What is the best bricklaying trowel ? Tools trowels review

With an extensive or maybe obsessive collection of trowels with some help from SBtools, I decided it would be good to share some information on the different trowels available because let’s be honest as an apprentice you ain’t got a clue what trowel to buy……. Hopefully I’ve helped!
I’ve more than likely not covered everything or every trowel but the basics are there and information for you to take as you please when choosing your first or next trowel.
BRICKLAYERS SOCIAL CLUB ⬇️ ⬇️⬇️
Instagram: www.instagram....
Website : www.bricklayer...
🤙Special thanks to our partners:
SBTOOLS:
sbtoolsuk.com
Bon tool:
www.bontool.com
MYHP:
www.instagram....

[@andrewwhitnet3557]

The most important thing about a trowel is the brickie atached to it.

[@sedulousdabbler5468]

I've still got the 11" London Narrow WHS given to me by a brickie in 1976 when I was 12 years old. I use an 11" Marshalltown London Narrow. When I did my City and Guilds in 1986, the Philadelphia pattern was known as a Canadian trowel and came with a leather handle. Most brickies hated it. How things have changed. Great video my friend.

[@garydonaldson5573]

You also get the Canadian pattern aswell

[@sedulousdabbler5468]

I didn’t know that. I thought that the Philadelphia and the Canadian were the same.

[@dormindont1]

Отличная история 👍👍👍👍👍

[@kansasgardener5844]

Myself and almost everyone I work with uses a 11 or 11.5 narrow London Marshaltown durasoft for everything. B, B & S. The handles do wear out but if you can find them they are replaceable by boiling in water to remove it then boiling the new one in water and installing it . The same way you do hard plastic handles.

[@stef2703]

I used to use Marshalltown and rose for years but now I use a goldblatt 11.5” Philadelphia and I find it to be the most comfortable. Perfect flex and pitch

[@steveadams6552]

Love my 12 inch Rose narrow london, used to have a WHS back in the day , solid trowel !

[@duncanbradshaw4810]

Good video pal

[@ronaldfinch7420]

My favourite trowel is without doubt a cork handled narrow London W rose.

[@dasnomaden]

That's what I'm using now!

[@qualcommchalloner9551]

You guys ru 4 real, hey everyone just pick up a trowel smaller the better and start laying your bricks... don't forget keep it clean 💯 👌

[@anthonystorey2953]

I worked with my father from the age of 15 until i was in my 20ies we , in the sixties the weapon of choise was the WHS London pattern, the older brickies used to say that the name brand stood for Work Hard and Starve ! People always thought it was a joke when Dad had to order his trowels as being left handed he needed a left handed trowel , as with the WHS one side was straight the other slightly curved , different from left to right, one thing i will pick you up on , you said you could lay a brick with a bread knife slip of the tongue surely as you lay bricks with your hand , you lay on the morter with your trowel , keep your head down and ass up mate cheers for now , as with other things, its not how big it is its how you use it 😊

[@jasonmiller6714]

I love the 10" recommendation. My teachers are worn down to a 10"1/2 & a 10" and they feel a lot better in my hand than the 11"s.

[@jackkay5605]

I first started with an 11” narrow London, couldn’t get the hang of it! Always now a 10.5” Philadelphia for brick-work and a 12” wide London for block-work. Have only ever used Marshalltown, might have to invest in a W. Rose!

[@jamietalbot7254]

Phily for blockwork and London for brickwork mate

[@BrickBike]

I remember reading an old W. Rose catalog from the 1940's and it claimed the Philadelphia trowel keeps the weight back closer to the handle and is therefore easier on the arm but the Londons are better at keeping the mortar off your knuckles. Apparently some of the old lime mortars from back in the day could be harsh on the skin

[@papalegba6759]

lime mortar is far easier on your skin than OPC. london pattern was better for imperial penny joints, for metric10mm joints philly the best pattern.

[@Tommo-my9mk]

19 /11 w rose London brick cork handle can't go wrong lovely trowel

[@raymond3990]

11 inch wide London low shank w.rose leather handle, quality!!!

[@ashleychambers3306]

I started off with a 10" was ideal. had 12 " Marshall towns nearly broke my arm. moved to a wrose the lift is less hard on the arm. use a narrow london for brick .

[@SCAMDEMIC2023]

I like the London for brick also.

[@jasonmiller6714]

1st year apprentice here. All we use are 11" Marshalltown narrow london, durasoft handle low lift. But my Boss has been doing it for 32 years with his teacher of 50 years. When I inquired about buying my own he told me, 11" W.Rose leather handle(narrow London low lift). How do you guys feel about the leather handle?

[@garydonaldson5573]

Get the cork handle m8 less weight to it

[@love.pugsss449]

10" W. Rose narrow london with the orange handle. Use it for brick and block.

[@petewyllie9889]

I change trowels like I change my pants for different things and if my wrist is mucking me about!!😂😂 anyway nice to hear a bricky say it's up to the individual rather than this is it or your crap, liked and subscribed, good luck buddy 👍 👍

[@hotpoker4212]

Match the trowel,to the brickie,for brickwork, Ragni crown 9 inck, blockwork,WHS/ tyasck 10 inch,great trowels,no issues at the end of d days work

[@liamwalters5029]

Rose now but probably whs the old ones the best

[@jamietwigg5152]

33-12 narrow london, USA majority use narrow london

[@lmilne4859]

W Rose do the best trowels got a plastic handle to try didn’t like so took handle and replaced it with there proform rubber handle think that for me is handle on the Rose trowels. Rose do 1/2 on all sizes which are good. Philadelphia mostly 10 or 11 don’t matter but been using a narrow London Rose 10inch beautiful trowel on face work. Not fan of wide London. Do have a wide heel Rose 11inch which is a monster great for the block on flat.

[@lelonbond6682]

i used a narrow heel rose for 30 years

[@scottnever8732]

marshalltown philli everyday of the week

[@craigstyrin3453]

I got a wide london whs cork trowel, only use it in footings, i does not like cutting bricks😂 Need the older trowels, better steel isnt it

[@bloggs692413]

I prefer a wooden handle to a dura soft tbh. started with a wooden

[@djharto4917]

The bozo bucket trowel is a great all rounder !

[@DylanGSXR]

The 9 inch w rosé Philadelphia pattern, where did you get it . Cheers mate a man after my own heart.

[@krakenhackenla]

Speedcrete sell them.

[@plymuf08]

Maybe make a point on the handle rise diference between Marshall and Rose. I found switching to rose after years of Marshall Town saved my elbow and wrist. Now managed to get a couple good condition vintage whs hunt and sons trowels and they are in every way better then any trowel you can buy today, the quality of the steel is insane.

[@brickbybric]

That would be impossible .because even if you take just what’s called the standard shank w.rose trowels they vary so much between themselves that you couldn’t compare them to any other brand .

[@plymuf08]

@@brickbybric they may vary but they are still alot lower rise then the Marshalltown trowels. No matter how much they vary

[@brickbybric]

@@plymuf08 have a look at rodian builds video were he compares a standard shank rose trowel to a Marshalltown trowel and you’ll see that the handle angel on the rose is way higher than the m.t . I can put up a picture in my profile with 2 w rose standard shank trowel s and an m.t and one of the roses is way higher than the m.t .iv had probably 200 standard shank roses through my hands they are the most un uniform trowels in there manufacture than any other brand iv come across.

[@brickbybric]

@@plymuf08 kzbin.info/www/bejne/gILIaKGMbr9rorM

[@plymuf08]

@@brickbybric I get wat you are saying, ive seen that video and thought it was very strange as everyone I've nown or spoke to about them have all said how much lower the rise is in comparison to marshalltown, I can only speak from personal experience as all 3 I have bought aswell as the several I felt in the shop were all considerably lower rise. The fact they are still hand made is probably the cause of them being un-uniformed. Was always told never to buy a rose online always feel them first as every trowel is slightly diferent.

[@frankbush8317]

Using a 10 n a half inch London pattern with a plastic handle, Marshall Town, lavly bit of kit

[@ashleychambers3306]

pilly is a block layers trowel it's holds the most muck

[@ashleygunn1944]

Is there much different between the 11 wide London Marshall town and the 11 in wide bon fancy a different trowel

[@goodie54321ag]

The whs trowel is for face work the philidelphia is for overhand work because in America they don't stand outside of skyscrapers to bricklay if you use a Phile long enough it wears in to a whs shape working overhand the curve makes it easier to cut off not seen anyone butter a brick to precision using a philedelphia

[@luckyblue1986]

Thank you! So helpful! 😁

[@rctaz990]

Ive had 3 WHS trowels over the years. The quality in mental has definitely decreased. Im up for a change.

[@troycote4503]

Never seen a marshalltown with a plastic handle.

[@scottsibbit5424]

Totally agree apprentices should learn with something smaller to learn the control and technique. What I don't get is why people are using two different trowels, one for brick and one for block. A good bricklayer should be able to use one trowel for both. I use an 11inch trowel ,its the all rounder. In the game in 2021 there are more tools and gadgets than ever before ,the last thing u need to be doing is carrying two trowels around. Love the videos tho mate , keep them coming ,very interesting 👍

[@tobyrudge1755]

I started with a cut down 10 inch ragni trowel now I’m on sight with a 11 Marshall defo best to start small

[@frazerlamb9769]

because i use narrow london for brick and phili for block its personal preference my tool bag is heavy anyway.

[@scottsibbit5424]

One trowel lays the same brick and block no need for two

[@frazerlamb9769]

@@scottsibbit5424 yes but a narrow london is not any good for blockwork in the UK imo.

[@scottsibbit5424]

Narrow London no good for nowt mate

[@benjamindoody3462]

Got 13 inch narrow london w rose on the way

[@eltunazapata5986]

Limber for the block and the stiff for the brick

[@MrTHEGUITARPROHELPER]

Ahh limber I been seeing this what does it mean?

[@wolfhachmuth7731]

@@MrTHEGUITARPROHELPER leight weight trowels.

[@scottnever8732]

london pattern were always straight cut heavy on cutting side?

[@666findom]

WHS vintage is the best made best metal Find on eBay. I have a 10 n 11in I will never look back now

[@NielAyco-fr9ul]

good tools

[@construcaoeobras7645]

Tem como enviar para o Brasil?????

[@papalegba6759]

i've always found phenolic handles to be the best, regardless of make.

[@katrigonzalez4447]

,, saludos desde CDMX,,, que es mango fenólico!?

[@papalegba6796]

Phenolic handle is the clear red plastic handle. A lot of people think they'll be weak, but they arent, and they clean easier & feel warmer in your hand in cold weather. They also are more precise for tapping bricks down.

[@papalegba6796]

2:58 is a phenolic handle.

[@liamwalters5029]

I’d agree I like the orange rose handle lovely

[@markbrandon5353]

It's quite funny that you don't know what other countries use. In Sweden,Denmark,Norway and Finland we use very different trowels. Center handle and such.

[@bricklayerstvbsc]

Thanks for your comment, I am fully aware of other trowels used in other counties, but what I think your failing to understand is this is a UK based club and are audiences are typically UK or USA based. But maybe next time instead of finding it funny think before you write to avoid making your self look like a prat.

[@binderpal.ralhan-.]

Very good bro

[@lewisperkins3849]

What would you say is the lightest make out of Marshalltown bon and rose?

[@bricklayerstvbsc]

Just done a video which will come out today at 8pm lightest 10” trowel I’ve come across so far is a Nela trowel

[@garydonaldson5573]

The wide London when building kits is to wide

[@katrigonzalez4447]

,, saludos desde CDMX,, acá lo mejor que se puede encontrar es "bellota"...

[@Dontrump302]

Tactix . 5.99 Strongest trowel about prove me wrong!!!!

[@zaidhussain3658]

wide london

[@JackGashRawandUncut]

I collect trowels aswell pal there's worse obsessions

[@callummolloy3690]

They only sell 12-13 inch in Australia

[@benjamindoody3462]

Thats a lie but ok

[@m101ist]

My trowel is bigger then your trowel. 😳

[@m101ist]

I only use 20" trowel and that's width wise.😳

[@papalegba6759]

@@m101ist i only use trowels made of tungsten with carbon fibre handles. still wear em out in a week cos i lay 52,000 a day. that's the way we roll in narnia.

[@m101ist]

@@papalegba6759 I use to lay that many in a hour on a level1 training course with my 20" wide trowel. 😳

[@alternativeopinion310]

A lot of ado over a little

[@martingaynor5017]

you could send a glass eye to sleep

[@thetraditionalbricklayer9650]

Good video mate ,WHS man myself ,have a 1 for face work and 1 for block work 🧱

[@666findom]

Me too I have 10 n 11

[@bricklayer6534]

What about the W h s range of trowels

[@scottjohnson1456]

They shite not even worth a mention anymore. Gone cheap n nasty. Rose all the way now best made by far