The biggest spatula. How to choose a spatula: description and types, classification and characteristics, cost, tips, rules of use, areas of application. The quality of the spatula blade: we pay special attention
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W Patel is the most commonly used tool for organizing repairs. The spatula for puttying walls is used at all stages of finishing work. It is important to choose the right tools for all jobs. A wide variety of shapes and sizes are designed to perform specific operations. Usually it is metal plastic with a comfortable handle. Be sure to have a sharp enough blade. It is used for finishing and painting works.
The working process
The main property is sufficient blade rigidity. If this criterion is not met, then the work will be of poor quality. Professional devices are equipped with a comfortable rubberized handle. To organize any work, they acquire three types - narrow, wide and medium. Specialized models are designed for processing corners and applying certain conditions to surfaces.
How to hold a spatula when puttying walls
Reliable tools are made of durable steel. High-quality devices are not deformed and are easy to clean. Choose products with perfectly smooth surfaces and blade sharpening. A professional tool should not bend under the pressure of the putty mixture.
Don't buy aluminum tools. They wear out quickly. Aluminum surfaces must be thoroughly washed and dried to prevent corrosion on the blade.
The technique is as follows - applying putty and leveling it. Hold the tool at a 45 degree angle. Movements can be different, the best result is achieved with uniform, equally directed strokes. A small putty device is used to dispense the mixture into a large one. The use of the first is advisable if it is necessary to process small areas.
The width of the blade of the metal part must necessarily be greater than the width of the crack in order to be able to remove the defect qualitatively.
Application
Narrow tools are used to seal the smallest flaws in the walls and level smooth surfaces. Not suitable for rough leveling of walls.
The average spatula for wall putty removes pits, they smooth putty surfaces.
Large-sized tools with thick blades are used for rough primary processing and removal of large cracks.
With the help of a mixture, this is one of the most important processes that are needed in order to give the room the proper look. As with any job, it requires special tools. In this case, a spatula for putty. If we translate the name of the instrument, then this word is taken from the German language, from where it came to our lexicon, it will mean "shovel". Indeed, he is very reminiscent of her: a plate of different sizes, and a pen. That is, nothing complicated, but at the same time so necessary.
This tool is used in completely different construction activities, it has a very diverse shape, size, purpose. The plate, which serves to apply the solution, can be made of many materials. There are spatulas that are used exclusively in narrowly focused finishing work. Speaking of wall putty, most often they mean a product that has a metal blade (plate) equipped with a handle (made of wood or polymers).
Tool for facade work
Spatulas can be used not only for work inside buildings. They are successfully applied outside the house. The blade of such tools is very wide. It is made exclusively from durable steel, which does not allow it to bend freely. Such a product is used for applying a solution to large areas of the surface. In its form, it is a trapezoid with a size of thirty to sixty centimeters.
Such a tool is very convenient to use if you combine it with a smaller fellow. For greater convenience, work with such a product should be carried out according to the following principle: with a paint spatula for putty (its size is much smaller), the mixture is collected and applied along the entire length of the blade of a larger spatula, and then applied to the wall. This is during the preparatory phase. Finishing is done a little differently. The previous sequence is kept, but now the instruments are swapped.
Paint spatulas
- after applying putty, it evens out any irregularities;
- covers the seams that form between sheets of drywall;
- it is convenient for them to close up any cracks and crevices;
- used for puttying structures that have a complex structure.
In its form, it is very similar to a facade spatula, but has some differences:
- The size. Unlike a tool for working on large surfaces, it is designed for miniature operations. Therefore, its size is no more than ten to fifteen centimeters. Although spatulas are most often used, having a width of 2 to 8 cm.
- Plate thickness. The plate used is much thinner than others.
- It has more elasticity and flexibility.
- The blade of this device is made of stainless steel.
The paint spatula differs from the facade one in the width and thickness of the blade It is customary to distinguish two groups of such tools:
- For professional use.
- For the purpose of work in everyday life (there are "disposable" varieties).
The tool for professionals has a very thin plate (approximately one millimeter). Its canvas is well bent, but at the same time very elastic. A product that belongs to the category of "disposable" is very easy to distinguish - its handle is plastic, the metal used is second-rate. When pressed, even very lightly, the canvas bends strongly. It is very difficult to work with them, it is almost impossible to get a perfect surface. It is well suited for filling small cracks.
Everyone who is professionally engaged in construction has his own opinion on the selection of the size of facade and painting spatulas for puttying. They are guided by experience that has been developed over the years. The most commonly used tools are:
- a product for basic work, their width ranges from twenty to twenty-five centimeters;
- for auxiliary work, the width is much smaller, up to ten centimeters.
Angle spatulas
It is very difficult to align the corners. This is what contributed to the development of special putty spatulas, which are convenient for making internal corners. They consist of two surfaces located at right angles to each other. The demand for such products is low. The fact is that it is very difficult to use them, professional skills are needed. Therefore, even masters do not always use it in their work, preferring a tool with a flat blade.
Spatula for leveling corners
It is used for the purpose of subsequent grouting. It is not used in work with putty, due to the fact that it is completely made of rubberized material. Accordingly, it has increased flexibility and cannot apply putty as required when finishing walls. It is convenient when working with fragile surfaces (tiles, laminate).
The size and shape of such products may be different. They may look like simple spatulas.
Spatula acting as a scraper
This tool was created specifically to remove excess putty. Its blade does not bend at all, it is made of high-strength metal. It has a small working surface, it does not exceed eight centimeters.
There are other types of tools, but they are not designed for application. These are notched trowels - they should apply glue to the tile, and with a pointed blade (on one side) - to remove paint.
Choosing a tool by size
At different stages of wall decoration, completely different products are needed, differing in shape and size:
| Size range | Application |
|---|---|
| up to sixty centimeters | Used in conjunction with a rule. Allow to eliminate any nervousness of the surface, as well as to repair cracks and cracks. They are used for basic (starting) work. At this stage, the mixture is applied in a thick layer. Additionally, deep damage is repaired. |
| Up to twenty-five centimeters (medium) | They find their application after a wide tool. They give the opportunity to give the walls smoothness. The main task is to seal small holes. After it, protrusions may remain, grinding is required to remove them. |
| Up to ten centimeters (narrow) | Apply after medium adaptation. It often happens that larger tools are not convenient to work in hard-to-reach places. Then narrow spatulas are used. After their use, almost any defect is eliminated. Naturally, it is difficult to work with them on a large surface. It is also an auxiliary tool. It makes it possible to collect the mixture in the right amount. |
Now you can find many stores that sell fixtures for construction work. That's just such a large selection gives rise to another problem: how to choose the best quality spatula. After all, there are so many of them on the shelves, they differ in size, shape, materials, and manufacturer. How to choose the right product?
When choosing a spatula for finishing work, you need to pay special attention to the metal from which the tool blade is made. There are some tips:
- The tool should be immediately taken in hand, if there is a feeling of awkwardness, then it does not fit. The blade itself should be perfectly even, the end (blade) should not have nicks. Any defect indicates that the product is of poor quality and cannot be used.
- Often there are spatulas that have an uneven canvas. It can be short or long. It is better to give preference to the average size. So, it will be more convenient to work.
- In its form you can find: trapezium, triangles, drop-shaped. The best ones are trapezoidal. They are more reliable and easy to use.
- Facade and painting spatulas should not be very hard. It is better to choose a canvas that is elastic, but not bending from the slightest impact. If the blade does not bend, it will be very inconvenient to apply the mixture to the wall. It will bend strongly, then the solution will simply fall off it.
- The tool (its canvas) for finishing activities is made exclusively of stainless steel. Other metal will rust, and this will lead to the formation of marks on the walls.
- For starting work, you can choose a product with a steel (iron) canvas. It should have a special coating that prevents rust. Good care is needed for such products: wipe and dry after work, store in a dry room.
- The blade with sharpening is not used in the work on applying putty to the walls. It is used when applying adhesive to tiles.
There are many products for puttying walls. They differ in shape and size. For the purpose of finishing, facade and painting spatulas are mainly used. It is they who provide the necessary pace of work and lead to the desired result. Non-professionals should be aware that working with such a tool requires initial skills, but is not as difficult as it might seem. Choosing a device for applying the mixture is not difficult, but you need to be careful. By purchasing cheap products that are made from second-rate material, you cannot be sure that the end result will meet expectations.
At each stage of finishing construction work, a putty spatula is used, which is a special metal plate with a comfortable handle.
This tool is manufactured in different shapes and sizes to perform operations for applying and leveling liquid mixtures of various consistencies on a plane.
A rigid straight blade conveniently cleans from excessively applied mortar, residues of soft finishes, dividing the solution into portions, mixing small amounts of components to a homogeneous mixture.
Tool Features
For different types of work, spatulas from different materials are used. The right choice of a suitable spatula for puttying will affect the quality of the finish, the speed and convenience of doing the work yourself. The working part (blade blade) is made of the following materials:
- metal;
- rubber;
- polymer.
The blade must have sufficient rigidity and, at the same time, elasticity, so it is not recommended to use a tool with aluminum inserts. If the blades are accidentally deformed, alignment attempts will no longer be able to return a perfectly even working edge.
Construction professional spatulas comply with the current GOST:
They produce special spatulas used for narrowly focused types of finishing work. When puttying a wall, flat blade options with a plastic, rubberized or wooden handle are most often taken. Where there is a high risk of damaging the surface to be treated, a rubber sheet is used.
Types of spatulas
Features of puttying work (sealing holes, cracks, seams, leveling along a plane or creating a complex profile) require a tool specific in shape and size.
Medium trowel is a versatile tool for many jobs According to the width of the installed blade, the following main sizes of spatulas for walls are distinguished:
- Narrow (20 - 80 mm). They fill in small defects remaining after the middle spatula. There will be practically no trace of a separate recess, but it is impossible to level the surfaces with such a product. This type is also used for processing hard-to-reach areas and with their help it is very convenient to collect putty from a container and apply it to the blade of a working spatula.
- Medium (100 - 150 mm). Allows you to close large irregularities, depressions, dents remaining after rough alignment. Gives the chance to achieve a smooth surface of the top layer of material. The main task of a medium-width tool is to seal holes. If small protrusions remain after his work, then they are cleaned off after the putty has dried with emery on a grinding grater.
- Wide (200 mm - 400 mm). Used for uneven surfaces, it allows you to eliminate significant coarse, large defects (curvature). With their help, the starting putty of the wall plane is made, the leveling composition is applied in a thick layer.
With a wide spatula it is convenient to level the putty The selection of a suitable tool that will perform a specific type of finishing work also depends on the habits and skills of the performer. The most common combination of spatulas for puttying walls:
- Main 200 - 250 mm.
- Auxiliary 80 - 100 mm.
It is impossible to obtain a perfectly flat surface with a thin, highly curving canvas; it is used to seal indentations that are small in area.
Painting
The tool must maintain a sufficient degree of rigidity It is used to prepare the base for applying the finishing layer of the finish. Paint spatula perform the following types of work:
- sealing depressions and cracks;
- putty construction of complex shapes;
- sealing seams at the junction of drywall sheets;
- leveling of residual unevenness after a rough application of a putty layer.
An industrial tool for professional use when puttying walls has a standard steel plate thickness of about 1 mm, such a sheet bends, but retains a sufficient degree of rigidity.
Household (disposable) cheap products are made with a handle made of black plastic and a working blade made of steel no more than 0.5 mm thick. It bends easily and repeats the curves of the surface, so it is very difficult to get a smooth plane on the wall with it.
facade
For ease of use, two spatulas are combined at once It is intended mainly for the production of outdoor work, and when performing internal surface finishing operations, as an auxiliary tool for applying a large amount of the mixture to the treated surface of a large area.
The working plate is made in the form of a trapezoid. The facade trowel for leveling walls has a very wide blade (300 mm - 600 mm) made of hard carbon steel, so it almost does not bend. The handle is wooden or plastic.
This type of spatula is conveniently combined with a paint spatula for rough puttying of large walls. A portion of the putty composition is applied to it, and then it is taken with a paint blade in small parts to be applied to the desired sections of the wall.
Finishing alignment is carried out by changing the roles of spatulas - with a large blade, the applied layers are leveled into one plane.
Angular
A separate specialized type of putty tool, which makes it possible to form internal, external corners. The shape is set in the form of a right angle from rigid plates with one handle. The correct use of such a device requires certain skills, so it is rarely used by non-professionals. For an overview of this tool, see this video:
Rubber
It is convenient to seal tile seams with a rubber tool Used for final grouting of joints. For work on the formation of a flat plane, putty is practically not used due to increased flexibility. The rubber sheet is chosen for work on the surface of the finish, made of fragile materials (ceramic tiles, glossy surfaces, laminate).
Often they play the role of a scraper (not causing damage, scratches) to remove excess building mixtures, putty from the finishing material.
For ease of use, rubber tools are made in different shapes and sizes (straight, oblique, rounded).
Scraper
The very name "scraper" speaks of a narrow specialization of the application. It is designed to remove excess hardened mixture from an already treated surface. To do this, a thick, rigid blade made of durable metal is installed in the handle. The width of the blade for the precise direction of the force is in the range of 50 - 70 mm. See an example of a scraper spatula in this video:
Other similar tools are not intended for applying and leveling putty. For example, a notched trowel is needed in order to apply adhesive to ceramic tiles, blades sharpened on one side are made for cleaning paint.
The most common tools for construction, painting and other types of work are spatulas. The largest group among them are spatulas for puttying walls. Often they differ in typical sizes and shapes necessary for specific work.
What is the best spatula for wall putty?
The main types of spatulas include:
- Spatula- best suited for finishing walls. With the help of a paint spatula, the following types of work are performed:
- leveling of irregularities after preliminary application of putty;
- sealing dents and cracks;
- puttying structures of complex shape;
- masking the seams between sheets of drywall.
The spatula has a trapezoidal shape and is most often equipped with a plastic handle. From all other types of putty spatulas, painting has a number of distinctive features:
- small plate thickness;
- flexible and elastic blade;
- the minimum width of the tool is 2 cm;
- are made of stainless steel.
- Facade spatula- as a rule, it is used for outdoor work, it is also used for interior decoration as an auxiliary tool. The working surface, as well as that of a painting spatula, is made in the form of a trapezoid. The spatula for facades has a wide blade (from 30 to 60 cm), which is made of carbon steel, which has increased strength characteristics, so it is practically not bendable. The handle can be made of wood or plastic. The special shape of the spatula helps to apply building mixtures over fairly large areas.
- Angle spatula- This is a specialized type of putty tool that allows you to process internal and external corners. The shape of the spatula is a right angle.
Other types of spatulas
In addition to the main types of staples, other forms of such a tool can also be found on the construction market for wall puttying tools. Among them are:
- spatula-scraper- is used exclusively when it is necessary to remove excess amounts of materials from the treated surfaces. The width of such a spatula can vary between 50-70 mm, and the blade has a high degree of flexibility;
- rubber spatula- ideal for working with sealants, processing tile joints and puttying small surfaces. They are usually produced with a plate width of 40-80 mm;
- curly spatula- used to give the treated surfaces a certain texture, for example, when applying liquid wallpaper and decorative plaster. Often curly spatulas are made of plastic;
- notched trowel- necessary for applying construction adhesive to the surface. Depending on the type of glue, the type of spatula is selected individually. When using tile adhesive, you should take a spatula with small teeth, for gypsum glue, use a tool equipped with large teeth, and for liquid glue, a spatula with small teeth that have a triangular shape is ideal. The width of the working plate can be 200-300mm. Experts recommend working with a notched trowel only on flat surfaces.
Standard sizes of spatulas for puttying walls
Any typical spatula for puttying walls consists of a plate and a handle, and the quality of wall alignment during operation directly depends on the even edge of such a tool. The plate can be made from different types of material, mainly metal, rubber, plastic.
Among the whole variety of models of spatulas for puttying walls, there are:
- non-professional types- experts usually call them disposable. In appearance, they have a thin plate (usually less than 0.5 mm) and a black plastic handle;
- professional- equipped with a plate of 1 mm, which does not bend at the slightest load.
The main criterion for the quality of a spatula is its rigidity, which does not repeat, but corrects irregularities.
With regards to dimensional characteristics, it is considered standard to consider:
- length- depending on the type of work, the length of the spatula is selected individually. Too long a tool, like a short one, will not be a good choice. When puttying walls, a long blade can bend and thereby negatively affect the quality of the wall finish;
- width- the most optimal size of the painting staple is 100-150 mm in combination with a facade staple with a web width of 300-450 mm. For puttying, spatulas with a width of 2 to 80 cm are most often used. Narrow spatulas up to 8 cm are used when processing hard-to-reach places. It is impossible to completely level the surface with a narrow spatula, as it repeats the curves of the walls. A tool with a width of 10-25 cm is often called a type-setting tool, as it helps to transfer the putty mixture to a working spatula. Spatulas up to 30 cm allow you to level small surfaces. The largest spatulas with a width of more than 30 cm help to correct noticeably curved walls, large and gross defects. Using spatulas 60 cm wide, the initial puttying of the walls is carried out with the obligatory application of a coarse thick layer.
Not being a professional finisher, you should not buy a spatula wider than 400 mm (it will be quite difficult to work with such a tool without certain skills and knowledge).
Main manufacturers
Now there are many manufacturers of painting tools on the market. The tool of the European trademarks "Matrix", "Santool", "Homa" and "Eurotex" has the greatest popularity. Among Russian manufacturers, according to user reviews, the tool of the Zubr trade brand has proven itself well. All of the above manufacturers provide a guarantee for all products, which indicates high technical quality and reliability in working with the tool.
In order for the spatula to last for a long time, regardless of its manufacturer, do not forget to thoroughly rinse the tool from plaster or other materials after work.
It is used for leveling the surface with a plaster mixture, laying ceramic tiles, stripping, and other operations.
In appearance, the spatula for wall putty resembles a shovel. It consists of a steel, rubber, wooden work surface, as well as a rubberized plastic handle.
Kinds
There are several types of hand tools for finishing. They differ in the shape of the working blade and handle, in the material of manufacture, and in the technological purpose. There are models designed to perform a wide range of tasks, there are narrow specializations. For example, a spatula for puttying walls consists of a flat steel spatula, a wooden or plastic handle. Consider the main types:
- facade
- Painting
- Angular
- Spatula-scraper
facade
Used for interior and exterior decoration. It consists of a comfortable plastic handle and a reliable blade. The cloth is made of high-strength steel which practically does not bend, is not scratched.
The working plate is made in the shape of a trapezoid, which makes working with the tool more convenient. Its width is 300-600 millimeters. It is not replaceable when working on large areas. High carbon steel is used to make the working surface.
Plasterers often use a combination of façade and painting hand tools. Using a paint spatula, the solution is applied to the facade, and then stretched along the wall. During finishing, the opposite is true. The solution is scooped up with a facade spatula, and then it is applied to the wall with a paint spatula.
Painting
A compact hand tool that is used for finishing, where it is not the volume that comes to the fore, but the accuracy and evenness of the application of the mortar mixture. In form, it differs little from the facade. The handle is made of plastic. The working part is made of durable, flexible steel with a pointed outer edge. The shape of the canvas is trapezoidal.
It has a wide range of applications:
- Final surface treatment after applying the main layer of plaster
- Sealing seams between sheet facing material
- Sealing of small irregularities, cracks in a monolithic surface, mechanical dents
- Work in hard-to-reach places
There are several parameters that distinguish it from the facade:
- Working area width. It is in the range of 20-200 mm, which is less than that of a facade spatula
- A thinner and more flexible metal is used to make a paint spatula.
- Painting tool blade made of stainless steel. While for the facade counterpart, high-carbon steel is the best option.
Angular
A highly specialized tool for working with right angles. It consists of two steel plates connected at right angles and a plastic handle. The scope is limited to puttying of internal corners. This is a time-consuming task that requires professional skills. Builders to perform this type of work often use the usual facade or painting.
Spatula-scraper
It is used only to remove fresh influx of plaster. The specificity of the application area affects its design features. This is a narrow 50-70 mm tool with a solid working area made of thick hardened steel.
Application area
The main rule is that each stage of finishing work requires its own tool with a certain width of the working part:
- Large spatulas with a wide working area of 250-600 mm are used in the first stage of leveling a wall or ceiling. They are designed for a one-time application of a thick layer of plaster mixture. This allows you to quickly level the surface, repair large potholes, chips. The work of the tool is called "rough" alignment
- Spatulas with a working area width of 150-250 mm are widely used for primary finishing of a relatively flat surface. A medium sized tool performs the same operations as a large one, only with less energy. They make it easier for a novice finisher to work
- Spatulas with a narrow working area of 50-100 mm are used for finishing. With their help, small irregularities and chips are repaired, and work is also carried out in hard-to-reach places.
Selection rules
Hardware stores are literally overwhelmed with tools from different manufacturers, cheap and expensive. Here are some tips to help you separate the bad from the good:
- A pen. In a good model, it fits comfortably in the hand, does not bend. On the surface there is no flow of plastic, burrs. You should not stop at the option with a black molded handle made of cheap plastic. This is an indication of poor quality;
- The length should correspond to the task and not complicate the work. Too long will bend, short will touch the hand;
- Canvas form. The best option for classic plaster and putty is a trapezoid;
- Canvas quality. Flexibility is the main indicator of a good tool. If the blade flexes too much when pressed, the mortar will fall off. Too rigid working part may burst under pressure. The best option is a blade that is slightly springy;
- Canvas material. The most practical option is stainless steel. It is not destroyed by water, it is easily cleaned from the solution. There are cheap models made of simple iron. They are characterized by low quality, short service life;
- A quality model has a blunt blade.
Manufacturers can be divided according to the level of trust and popularity among ordinary users:
- The most rated, expensive and high-quality tools are produced by Sheetrock, Stayer, Anza
- In the middle segment, in terms of price and quality, Kraftool, Bison can be distinguished
- Fit, Brigadier stand out in the budget segment
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