Tools Needed for Plastering

Prepping for Plaster is the most important step to have the plaster project turn out level and smooth. The tools needed for prep work include Plumb Level and Wood. In order to cut the wood to height you will need a Saw which can either be manual or electric. It will be helpful to also have on hand a few standard building tools before starting the project. You may need a Ladder, Claw Hammer and Buckets. Once the wooden guides are leveled and secured, the plaster can be mixed.

Plaster comes in two bases, cement base and gypsum based. Gypsum based plaster should only be used indoors as it will absorb moisture and is prone to mold. Cement based plaster is for exterior use. Plaster comes in powder form with all additives already in the bag so all that is needed is to add water and mix.

When mixing plaster the least expensive mixing tool is a wooden stick but if mixing a large amount, an electric mixer is a better option. A Mixer Paddle can be attached to a drill and will allow for a thorough mix with much less effort. It is important to mix only a small batch at a time since the plaster has a relatively short working time and cannot be used once it is too dry.

Transporting the plaster from the bucket to the project site is usually done a small batch at a time on a Hawk; a square metal plate with a handle centered underneath. Since plaster is heavy, be sure not to load the Hawk with more than you can comfortably balance and carry. The Hawk is used in conjunction with the Plasterers Trowel but since the Plasterers Trowel is metal and is prone to rusting, an alternative is a polycarbonate Float. The Float or Trowel is used to scoop plaster from the Hawk and apply the plaster to the project surface. A Plasterers Darby is used to smooth the plaster to the correct depth. A Darby is a long metal straight edge with handles which spans the plaster surface and rests on the wooden guides, as it is pulled along the guides it levels the plaster to the finished depth. An alternative to the Darby is a Featheredge which is a long aluminum straight edge also useful for plasterboard applications.

Another tool that is helpful is a Splash Brush. A Splash Brush can be an old paint brush or a wall paper brush. The splash brush is used to keep the plaster from drying out but if left too long, the plaster will become hard and unstable and should not be used. One last tip is to keep all plaster tools clean and free of plaster bits, chips or chunks; any old plaster bits on tools will ruin a smooth finish.