mia592•20d ago

$80 for a used trowel from a retired mason was a steal of a deal

I found this old trowel at a flea market in Cleveland last fall. Guy was retired, said he used it for 15 years on commercial jobs. I paid $80 for it, which felt steep for a used tool, but the handle was worn perfect to my grip. Used it on a big retaining wall job last week and it laid mortar like butter. No chipping, no flex, just solid work. I got lumber from him too and he gave me a bunch of tips on mixing mud for heavy stone. Has anyone else picked up a veteran's tool and felt the difference right away?

2 comments

2 Comments

ross.sean20d agoMost Upvoted

I read somewhere that older tools had better steel than what you get today, and your story backs that up for sure. That "laid mortar like butter" bit really stuck with me. I've heard from a few guys that a well-used trowel with a seasoned handle is worth the money because your hand just knows where it sits. It's not just the tool itself, it's the muscle memory you inherit from the guy who used it for fifteen years. You basically got a free lesson in how to handle it just by holding it.

parkerk5620d ago

That's a good point about inheriting the muscle memory, not just the tool. Honestly, you probably saved months of break-in time with your wrist that you'd never get from a brand new one off the shelf.