277]

@@jackrussell9811 yea bottom left is a serial number or the Army ones had the date.

[@jackrussell9811]

@@bricklayersworldwithandy6277

[@jackrussell9811]

thanks andy ,interesting bit of history with that old trowel then , there was an army surplus shop in loughton years ago got a feeling thats where he got , love a bit of nostalgia

[@theafter8bricky]

Need to pick up a swan neck n give it a go 😅👍

[@bricklayersworldwithandy6277]

👍

[@bricklayersworldwithandy6277]

Not sure which is the best Harry, without a doubt the Dutch trowel out of a tub is the best for bricks but the technique needs to be altered to get full joints, the Berlin trowel used how the Danes use it give you full joints. It's not something you just pick up and do it's like learning to lay bricks again I think that's where a lot of people go wrong with pick and dip 👍

[@markgould9259]

German Trowel’s are called ‘Kettles ‘

[@bricklayersworldwithandy6277]

Keller

[@davidfox7983]

If it saves the wrist it's worth it

[@12andyh]

I don’t know why I really do not like pick and dip prefer traditional all the way me Andy 👍

[@bricklayersworldwithandy6277]

Depends on where you are, if you tried traditional in Holland it just dosent work, in the UK I have to agree traditional for me most of the time 👍

[@Ireland-bc2gx]

Smart cookies them Germans 👍

[@johnbowkett80]

Don't mention the war . 😜

[@johnbuist5289]

Really good and informative upload helping to understand the way different trowels have benefits in certain situations of brickwork 🧱