Professional Builder’s Roger Bisby offers a user’s perspective on Faithfull’s new range of trowels for bricklayers and plasterers.
Introducing a new trowel range into the UK is not for the faint-hearted because we are already spoilt for choice,and the major brands are well dug in— however,with the backing of distribution via Toolbank, Faithfull is already halfway there with its new range of Prestige Trowels.
The Faithfull range has been well-known for budget tools,but this is certainly not your usual budget line. Thebrand hastaken the wise decision to move in on the likes of Marshalltown and WHS with features and quality that professionals expect—but at a price which will tempt them to move away.
For example,the Philidelphia and London bricklayers’trowels come with chrome vanadium steel,which is ground and tempered. There is a high lift handle for knuckle clearance on the Phili,but they also do an arched handle on the London pattern. As you would expect,the handles are through-tang one-piece forgings with a reinforced rubber button on the end for tapping down. There is also a lacquer coating to help the mortar slide off a bit more easily,though I would question how long the lacquer can last out on site, particularly if you rub your trowels clean with a piece of brick as I do.
The pointing trowel has a straight edge for weather struck joints and a very sharp tip. They also have a gaugingtrowel, margin trowel and bucket trowel.With 25 trowels in the range— and the promise of more to come— it would be impossible to cover them all here,and we will aim to revist the range to look at the pre-worn stainless steel plastering trowels.
Probably my favourite trowel— and I don’t know why— is the tuck pointer,which is 13mm wide. I have used a 10mm tuck pointer for years and never thought to use one which is slightly wider than the joint,but it works a treat for weather struck pointing and,as I have a mile of that to do later in the year,it will get used.
I love a bit of pointing— switch on the radio and drift away.
Faithfull’s 30th anniversary
Faithfull is celebrating its 30thanniversary this year and is marking the occasion with a host of promotional activities and special offers. The introduction of the Prestige Trowel range is a key product launch in its celebratory year, with the company saying that it has “tested, refined and improved on all aspects of this range and its features to deliver a selection of professional quality trowels that we are proud to brand as Prestige”.
Supporting the range are a number of merchandising and display options for merchants, whilst the heavy-duty packaging has been designed to support sales in store by clearly displaying the key features and benefits of the new portfolio.
The Prestige range also boasts a 10 year guarantee on all products. For more information on the Prestige Trowel Range from Faithfull and available through Toolbank, visit www.faithfulltools.com/prestige-trowels
