Why use a Hawk & Trowel Backwards Drywall Finishing

Hawk and Trowel vs Pan and Knife. How to use a Hawk and Trowel when Drywall Finishing? When is best to use a pan and knife? I think....For butt joints and flats Pan and Knife is better & Hawk and Trowel for Corner Beads. Don't miss a video Subscribe Now! goo.gl/dDcLgJ
Why hold a Trowel backwards? Easier on the wrists. All the answers and more are revealed in this video with some serious modern day talent working the tools.
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[@fredsavage4925]

As a finish carpenter, this crew cleaning the overspread from the jambs is a nice touch. Shows attention to detail and respect for other trades.

[@thomasc3337]

Started with taping knives, but now use hawk/trowel almost exclusively. There’s times I need a springy taping knife, but for me a trowel is where it’s at.

[@johncaudle6703]

I use both, not many in our area that use hawk and trowel, I learned from an old gentlemen, he's passed away now....he was awesome with hawk and trowel

[@iAndyKaYyy]

I live in Minnesota, USA. I learned how to mud and tape using a hawk and trowel, and I've been taping for nearly 3 years. I'm obsessed with every aspect of the job... especially the aesthetic of my work. I would truly appreciate a video on the materials this crew uses & maybe some of the finer details to go along with it. You know... the little things that make a real difference to professionals.

[@iAndyKaYyy]

I've been inspired by this channel since I began taping.

[@Maxkil]

Hey mate, yeah your on your way my friend, thats a great attitude!, you know everyone i know that finishes drywall are very proud of their work and they really enjoy it.... they just do.. its great. I will try and get something soon for you when i get the chance. Not much planning goes into this, hehe

[@Maxkil]

That's really awesome you say that! Makes my day and inspires me too, thankyou!

[@lorenrickey5481]

I have always bought 1A type ladders (300 lb cap) and 6-8 footers. Now I see the benefits of short lightweight ladders! Going to pick some up.

[@pound6599]

I use a knife and pan. When I had first begun my DIY project, I bought the pan, because it seemed as if it would be easier to control. And it cost less…. Now that I am more experienced, I may take the plunge and get a hawk and trowel. The work you guys do is amazing. If I keep working, I may get half as good as you.

[@morokeiboethia6749]

I first bought a hawk 3 months ago. Seemed awkward at first but I was using a knife and hawk. Then I hit the point where I liked the hawk better. 3 days ago I bought a trowel and I liked it better than the knife right from the start. You can apply so much more mud with less strain/fatigue on your fingers and wrist. I'm redoing all the walls in my house and going for a smooth finish. Not sure if it'll meet the L5 standard but really close if not. If you mix your mud to a good consistency you can put a lot of mud on your trowel and can run it several feet before you have to re-dip. Knife you cant run it nearly as far and half the mud on your knife doesn't come off when you apply it. I was surprised how well the trowel can feather the mud. Theres a youtube channel of a Canadian guy "Laurier Desormeaux" thats a freaking beast with a hawk/trowel. He even tapes with it. Every drywall tool has certain advatages so don't throw away any of them.

[@jareddavid65]

I like hawk and knife, but I've used both. You guys are good.

[@Hp2G1]

Knife & pan if I am taping by hand, but everything else hawk and trowel (I am also from Canada). Agree with Viseo FPV, I am faster with it because I can move more mud, and it's easier on my wrist & fingers. For butt joints I have a Nela 18" SuperFlex who work great. Great work guys, I also have picked up many tricks by watching you. Thanks for the video!

[@olivertorresgarcia4008]

I prefer hawk and trowel because it’s easier on the wrist. Also I feel there is more control with the mud and it’s easier to clean. I like how your team works fast and clean.

[@dismaldog]

Always used hawk and trowel as i was a solid plasterer(all trowel finish no sanding) so for me i am trying broad knives for something different but of course trowel natural for me

[@georgemontano7651]

I’ve been in the business for almost 40 years, I have always used a pan and blades but I still get a kick out of guys who use a hawk and trowel.wonder if this guys get a kick out of us guys who use a pan and blades.great job gentleman

[@grampafpv8013]

hawk and trowel here in canada i find its faster and i can have my mud a little thicker eaiser to control i find

[@ziggiesaquaticexotics8270]

Bro they make something very hard to do right look very easy to them nice work my boy !

[@MBSK-xw4ff]

🎨..Great, honest review! Very helpful!.This is one of the greatest videos in human history....Thank you, great reviews...Thank you for the review.🎨So nice thanks🎨🎨🧹

[@taylormkct]

Nice work, I have picked up lots of little tricks by watching you fellows, thumbs up from me.

[@Maxkil]

That's great to hear

[@CountryBoy62.]

Have only seen hawks used for hard coat and conventional plaster here in the US so I can’t compare based on experience. I have to say your guys make using hawks for drywall mud look easy!

[@gerryhazelton9569]

Where are you located ? In Massachusetts , ct and ri we use hawk and trowel . The Latinos use mud pans and knives

[@HandymanBe]

Nice work.

[@codycevering2733]

I use a pan and knife for hot mud and repairs and a hawk and knife for bigger jobs. I haven't tried a trowel but I think I'll pick one up and see how it feels.

[@awaism5906]

Very good job

[@topsyball1049]

Cake job...no ceiling angles. Wish we had work like that around here NJ..USA

[@junk3996]

ya no doubt. no angles is graaaaavy! quite curious on what mud they're using

[@flogarbi6757]

Super vidéo. Au top 👍

[@adude7050]

Do you guys have a video where you show the thicknesses of mud for the different stages? Being new at this I have a hard time with knowing what thickness. Thanks

[@zgryzlik]

Hola. La organizacion y todo lo de mas es fenomenal. He pillado un par de trucos viendo vuestro trabajo. Uno mio - la pasta se puede cojer con la misma llana, en vez de espatula, asi es mas facil y comodo, ademas se puede mantener limias las paredes del recipiente, por lo que pasta no se seca. Saludos de Madrid.

[@TopRankedKilla]

Oh fuck btw, Love the work. Would like to work with you guys for a month just to learn the ropes. I like the way you guys work.

[@vitaliyg3516]

Thanks.

[@1991Romatico.amores]

Si que saben muy buen trabajo

[@danb781]

Knife and pan only because that’s all I’ve used all my life, but I would like to try a hawk and trowel

[@its_mr_clutch]

I'm confused. So there is no corner tape needed? Is there something else that's going to go there? Crown molding or something? I'd be fucking rich if I didn't have to worry about corner tape at all.

[@MegaDavyk]

I tried using a curved 12 inch trowel to second coat butt joints 30 years ago and stuck with it ever since.

[@heyson1026]

Pan and knife. I want to learn how to use a trowel. I use a hawk from time to time tho with a knife.

[@mrmukura]

Cha.. I'm gonna start speeding my videos up to make me look fast too 🤣

[@morokeiboethia6749]

At 3/4 through the video I just finished the first section he started on, calls break and having a beer and amazed at how fast I'm moving, then calls it a day.

[@Maxkil]

sounds fun though!

[@duanebauman9755]

I useda hawk and trowel for my first 3 years till we finally got the Ames tools. They are ok

[@abenathitaliwe3017]

Which product are you using for skimming?

[@wranther]

Good work with the trowel! Ever do and film any of the metal stud work or that straight up for the framing crews? -Bob...

[@Maxkil]

yeah different crew stands the frames, unless its partitioning inside a warehouse or office kind of setting using stud and track

[@puttyman.paintpark]

Good~~

[@sailingstrangford]

Are those 20 footers on the ceiling? We can only get 12’ sheets in Canada

[@jasonfuessel2961]

Is there any difference between drywall trowel and a concrete trowel?

[@tanyakim1982]

Do you use a soft steel trowel or hard one here?

[@doobiedoghousewilson]

Anybody use a hybrid technique? Apply the mud with a hawk and trowel, then switch to a knife and hawk to smooth. The tool not being used is just held under the hawk.

[@claymoonias204]

Hawk n trowel & I use bazooka n flushers for internal corners ..

[@cyclingbutterbean]

What's with the gap at the top of the wall sheets and ceiling sheets? Legit question , because I've never seen that before.

[@Ssbad24]

I think hawk and trowl will be my choice. I do body filler work on vehicles and use a metal mixing board (metal spreader too). I think a hawk would feel natural to me. Of course a hawk and knife would be closer to what I use.

[@yoza57]

Hay guys what grit sand disc do you use?

[@jstarkush8035]

So it thas chemical dry or air dry you are using for internals with your tubes and flat box for your joins?

[@delanteshipp8150]

Does trowel work on old construction

[@robbieraychannel]

Pan and knife for me, But that's just the way I learned it. Then again I'm no where near as fast as you guy's are. I was wondering why do you use the trowel backwards?????

[@krisbrand354]

Quicker to use the boxes on exxies

[@samuelsherman2690]

I cant really tell from the video but is he using a concave trowel?

[@GarwoodNick]

Hawk and trowel beats pan and knife hands down for speed of mud application. Great for hand taping butts and filling beads.

[@Maxkil]

Yeah mate i think so too.

[@elyaacoubirachid8469]

Merci beaucoup pour cette vidéo

[@TopRankedKilla]

Yo. Watch quite abit of your videos. Just subbed to you now, learning how to drywall as im an Carpenter apprentice and trying to learn everything. I never heard you guys say why is there a big gap on the ceiling and not the floor where trim can easily cover it. I just wanna know why the ceiling and not the floor. Not trying to be a smart ass, im in the learning process. 3 years and counting. Foundation to roof.

[@jamesnicholls1180]

Ceiling gap gets covered with a 90mm or 55mm crown moulding, and the gap on the floor only requires 10mm for movement and is covered with skirting board

[@TopRankedKilla]

@@jamesnicholls1180 sweet, never thought of crown moulding. Guys i work wit never use the stuff.

[@osvaldoschlusaz3395]

In New Zealand we don't use hawk. The most of the plasterers use trowel and knife.

[@Maxkil]

Same as my new workmate. however I need the hawk to catch my mud slinging everywhere!

[@geordie-drywall]

I have only met old boys that don't use a hawk here in NZ everyone else hawk and trowel

[@bruce7chuck]

Use whatever makes your life easier, how much do you guys charge a square foot

[@user1732]

Is this work in Perth

[@CountryBoy62.]

Curious about the screw patterns I’m seeing your hangers use. Am I seeing correctly only screws at the perimeter and 2 in the field of each sheet?

[@Maxkil]

yeah, in Australia, we use specially formulated glue daubs in the field between screws, works a treat could hold the sheets without screws. Actually that might be a good idea to show that on a video. Thanks for watching!

[@CountryBoy62.]

@@Maxkil yes, would like to see video on how you guys hang. We’ve always still put screws in if the specs called for glue.

[@junk3996]

@@CountryBoy62. gluing helps reduce screw pops if your area is prone to crazy settling and movement. lids of course should always get three in the tree

[@loreec90]

Why do you use inferior nail on corner bead?

[@YSF.GAMING34]

un saludo from spain ,valencia,great team good luck

[@Maxkil]

Thanks! You too!

[@motechRevolution]

Hawk and trowel for me

[@ian1238834]

Curious why you didn't have to coat the butt joints wider, or do you just give it a quick pre fill with the quickset and bust them out with lightweight?

[@drywallgangsters]

Yes exactly that

[@o0DJANIMATE0o]

Mew mew meq

[@johnwarren3789]

Late reply, but to answer your query, yeh that's only the first coat. As you apply the second base and final top coat, the span of the plaster gets wider, minimising the hump.

[@jordanpchajek6058]

Thats the slowest I've seen a bead be coated lol

[@bruce7chuck]

Have a question, you coat left side of bead in one shot and you fill the right side of bead twice why is this just wondering

[@josephstratti52]

Pushes it into the corner and out the other side,then just has to lay up the other side vertically then comes back to the first side and finishes it vertically also,very efficient movements.

[@user-dp1qe9vm8j]

Эта шпаклёвка как uniflot? быстро твердеет ?

[@rogelioybarra4068]

I use pan and knife

[@keithdouglas9848]

Hawk and trowel the only way!

[@jaimemejia3787]

What's the name of the taping machine and what brand?

[@drywallgangsters]

Tape pro - mudbox

[@gentlemanssong2117]

I am in Australia, base coat of Gtek is good ?

[@Maxkil]

Not too sure about GTEK I haven't used it too much personally

[@offline7997]

You from ?

[@cryptodojoau5425]

More than 1 exe? Haulk and trowel More than 1 rebate or butt join? Haulk and trowel. Small patches or 1 sheet? Pan and knife

[@SteveCohenPhilly]

Could you explain why you trowel into bead on one side and go up and down on the other.

[@lonerprofile]

Fill up the space inside corner bead, to prevent bubble

[@SteveCohenPhilly]

@@lonerprofile I get that. Is it only necessary to push it in from one side? I would think both sides.

[@lonerprofile]

Yes unless you've got big hollow inside, you will then have to patch it and let it dry before the first coat.@@SteveCohenPhilly

[@kksnodgrass]

Why do they dab on the first side of the corner then do long strokes on the other side of the corner? I'm a complete newbie to this.

[@kevinr3263]

Because it's deeper there. You'll see he doesn't prefill it once and when he swipes the mud on, it leaves little empty holes on the corner bead when he doesn't prefill it

[@michaeldavis7980]

Why does he pre-fill one side of the bead? 🤔

[@drywallgangsters]

Our beads in Australia are thinner and have so many holes in them that you squeeze mud into it so that it fills the back of the bead in

[@dovahking5991]

@@drywallgangsters but why does he only do it to 1 side?

[@renannascimento2423]

😎😎😎😎😎

[@keithscofield4583]

Science will tell you that a hawk and trowel will slowly tore your wrist because of you needing to apply more pressure due to the hand being sideways. A knife work just like any knife with cooking or screwdriver while screwing. It's more natural for the hand. The problem with people using knives is they reach too far torxing the wrist in a unnatural position. If you use a knife and pan and don't exceed your limits It's much less torx on wrist. If you were to do tile and grout you will then learn how much torx and trowel does on your wrist. I actually grout with pan and knife. But the most important part is having a stainless for first coat applications and a rusty flex knife for final coat. The flex of an older rusty knife has much better results with little to no sanding. Here in the US we have nuematic tools for everything you do even coating corner bean. One man can work just as fast as you 3. The bad part about the nuematic tools is it puts guys out of jobs once you realize all this work can be done faster with half the crew. Props to you guys! Keep it moving and cool to see different methods.

[@iAndyKaYyy]

I shouldve said that I'm in a non union apprenticeship learning to stucco, frame, tape and hang. I was hired as a taper.

[@johnnylane8643]

Too many strokes. 1st coat 2 strokes apply heavy to one side of trowel depending which side of the bead. 1 stroke apply the mud to the corner. Trowel slightly angled toward the corner and move trowel toward the corner as you spread. 1 stroke smooth it out. More than that and you're hollowing it out.

[@Maxkil]

Send me a video, i will buy you a trowel from amazon

[@user-yq4ll8zs1h]

Неужели по часам так работаете ?

[@user-yq4ll8zs1h]

@UCKsWhNxJzJqm5Dk-m4EAhaQ how you get paid , by the hour or by m2 ?....whu run so fast ? Мать вашу 😉😉

[@SomeDumUsrName]

Yeah? Put the same number of years into workin' that trowel and you'd eat those words....wrist wise anyway. Definitely better on the fingers though. NO less stressful on the wrist though...just works the wrist a little diferently.

[@junk3996]

neither i use knife and trowel. trowel is essentially used like a hawk. works far better (for me anyway) than hawk. much faster, cleaner, less elbow pain

[@DestroyersGarage]

except you can only carry enough mud for 1/2 of a join and spend eternity walking back and forward from the bucket.

[@junk3996]

@@DestroyersGarage yeah if you're an idiot and don't have your bucket with you (and no, you don't have to carry it always, or have it on the floor having to bend over every time etc) in fact, they spend more time walking back and forth to their bucket to fill their hawks than i do, since i constantly have the bucket right beside me at all times. work smarter, not harder but to each their own!

[@anthonygarofalo559]

Dude. Stack it on a walk plank and don’t bend over mixing! It’ll have you able to get up and walk when you’re 50+!

[@tomkeppler1717]

These guys are rough

[@mrsbradpittiful]

Using one of those pizza flippers would be the same as wearing a pink shirt to the pub and expecting your mates not to call you a fairy. You just don’t do it. Get your trowel out and get some respect for yourselves boys 🤪

[@PRO.224]

Are these blokes on gear ? Or have you sped this video up ? 😅

[@drywallgangsters]

No drugs mate 😂 just a normal day at work

[@PRO.224]

Haha at around 12:00 minutes in, it seems like they’re even talking quicker and movements are a lot faster lol

[@drywallgangsters]

@@PRO.224 yeah max definitely sped up that part 😂

[@bpphan4293]

Too slow, not nice, = unprofessional!

[@dismaldog]

i guess you have to be fast to be professional then-Sheeeeesh

[@bpphan4293]

@@dismaldog im not professional, but im sure, i can do it better than that guys in this video many time!

[@dismaldog]

@@bpphan4293 -just remember different countries mean different methods and Reg Codes-the fact we use Stud adhesives and install cornice as standard finishes,i find this way ahead of some other countries,these guys look like a great Team that all work well together and finish will be top Notch!!

[@Z-Ack]

Fuckin music.. stop it..

[@freeandcriticalthinker4431]

The “music”……. Why is it so commonly used so badly? Enough to destroy the video very quickly. Distracting is an understatement. Sorry but like most things in life, it’s trial and error I guess