I've never plastered before until i watched your videos and you have shown me there's nothing to be afraid of having a go so i bought the ox speedskim 900mm and the steel one same size I already had a trowel I had been given .for the first time I've done a pretty good job except for a few little pinprick holes I filled in, I've a few more walls to do but i am 62 years of age now, but i enjoyed doing it

I was taught by my dad, he is now 87yrs. I use a Marshaltown trowel as he did for 50yrs no problem. Its just what I am used too! However it is always good to see what is available especially with all the modern plasters and renders that are available these days. Thanks for sharing

I sit here in awe at the skill. I know you say anyone can do it, but 99.9% of us are worried and lack the confidence to even try it, for the fear of failure and making a big mess of the job. As a father to 4 kids, this is one skill I would really like to learn. Id love to see you work with newbies and show how quickly they pick this up and for us to see their end result.

Great video mate, spot on. My big tip to add to this is lighting... I try and put a strong LED light directed from where the light will hit the face of the plastering once the room is decorated. Might be a window, ceiling downlights. When I use a light at 90 degrees to the face it's possible things will be missed that show up when the room is finished light hits at a tangent. It's so easy to rectify that while the plaster is still workable. I'm years in the business but have subscribed, you never stop learning, thanks!

I'm nearly 50 mate!been plastering since I supposed to be at school!just about know how to use this phone! You know your stuff. What I love about your videos is the testing of new rendering products, bang on!people consider me the best plasterer in Birmingham! I think not because products change and I need to keep up/move with the times,which you help me to do! Keep up the good work you do. Top geezer

Been plastering for 40 years and always used the same trowel up until 2 years ago I now use the speed skim and flex trowel but also use sponge float after second coat, can’t get on with the plastic trowel but may give a try now to take shine off ,cheers pal

Great vid. I’ve watched everyone of your videos, some several times, as well as some tips from the plastering force channel but I think that’s gone now ☹️ Really pleased with the results I get, I’ve actually done some work for family and friends recently as well so I must be doing something right! I know there are traditionalists out there that say it can only be done a certain way and you plastering is trade that can’t be taught via KZfaq, but I’m not having it! From what I see the plastering industry especially the equipment has completely evolved over the last 5 years and with the right guidance, advise, tools & most importantly CONFIDENCE you CAN do it!! My finish is as good and better than some of the plastering I’ve had done in my house by reputable plastering companies. The only thing I’m working on now is speed, but that is coming naturally with practise as expected. Your channel has been a god send Blaine, it’s really pushed me to try and ultimately , succeed!!! I’ve developed my own system that works well for me, based on reviews and tips from yourself. I still watch all your new vids and revert to some old for techniques I may forget. If an area is too large for an initial hit then I use the ‘Extra Time’ sachets, works perfectly. Keep doing what your doing dude, keep the content up! My personal choice - - 1st coat OX trowel - Flatten Refina 900mm spat - 2nd coat OX trowel - Flatten Refina 900mm spay - Flatten OX trowel - Wet trowel - Refina Superflex 2 - Dry trowel - Refina plaziflex 👌👍😉

Great video. About to use speedskim for the first time and may give the ultraflex a go. You've confirmed what I thought. Keep up the good work, your channel is excellent, honest and a great source of learning for beginners and I imagine even for plasterers (although they probably won't admit it!) Best of luck with your channel.

Thanks Blaine, good video as ever. Really enjoying your tutorials. Love my refina and the quality finish it leaves.

Back in my day, plasterers as a rule used only one trowell for the application. My personal favorite was a Marshaltown 11” with a camel back handle. Itwould be customary for plasterers to use a worn trowell for the finish white coat, especially for the trowling process. I had a longer cement finishers trowell which was 24” that i used in lieu of a darby in small areas like closets for flatening the work.

Can you do a video on how to measure how many bags of plaster estimated per wall/room please

It's Very Very educated video!!!! You have a lot of knowledge and helped Me and many Many People.

Good video I've got the Marshaltown flexi, stainless steel speedscim 900 and just bought the rafina 1200 plastic rule. Amazingly with all the new products and trends there is very little from the manufacturers as to use. Trial and error, until your input, which is as usual spot on.

I been in the trade for 20 years. Spot on mate, spot on

Brilliant video mate. Nice to see all the different stages. I've got the 1200 and 600 ox speed skims. Tend to use the 600 more than the 1200 as I only do small areas at the moment. 👍👍

Just nearly finished a full room with curved ceilings went on a btec course for a week passed that with a merit I do do property maintenance as my job but I do love the plastering side thanks for all the info it has come in useful

Great vid; cheers for breaking this all down so clearly.

Excellent video Blaine, thought you might have included sponge floating in your process aswell! Keep up the good work mate👍

Perfecto... think I've been using Refina too soon. Cheers Blaine.

I'm a decorator by trade, and I'd love to be in after you bud, a lot of plasterers I'm in after just don't have the attention to detail.

Can I use all purpose mud instead of plaster on the walls? Thank you 🙏🏻

Another quality video Pal keep them coming 👍

Been waiting for this one mate!

Great tutorials. Thanks for helping us newbies our.👍

Cheers for the videos watched afew now as gonna have ago plastering afew walls. Enjoyed this one especially about when to use the tools. Cheers

Great video. I put my plaster on with a marshal town gold perm trowel then after that I have a brilliant worn in flex trowel closes the walls up straight after Iv put it on I used that till the end

Another top quality video, Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us 👍.

Hi matey , I’ve been caught out with the flex trowels leaving undulations , by using them too early. I use the ox speedskim sf and your bang on with that . Great vid mate 👍❤️

Hi Blaine, thanks for the great content. I have a couple of questions I hope you will answer...1) what size Refina Superflex 2 do you recommend 2) what size Speedskims plastic and metal do you recommend and finally, who do you subscribe to that has great construction/ building content.

Best video yet pal... Spot on.... That last trowel looked abit late in my opinion... I've never trowelled when there are darl dry bits on the wall..... Still looks a good job though 👍

I have always use marsh town as base. Just order superflex 1 and refina speed skims and plaza flex looking forward to the finsh

My mentour. Thanks as always.

Awesome tutorials mate ,thanks for sharing you wisdom

I brought a ragni stainless steel trowel just to see how I got on and the results haven't been to bad at all. We've extended our house and it's to safe money now. I'm now going to look for a rigid trowel and maybe either a superflex or plasiflex I think

Great video mate, well explained 👏

Literally thinking about this the other day when you posted a video. Thanks! Keep up the great content

Good video ; good precise explanation

Been plastering on and off for around 10 years this has helped as iv only ever had the base trowel now looking to expand and maybe look at more regular work how iz using the speed skim for somebody who has never tried one before does it take long to get used to ?

Another great easy to understand video Blaine Can you do a video of best trowels to use for rendering or reply to my question Cheers mate

Hi Blaine, Great video mate, totally agree I much prefer using my marshalltown nearly all the way through my set......., you don't have a enough trowels you have to buy more lol ... 👍

What’s sized did you go for on the trowels and the speedskims?

Can you show exactly what is the angle between the wall and the trowel on the 1st coat and the 2nd coat .. is there any difference ... And this technique with smoothing in both directions how does it work ... for me the trowel sticks for the wall

Great video, thanks you! How long do we have for applying the plaster in stage 1 before using the speedskim?

Excellent vid as always. So today I skimmed a ceiling and wall with my trusty marshalltown. Flattened both coats with my ox speedskimST. Then used my mates nelaflex II gold to finish and the difference from the marshaltown was night and day. I’m a DIYer, so don’t want a gazillion trowels, however if I bought just one more trowel to complement what I have what would you suggest? I’m leaning between the nelaflex II gold (as I was impressed after using it just once) or the refina superflex 2 (18in). Would really appreciate your opinion on this. Cheers 👍

What type plaster are you using in the example video? Did you ever use Knauf MP75? The finishing process looks quite a bit different then im used to in NL, Belgium, Germany, Poland with knauf plaster. Put on 2-10mm with a stiff trowel, flatten it with a straight edge, quick scrape it with a spatula. Sponge it till its creamy, scrape it carefully with a spatula. Finish it with a spatula. And optionally wet it when dry and polish it with a spatula (not the speedskim types). I wonder if this different way of working is because of different type of plaster or just a different way of working with the same result.

Blaine what small trowels do you carry in the artillery for tricky situations like pipe trowels, margin trowels etc also which water brushes etc rather than just bigger trowels and spats. Cheers

Thanks pal

Hello, I have a question at what stage should I use Ox PO10914 Pro Carbon Steel Plasterers Trowel , i will be very grateful for your answer

As someone who is about to take the plunge and attempt to plaster my first wall I find your vids great. One question though, I'm only planning to wallpaper the wall after, do I still need to give the wall a final wet and dry trowel to polish?

Hey. I'm giving plastering a go, this weekend, on a small downstairs toilet wall. I've got the tools required, and a speed skim. Can you do one coat, speed skim, then 2nd coat, sponge, and speed skim again. Would that be enough?

Excellent videos, I love it that I can have a go. Question on plastic trowel to finish, I dont own one (yet) best to use the Super-Flex and get a shiny finish? Also, how long do DIYers leave between bonding a celling and PVA ready to Multi Finish?

Hi! Great videos! they have taught me so much and yesterday I braved my first ceiling. Your videos gave me the confience to do this so thank you! I am now looking to upgrade my cheap £7 trowel for one (or maybe 2) better ones. I would like a good allrounder do do the early stages and maybe a finishing trowel. Please can you advise? I was quite comfortable yesterday with a 14 inch or the ceiling. However maybe a 16 inch would get less lines and therefore be a good compromise between weight and finish? Or would you stick with a 14 for a beginner? You mention the marshaltown permaflex is a good allrounder. I've looked at their website but it looks like they have many finishing trowels in the permaflex range. Could you maybe send a link to a suitable permaflew allrounder trowel please? Regarding a flexi-trowel, it seems like Refina have a superflex 1, 2 and 3 but I'm struggling to understand the difference. thanks in advance! Ben

Very best

Love your videos!!!!!❤️

hi i am a plasterer who has always used low end trowels, i am looking for a better trowel that can be good for the smooth plaster that is applied before the grout. could you recommend the right trowel for me?

Where do you buy all your trowels from, ive been plastering 15yr and up until last year I used a Marshall town stainless for everything but recently added a nela mediflex and I love the finish you get.

Crackin job next vid go thru this after sponging what ya think?

You should review the Marshalltown ProSkim, it is their competitor to the Speedskim, available in 30-120cm lengths. It has been out for a few months now.

Hi what's main reason you don't just use super flex 3 from start to finish....I've seen people use 18 inch plastic to lay on aswell....what ya think🤔🤔

Really nice video - about to have to plaster a flat and it’s been a while since I’ve plastered, but I am competent having got an nvq at the end of a long course years ago lol. I have a large selection of feather edges and trowels - mainly marshalltown, my favourites being 16 inch 18 and 20 (or 21? Inch) apart from where the work requires a smaller trowel for access (all the way down to a small tool of course!) . I tend to lay on with a 16 inch - as I find that easy to control and work and is so much faster and flatter than anything. Smaller. I often will float and set a wall if it’s too horrible to start with screeds / feather edge etc and really strive get as good flatness as possible so I’m really interested in trying speed skims - I’ve never owned or used one. What one would you recommend size wise to start esp given I’m very happy with large trowels anyway. (Indeed I bought a few months back a 24 inch (=600mm) marshal town finishing trowel I’m looking forward to using - which only relatively recently became available) but clearly the longer the tool the larger the average distance between peaks and troughs … do you reckon a 900 is a good start …? That gives me another 50 percent on the trowel I expect to mainly be using… and should I start with a metal or plastic one … to add to my armoury …? I saw on another (recent) video elsewhere someone strongly recommending the latest Refina over the speedskim … what do you reckon ? Thanks ! Terrific videos. Really like your gentle, encouraging, knowledgable style.

Hi Blaine Is it possible to finish using a speedskim?

Another good film 👍👍

I have a wall full of bumps and lumps and was trying to straighten it out, was driving me mad how my trowel would pull all the damn plaster off the wall and leave the lumps intact, after doing it really slowly i realised the trowel would bend with pressure and form a c shape that would drive into the wall deeper than the rest, causing my lumps... should've watched this sooner lol ordered an Ox standard trowel now, lets see if that fixes it

Top video im just starting skimming a room for first time ur videos really helped . Stop showing off that a 32 inch waist will be too big for u 🤣

Hi,my son is starting a plastering course at college.Which trowels should I look at buying him .TIA

Hi m8, always used a good old Faithfull marshalltown permashape, never tried any other brand, recently got to grips with the speedskim st, works a treat, was thinking of trying anither brand of trowel, ox nela etc what trowel in their ranges is a do it all like the MT permashape, from laying on to wet trowelling

I'm not a professional plasterer but I quite confident to do small jobs and around my own home. I've always used a 16" Ragni trowel, I only mention it because I've never heard you mention that brand. Do you rate them? I've been very happy with mine. Ta.

Must admit I’m a bit of a fossil and stick with my Marshaltowns. I had 1 of the first Nelas but it fell a part. Got miffed with my speed skim when the blade knicked and went back to y trusty Carbon steel. But I like the look of that trowel

What do you think about using a flexi like the Superflex 2 following a sponge float? Is it better to stick with the MT to get the sponge lines out, before moving to the Superflex 2 for finishing?

Help me out please !,, most steel trowels are far too flexible for applying dry stiff lime plaster. A midget trowel at 8x3 inch makes spreading the lime plaster easier, but I cannot get it flat on the wall. Thus, I guess a 10 or 11 inch stiff carbon steel trowel cann help me, but please advise which manufacturer type is stiffest and most durable. Not interested in wooden or pladtictrowels, thank you kindly 🙏

I just use one trowl for everything to expensive

Do the plastic trowels need bedding in at all?

Hey thanks for teaching can you start giving us links for tools 🔨 please

Hi, I'm going to invest in the Marshalltown Permashape trowel. Do you or anyone in the comments section reading this recommend a specific size? I'm debating 13" & 14". I know, there's not allot in them.. I'll be doing basic DIY / home renovation but want to get better at plastering and maybe take it further in the future, so I don't mind the £55 investment now.

Hello m8 what size trowel is good for putting on skim coat , ( Newbie )

Thanks for the video! Would you use the speed skim to flatten after both coats? And how long would you leave it till you use it? I have one and have only used it once or twice as I seemed to be taking all the plaster off the wall with it

Looking at getting a marshaltown permashape but online they are calling it a finishing trowel, is this right for putting on plaster

How flat are you keeping the spat to the wall when flattening mate?

Marshall town all the way apart from the very last trowel. Then i use the nela superflex been plastering 25 years and I hate speed skim junk. If you lay it on flat you dont need it

Can you give me these new tools links and which Cement you used

Thumbs up ty

Just looking to get started as a plaster myself. Mbeen recommended this (Marshalltown MPB145GSD) any good? And if so what is it best for?

Good instructional video - thanks for sharing 👍

First off great video again my man 👍 that wall looks super flat top job. I’ve done a couple couple jobs now and I’d say I’m getting faster with each one but ruffle how long would it take to do a complete double room? And I’ve been looking at the stainless blades for the speed skim was that a 600 or 900 you was using? Keep up the good work Blaine 👌

Hi mate. I’ve been doing some plastering myself on jobs when I can’t wait for a plasterer to come and I always have issues with the speedskim leaving no drag marks that look like dry bits?! What am I doing wrong as it’s driving me mad?

I'm going to give the flexi a bash I'm a 1 trowel old school. Your right about the pressure on the joints. Do you reckon I'll get away with a superflex 2 and a plasi final pass or would you advise superflex1 and a 2?

Lo del curso gratuito, es gratuito?????? Pone añadir al carro......... Creo que no es gratuito.

hey Blane, loving the videos. Went out and bought the speedskim ST. And i see you recommend the SF line as well. What about the PF range?

Exactly the method i use. Plus the speed skim doesn't liven the plaster up makes the set a little bit qiucker and i use midi flex i stead of the steel speed skim

What size speedskims are you using?

Great video. One question I've been advised using a plaziflex for flattening in stages. Would you advise that. I've had one for ages but haven't actually used it. Just always stuck to the one trowel

What brush do you use mate

Hi mate, thanks for helping me with your video. I have a question. Can I use Marshaltown permashepe for rendering? If yes, which size do you recommend? Otherwise which one can I use? Thanks.

What is the name of the other two you have in your hand

Do you still use the speed skim and superflex trowels on a ceiling or is it mainly just for doing walls?

Wat's wrong with Paul Curry trowels? Great job bro

Could you do a video on skimming applying towels. I know you use the permaflex but any trowel that's not knocked in is shit to use. So is there an alternative

Very Good very nice Price is

The days of having a skimming trowel and a rendering trowel have long gone lol every plasterer seems to have 6 trowels for 1 set 😎

tip top mate