Great videos, I spread on with my Marshall trowel, then use the ox speed skim, 2nd coat then speep skim, leave it to pull in the quick spray and trowel over with nela black edition flexi, spot on. Use flexi too soon and yes you will get ripples
I've been plastering for 15 years and still find im learning new things. This video has helped me realise that i need to get rid of my flexi's. I've always felt I've had trouble with them. I never had any problems with my Marshalltown until all the hype about the flexi trowels started up. I, like you got sucked in and jumped on the band wagon, ordered one and thought it was the bees knees to start with. Although I did at first struggle with timing and at exactly what point to use it and even now after a couple of years, I'm not totally on board with it. I have a 14" nela superflex and a 16" nela mediflex but i use them less and less these. I've mainly worked for myself by myself all these years so not had the privilege of learning from other plasterers experience very often. But watching your videos, for me, is like being on site with another plasterer. Thank you for being so generous with sharing your knowledge.
I'm still here still learning I watched 1 your videos Friday your a big help man thank you the way you explain stuff is crystal clear and really does help me
Thanks Kirk for all your help and advice. You have so much knowledge and really appreciate you sharing it with us all. As a plasterer everything you say is spot on, I'm looking forward to the plasterers guide by Kirk Johnstone in the future.... Really enjoyed the video! Thanks mate. From Tom in Leicestershire.
Kirk your quality mate, I’m DIYer going over Artex and got loads of good techniques from you. It’s definitely not easy but I must say my mrs is happy so happy days our kid.
Another great video Kirk. I do a few small ceilings and walls as a painter and decorator. Ive seen some hideously badly plastered walls in my time that will never be quality unless replastered. Marshalltown carbon trowel and speed skim are the only tools I use. Lay on. Flaten with speed skim. Second coat and finish with trowel.
Your videos are great, you explain the stuff most others don’t , your a real artist, and do such lovely work, you show the most difficult jobs , that most people would have to deal with on a refurb or own house, the others just show how to plaster a perfect wall.
I'm new to this channel, my main experty is concrete and sealing, but I like your content bcz you know these jobs always have things in common and more importantly I liked it bcz of your humble character and your will to share your knowledge to help starters
Great work, I was doing all coats with my flexi and found the same, back to traditional, speedskim first coat, trowel ups with traditional and flexi for final polish seems to be working for me. Ty! 👌 Oh and binned off PVA for SBR. 💪
I agree with the issues with the flexible trowels as i used to used a really flexible nela trowel and had this exact issue. Iv switched to the refina flexi trowel which is flexible but a lot stiffer than most of them and never had a problem. Also i have seen many plasteres get ripples using the Marshall towns as well, i think it has a lot to do with how much water is used and when you use it.
The problem ain’t the flexi it was the spread using it to lay on the first and second coats u should only use em once I’ve flattened in and it’s more or less set that’s when u can use them cos they smooth out any minor imperfections but ur right u can’t use them at the start of the set otherwise u will just follow all the contours that ur trying to remove
At last somebody who knows plastering game 🤔Why would you want to put on with a flexible trowel,,,,,,.let the plaster go off then polish up only with a flexible don't blame the trowel it's the person behind that has a lack of knowledge
@@dessaint6455 I put second coat on with a big flexi, first coat on with whatever 14 inch hard steel I'm breaking in. If it's big I'll flatten off with speedskim after first and second, then i use my broken in 14" for the first wet trowel. After that it depends what time you want to go home. Second wet trowel with a nela or refina flex depending how quick you can get on it or how big it is, the bigger it is the more likely it's hard steel trowell, smaller why wait? get on it with a flexi. These videos of oceans are due to poor timing and using flexi all the way through. last trowel and cross trowel are both done with the nela flex.
Lay and flatten your 1st and 2nd coats on with a steel trowel. When its nice and flat leave it to pull in.... give it a sprinkle of water then one with the flex then a dry one with the flex .. Nice easy work and a top shiny finish. Flexes are a finishing trowel just like a plastic , we only ever bring them out at the very end of the process
So is the Flexi trowel on used on the wet trowel stage of the set? I use my stainless steel Marshall town for as long as can be and then finish off with Flexi trowel with water when its pretty much dry.
Hate doin jobs when new carpets doors does my head in had some fella get new kitchen fitted then wanted it skimmin absolute ball ache charged him tho for his stupidity 😂
Love the videos mate learning alot after completing a skimming course. I bought a flexi trowel and found my finish was rippling slightly. Would you recommend as a beginner to just stick with the 1 trowel for everything? Thanks
if you kept a small fishing net with 2 arms in your van it would roll up and pack down to next to nothing about a foot long tube, but when you get lumpy plaster, you could riddle it in in the net in seconds and have no lumps, i do it for my groundbait when fishing on the river, it would cost a fiver to buy
I've gone bk to my carbon steel nela I like you noticed the bad results from flexi trowel just got caught up with how good it felt towelling up an the nice finish it leaves
Thats like saying that range rover killed my dog lol. It wasnt the flexi it was the person using it. I use marshalltown flexi for final cross trowel with water and its mint. It dosent leave my trowel case anytime before that stage
Can we see some vids of your finished work, painted in silk? Can definitely understand principle of flexi causing low spots/following contours of existing surfaces, but how often do you get to self-check as well? Wonder if its not just flexi but how consistently you work each coat (pressure-wise)? Uneven pressure with any trowel will cause undulations, especially if coat isn't cured enough to flatten or uneven pressure is applied along the wall? Flexi is probably more prone to this than stainless/carbon steel though? And looks like you spend a lot of attention evening out the low spots to avoid inconsistencies throughout your coats from application to polishing. Maybe the previous plasterer has no idea this is what his work looks like painted? Paint is the ultimate end product of a plasterer 9/10 unless its being papered over... so is the real business lesson to go back and quality check your work every so often to gauge your trowel consistency? or is it that we all just expect too much perfection these days (Customer and Tradesman)? Bring back the wattle and dorb applied by hand eh 🤣🤣🤣. You've a cracking personality, and a good teaching persona on camera mate... colleges should have people like you inspiring the youngens with your level headedness on camera.
What’s your thoughts on this though Kirk people say don’t use flexi trowels for flattening in ect but then flatten in with a speed skim which are flexible as well so no difference 🤔
In my opinion a speed skin is just to do a quick flattening. The angle is important too. Too sharp and it pulls too much off. Too slight and it will just follow the curves.
Slightly different subject but are you using SBR or pva on those painted walls ? Personally I can’t on with that grit stuff. The knife/slice action to take a trowel edge of material is excellent when you get the knack.
i am a painter and when i go to new jobs wow the plastering is so bad i could spend a day filling in bad work because it made me look bad but i got sick of it stopped doing new work
Sometimes when skimming on to pva that has not picked up can cause awful ripples . Spongle will get them out though. But yeah iv flexied to soon and it does cause ripples
Nothing wrong with flexi trowel it should only be used at end of job if you haven't got the skill try using a stif trowel then use midi flex then use a plastic for matting ceiling or wall.
Would it be ok to final trowel with a flexi trowel do u think once mine is done with wont be useing em no more but think coz it cost me money im just gonna final trowel with it thanks kirk love the advice my mate 👍
had a massive celling to do in a 45 million pound Manchon few years ago ... one of the spread i got into help was in his 50s ..dangerous Dave .... he used a marshall town flexi i payed him on the day its cost me £1500 to the decorators to fill it .. was all up on towers looooooool never again i use carbon steel proper trowels only on my jobs lol learnt the hard way too..... love the videos up the spreads
100 percent agree with this video Kirk no other plasterer on you tube will explain about these flexi crap trowels! But still plasterers will use them ! Great content as usual . Thanks
It hasn’t helped that the customer has gone for silk emulsion … the devils paint! Any imperfections in the plaster and that stuff shows it up … I’m a decorator of 41 years and try to advice all my customers to do matt … not silk !!!
Quote" at 13:06 If you haven't gone back to the job, Sam was showing the back of your crack never mind the one on the wall , May be a longer T shirt should fix that,🤔🤣🤣🤣, I am only a Diy plasterer and I could even see the issues how bad that wall was when you troweled the plaster on, I think some times your to kind to other plasterers, If they are good enough to leave the ceiling in a flat polished state then they would of felt trowel flexing in the ins and outs of the ceiling service but may of chosen to use a flexible trowel to get away from spending longer actually doing a proper flat ceiling, I knew a bloke that could not plaster well until you gave him a bottle of whisky and 3/4 of the bottle gone in 10 minutes he would crack on and do a wonderful job, I always think of all the plaster dust you guys breath in how that could prevent you in your early years carrying on with the job you do so well,
@@Onthetrowel I am no longer a plasterer to be honest. I used to do mainly float and set and a lot of things you do and learned a lot myself working with qualified friends free so I could learn this satisfying skill
Merv the perv is on it with his heavy breathing today, sounds like he's snoring while awake😂😂😂😂😂😂
Only use flexi trowel for final polish . It's all flat and firm at that point. Gives a nice finish. Good on the joints too.
Great video . Important to highlight the dangers of using some tools for the wrong jobs. Flexi only for final polish.
Worst thing to do with dodgy plastering is a shiny paint finish ..... Matt covers a multiplicity of sins
Great videos, I spread on with my Marshall trowel, then use the ox speed skim, 2nd coat then speep skim, leave it to pull in the quick spray and trowel over with nela black edition flexi, spot on. Use flexi too soon and yes you will get ripples
I've been plastering for 15 years and still find im learning new things. This video has helped me realise that i need to get rid of my flexi's. I've always felt I've had trouble with them. I never had any problems with my Marshalltown until all the hype about the flexi trowels started up. I, like you got sucked in and jumped on the band wagon, ordered one and thought it was the bees knees to start with. Although I did at first struggle with timing and at exactly what point to use it and even now after a couple of years, I'm not totally on board with it. I have a 14" nela superflex and a 16" nela mediflex but i use them less and less these. I've mainly worked for myself by myself all these years so not had the privilege of learning from other plasterers experience very often. But watching your videos, for me, is like being on site with another plasterer. Thank you for being so generous with sharing your knowledge.
Don't get rid of your Flexi, just don't use it on your first passes. They are nice for your final pass once the wall is nice and flat
I'm still here still learning I watched 1 your videos Friday your a big help man thank you the way you explain stuff is crystal clear and really does help me
Thanks Kirk for all your help and advice. You have so much knowledge and really appreciate you sharing it with us all. As a plasterer everything you say is spot on, I'm looking forward to the plasterers guide by Kirk Johnstone in the future....
Really enjoyed the video!
Thanks mate.
From Tom in Leicestershire.
Hard trowel first always don't touch it with a Flexi untill the end that's what happens when the flexible trowel comes out to early 😂
Kirk your quality mate, I’m DIYer going over Artex and got loads of good techniques from you. It’s definitely not easy but I must say my mrs is happy so happy days our kid.
I did this on a job years ago thought the flexi towels was the nuts untill we had painters in 😂 lucky it was turnt into arcades 😂
Your a proper tradesman and that plastic scraper tip is the best, it shows how much pride you have in your finsished work 👍
Another great video Kirk.
I do a few small ceilings and walls as a painter and decorator. Ive seen some hideously badly plastered walls in my time that will never be quality unless replastered. Marshalltown carbon trowel and speed skim are the only tools I use.
Lay on.
Flaten with speed skim.
Second coat and finish with trowel.
They are sound for finishing on a final. but you need to spread and lay in with a steel trowel and both flatteners .
Your videos are great, you explain the stuff most others don’t , your a real artist, and do such lovely work, you show the most difficult jobs , that most people would have to deal with on a refurb or own house, the others just show how to plaster a perfect wall.
Its great how you can find humour in everything, such a chilled bloke 👍🏻
You got to smile mate 😁
I'm new to this channel, my main experty is concrete and sealing, but I like your content bcz you know these jobs always have things in common and more importantly I liked it bcz of your humble character and your will to share your knowledge to help starters
Great work, I was doing all coats with my flexi and found the same, back to traditional, speedskim first coat, trowel ups with traditional and flexi for final polish seems to be working for me. Ty! 👌
Oh and binned off PVA for SBR. 💪
Been using Nela super flex for years and never had this problem before or after painting an absolute chancer did that ceiling
I agree with the issues with the flexible trowels as i used to used a really flexible nela trowel and had this exact issue. Iv switched to the refina flexi trowel which is flexible but a lot stiffer than most of them and never had a problem.
Also i have seen many plasteres get ripples using the Marshall towns as well, i think it has a lot to do with how much water is used and when you use it.
Agree. Even my own work I’ve painted has had the occasional ripple from a carbon trowel
It's not the flexi it's trowelling when it's still to wet.
I use a Nella and find it's the best flexi out there for me
Looks like they only one coated 😮
I've seen enough in this video to realise I need to leave plastering to the professionals! Good Vid!
Brilliant work Kirk, I must agree with you I never liked the flexibility trowel idea I prefer the old way
The problem ain’t the flexi it was the spread using it to lay on the first and second coats u should only use em once I’ve flattened in and it’s more or less set that’s when u can use them cos they smooth out any minor imperfections but ur right u can’t use them at the start of the set otherwise u will just follow all the contours that ur trying to remove
At last somebody who knows plastering game 🤔Why would you want to put on with a flexible trowel,,,,,,.let the plaster go off then polish up only with a flexible don't blame the trowel it's the person behind that has a lack of knowledge
@@dessaint6455 I put second coat on with a big flexi, first coat on with whatever 14 inch hard steel I'm breaking in. If it's big I'll flatten off with speedskim after first and second, then i use my broken in 14" for the first wet trowel. After that it depends what time you want to go home. Second wet trowel with a nela or refina flex depending how quick you can get on it or how big it is, the bigger it is the more likely it's hard steel trowell, smaller why wait? get on it with a flexi. These videos of oceans are due to poor timing and using flexi all the way through. last trowel and cross trowel are both done with the nela flex.
Brilliant video Kirk, thank you.
For narrow areas I use a multi size pack of filler spreaders from tools station . Only £3.90
You have excellent floating skills - wrist pivot ( 👍🏼 )
Kirk, I don't know how the hell this slipped my gaze, but I shall be watching right now!
Lay and flatten your 1st and 2nd coats on with a steel trowel. When its nice and flat leave it to pull in.... give it a sprinkle of water then one with the flex then a dry one with the flex .. Nice easy work and a top shiny finish. Flexes are a finishing trowel just like a plastic , we only ever bring them out at the very end of the process
Just a had a media wall plastered and it was an absolute nightmare, wish I called you in to fix his work
Also right time for the flexi
They make life easier also speed skim would of made this ceiling so much easier and quicker
He's probably forgotten more about plastering than you know, I don't think he needs advice
So is the Flexi trowel on used on the wet trowel stage of the set? I use my stainless steel Marshall town for as long as can be and then finish off with Flexi trowel with water when its pretty much dry.
Another great video Kirk. Thank you.
Hate doin jobs when new carpets doors does my head in had some fella get new kitchen fitted then wanted it skimmin absolute ball ache charged him tho for his stupidity 😂
Love the videos mate learning alot after completing a skimming course. I bought a flexi trowel and found my finish was rippling slightly. Would you recommend as a beginner to just stick with the 1 trowel for everything? Thanks
Yes 100%
if you kept a small fishing net with 2 arms in your van it would roll up and pack down to next to nothing about a foot long tube, but when you get lumpy plaster, you could riddle it in in the net in seconds and have no lumps, i do it for my groundbait when fishing on the river, it would cost a fiver to buy
I've gone bk to my carbon steel nela I like you noticed the bad results from flexi trowel just got caught up with how good it felt towelling up an the nice finish it leaves
Carbon trowels will always leave the best finish .might not look like it when drying but after painted always does .
You’ve done it again! No, outdone yourself! 🎉🎉
Thanks again!
Thats like saying that range rover killed my dog lol. It wasnt the flexi it was the person using it. I use marshalltown flexi for final cross trowel with water and its mint. It dosent leave my trowel case anytime before that stage
At least someone with common sense.
I use the marshalltown flexi occasionally, last pass only though
Are you plastering straight onto the painted wall here, or did you seal with SBR/PVA first?
Thanks for you excellent videos!!
Always seal mate
Can we see some vids of your finished work, painted in silk? Can definitely understand principle of flexi causing low spots/following contours of existing surfaces, but how often do you get to self-check as well? Wonder if its not just flexi but how consistently you work each coat (pressure-wise)? Uneven pressure with any trowel will cause undulations, especially if coat isn't cured enough to flatten or uneven pressure is applied along the wall? Flexi is probably more prone to this than stainless/carbon steel though? And looks like you spend a lot of attention evening out the low spots to avoid inconsistencies throughout your coats from application to polishing.
Maybe the previous plasterer has no idea this is what his work looks like painted?
Paint is the ultimate end product of a plasterer 9/10 unless its being papered over... so is the real business lesson to go back and quality check your work every so often to gauge your trowel consistency? or is it that we all just expect too much perfection these days (Customer and Tradesman)? Bring back the wattle and dorb applied by hand eh 🤣🤣🤣.
You've a cracking personality, and a good teaching persona on camera mate... colleges should have people like you inspiring the youngens with your level headedness on camera.
thats a lovely mix
What’s your thoughts on this though Kirk people say don’t use flexi trowels for flattening in ect but then flatten in with a speed skim which are flexible as well so no difference 🤔
In my opinion a speed skin is just to do a quick flattening. The angle is important too. Too sharp and it pulls too much off. Too slight and it will just follow the curves.
Slightly different subject but are you using SBR or pva on those painted walls ? Personally I can’t on with that grit stuff.
The knife/slice action to take a trowel edge of material is excellent when you get the knack.
SBR m8 he only uses sbr
Watch all your videos mate , top job as usual.quick question can you use a flexi trowel for you very last final stage with the trowel. Cheers .
i am a painter and when i go to new jobs wow the plastering is so bad i could spend a day filling in bad work because it made me look bad but i got sick of it stopped doing new work
Great instructional vid as usual
Everything i read Marshalltown my brain is telling me marshmallowtown 😂
Sometimes when skimming on to pva that has not picked up can cause awful ripples . Spongle will get them out though. But yeah iv flexied to soon and it does cause ripples
27:30 onwards, full Darth Vader mode 😂
I use a flexi on every single job. And the plastic trowel and the finish is ridiculous. But you cant use any of them until you've fully laid in
Well I must say, frankensteins monster was very well behaved on the camera
Nothing wrong with flexi trowel it should only be used at end of job if you haven't got the skill try using a stif trowel then use midi flex then use a plastic for matting ceiling or wall.
Why use a flexi at the end instead of a steel trowel?
What's the benefit?
I've seen people laying on with them 😂😂😂
Would it be ok to final trowel with a flexi trowel do u think once mine is done with wont be useing em no more but think coz it cost me money im just gonna final trowel with it thanks kirk love the advice my mate 👍
Cant beat mt carbon steel trowel all you need another good video Kirk 👍
Defo not the flexis fault plasterer clearly troweled up with it after his second coat 🤦🏼🤦🏼
Multi tool my fav
Nice toyota hilux outside 👍
I notice you don't put any dustsheets down to cover anything over just wondered why?
had a massive celling to do in a 45 million pound Manchon few years ago ... one of the spread i got into help was in his 50s ..dangerous Dave .... he used a marshall town flexi i payed him on the day its cost me £1500 to the decorators to fill it .. was all up on towers looooooool never again i use carbon steel proper trowels only on my jobs lol learnt the hard way too..... love the videos up the spreads
100 percent agree with this video Kirk no other plasterer on you tube will explain about these flexi crap trowels! But still plasterers will use them ! Great content as usual . Thanks
😂
The other plasterer really made a mess of that wall!! Someone needs to show him what a speed skim is
Another great video Kirk. However, the cameraman sounds like he's asleep and snoring
Darth Vader on the camera 😂😂😂😂
Great vid again though u made the proverbial silk purse out of the old pigs ear
It hasn’t helped that the customer has gone for silk emulsion … the devils paint! Any imperfections in the plaster and that stuff shows it up … I’m a decorator of 41 years and try to advice all my customers to do matt … not silk !!!
very good video kirk !
No way i’d be doing away with that flooring. Clean up lovely that
You and me both!
Quote" at 13:06 If you haven't gone back to the job, Sam was showing the back of your crack never mind the one on the wall ,
May be a longer T shirt should fix that,🤔🤣🤣🤣,
I am only a Diy plasterer and I could even see the issues how bad that wall was when you troweled the plaster on,
I think some times your to kind to other plasterers,
If they are good enough to leave the ceiling in a flat polished state then they would of felt trowel flexing in the ins and outs of the ceiling service but may of chosen to use a flexible trowel to get away from spending longer actually doing a proper flat ceiling,
I knew a bloke that could not plaster well until you gave him a bottle of whisky and 3/4 of the bottle gone in 10 minutes he would crack on and do a wonderful job,
I always think of all the plaster dust you guys breath in how that could prevent you in your early years carrying on with the job you do so well,
Knowing when to use flexing trowel never had an issue, down to plasterer
Good content brother ❤
kirk wields his light saber trowel while darth films the force 🤣 how do you sign up.... great vid butt
All these trowels and best finish will always come from a well looked after carbon .
Flexi are okay ish on board when your following a flat wall but there a fucker when your going over old skim or artex
What areas do you work Mate? I don't trust anyone.
That camera guys breathing lol
Maybe flattened with a Plaziflex that’s how they try teaching you These days lmao 😂
Is it bad with flexes when used to soon
Hi mate great trowel control
Why do you use board finish and not multi finish
Loll warm water brilliant
Youre made for TV mate, should be on instead of Ant and bloody Dec 😂👍
Hi Kirk, could you send us a link on what handbaord you use please?
Hey mate, it's just a marshalltown
Flexi for polishing only for me, gives it a nice shine that’s about it🤕🤣
Yep, there a finishing trowel, it's written on most of them
Good work bud ,dont like the camera man's snorting and breathing though
Using board finish to reskim ?
Kirk mate, please tell me there is some kind of protection on them stairs 🤦♂️.
Those.
Hall wall looked like a real moody wall to sort out
Who's on the camera, prince andrew?
Sir,I am new here.Have you a video where you prep and skim a curved stairwell
No sorry. Not yet. There are a few videos of curved ceilings though
@@Onthetrowel I am no longer a plasterer to be honest. I used to do mainly float and set and a lot of things you do and learned a lot myself working with qualified friends free so I could learn this satisfying skill
I have done a few cylindrical stairwells and the finish was not perfect. I used old school methods but I am interested in your methods sir.
All very well you hacking out the plasterboard between the wall and floor ... BUT ... what is now going to hold the skirting plumb ?
Window packers or expanding foam I'd imagine mate
Never use flexis anymore mate they only last 2 seconds in my hands anyway 😂 The marshalltown is all you need 💯%
Totally agree to expensive and go out of shape to quick. Still got one brilliant for laying on silicone render
marshalltown do a narrow angle trowel that would fit in there a treat
I couldnt listen to the breathing anymore 😆
Coar camera mans had a rough night
You got any tips on not to drop plaster I e been doing it 15 years and still drop some
I’ve been at it for 40 years still get it everywhere
So can you plaster straight over paint?
No,over bare plaster
Also no stop bead how comes ?
Jesus you weren't wrong about dark Vader 😂😂
🤣🤣🤣
I told you not the show the world my work
21:30 he finally got it! yes!
Got what mate?
The small white spot right along the edge i was like plzzz@@Onthetrowel
You only use the flexi trowel for the last run.