Talked to a guy at the supply house about using a hawk and trowel

Ran into an older installer at the yard in Boise last Thursday. He saw me loading up boxes of mud and asked why I never use a hawk. I told him it's slower and messier than a pan. He just shook his head and said, 'Kid, you're working harder, not smarter. A 14 inch trowel and a good hawk lets you move three times the mud in one trip up the ladder.' He showed me his setup, a Marshalltown hawk with a worn wooden handle. Said he's used the same one for 22 years. It got me thinking maybe I've been too quick to write off the old ways. Anyone here still use a hawk for taping and coating big ceilings?

2 comments

2 Comments

terrywilson1mo ago

My uncle swore by his hawk, but I could never get the hang of it without dropping mud everywhere.

phoenixa641mo ago

Tell me about it! I tried using one for a patch job and ended up decorating my shoes more than the wall. Felt like I was carrying a very angry, very messy bird that hated me. My forearms just don't work that way, I guess. I'll stick to a mud pan and accept my messy fate. Some skills just aren't in the cards.