Bullnose Trowels
Well, I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend. I went to an Arts & Crafts festival, saw Bride Wars?and had a few clients I needed to show samples to.? It got to Monday WAY too soon, no?
I also hope you?enjoyed Sharon Leichsenring’s profile. It certainly got a lot of discussion on the comment board going. Be sure to check on her website to see her upcoming class schedule.? Once I get to learning a bit more on podcasts and/or vlogging (video logging), I’ll see if I can set up interviews that way so that you can get a more one-on-one introduction to the artists. I love having something better to strive for — I get to satisfy my insane curiosity for the new and you, dear Reader, get to enjoy an always improving blog.
Today we’ll touch upon a slightly boring subject: bullnoses. I’m not sure about the rest of the country?but in Florida, we have a lot of bullnose corners. They are the rounded — not 90 degree — corner?edges. Here’s what they look like, just so you have a visual:
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Well, if the walls?have?texture?and you’d like to?smooth them out before you start your finish, it can be?a bit of?a challenge.? I’ve tried all kinds of trowels and even just using my fingers but inevitably, I end up having to sand them down and just keep at it until it blends seamlessly into?the rest of the walls we’ve smoothed.? Then, I was introduced to?bullnose trowels by?a drywaller.? Just?use these to zip on down those corners with your plaster?and Voila! Smooth edges.? (I would have shown you?my Happy Dance but it’s slightly embarassing.)? Here’s what?they look like:
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The pic on the?left is from Warner Tools and it’s the two sizes?they sell at my local Orlando store, Star Scenic.? You can also easily find similar?trowels?online by googling “bullnose trowels”. They run between $5 – $7.??Hope you like this tip!
Jo
1123 days ago
Thanks. That’s a great tip. There is nothing like having the proper tools. While trying to apply venetian plaster in tight spaces such as between the door jam & a corner, I found that a credit card (edges slightly sanded) worked quite well. It was also great for applying plaster to curves and ridges on furniture/tables, light switch covers, etc.
Regina Garay
1123 days ago
Credit cards are a genius idea…thank you for posting the tip!
Lucinda
1123 days ago
Argh – bullnoses! They are my nemesis, that and orange peel walls. I get overly excited when I enter a home with 90 degree corners and level 5 drywall. Not to rain on your always-helpful-tips and tricks parade. I hope you have more luck with these trowels than I did. I scraped mine and now after years of bullnose practice I think I have just gotten better. After a moment of desperation on a job I pulled out the ClingWrap. It worked the best out of all the other techniques I tried. Just hold it taut and drag up or down depending on your finish.
Angela
1123 days ago
Regina, you are just in time. I’m about to do some bullnose columns. Now tell me please that these really work. Same house, different project, I used my fingers, but the columns are right in middle of entry…need to be PERFECT!
Angela
Regina Garay
1122 days ago
Lucinda — I’m going to have to check out that ClingWrap thing. I’m sorry the bullnose trowel didn’t work out…so far so good for me, so I’ll keep my fingers crossed. Angela, I’d go prepared for it all. Prior to the bullnose trowel, I was using a Japan scraper to carefully swoop the plaster horizontally around the corner. Works gangbusters but seriously time-consuming. I am trying the credit card idea as well since I am doing Venetian plaster this week. (…and here I thought this post was kinda “out there”…so glad it got a discussion going…)
Patty
1121 days ago
I’ve read about using ClingWrap before. These tools look nifty, bookmarked the site in case I ever have a need. Have only had one client to date that had bullnosed corners.