Is a pointing trowel actually better for repointing or is it just hype?

I spent 10 years using a regular brick trowel for all my repointing work, figured a pointing trowel was just a marketing gimmick for new guys. Then a foreman on a job in downtown Phoenix last month handed me his WHS 4-inch pointing trowel and told me to just try it on a tricky section of old brick. After three hours of using it, I felt way less fatigue in my wrist and got into tight spots way cleaner. Has anyone else been converted on a tool they were skeptical about, or do you think it's all in the head?

2 comments

2 Comments

nina_jenkins25d ago

Jumped on the bandwagon myself a few years back with a drywall knife upgrade. I used a cheap 6-inch one for years thinking it was fine, then tried a higher end version at a friend's place. It sounds dumb but the weight balance and the handle grip just made finishing smoother and my hand didn't cramp up after a long day. Maybe it's just me but I notice this pattern with a lot of tools. People get used to something clunky or worn out because it's what they know, then one small change makes you realize you were just putting up with unnecessary struggle. I think it's the same with anything in life, not just trades. Cooking knives, running shoes, even your office chair - sometimes the right tool for the job feels like no big deal until you actually use it.

sandrat2424d ago

Tell me about it @nina_jenkins, night and day difference once you use a good one.