As many of you will know I am a plasterer by trade, and although I am no longer trading as one I will still go and complete jobs for the old builders I use to carry out work for. One of the main reasons for this is that a couple of the local painters and decorators like to follow me, so even though I am now living on the south coast of England I still get the pleasure of returning to my home town.
The job that I was recently asked to plaster was a house of a good friend of my parents and when I was recommended by a few other people and the builder that I use to do work for they decided that I was worth the extra money to get. Yes it does make me feel great to know that my previous reputation is still intact..
This job was a bit of an odd job as it was meant to be just an extension but as the build continued more and more of the house needed further work doing so, the family decided to move out from what once was a small project extension to allow for a complete refurb. This also meant that the time it was expected to be ready for my plastering services was a little delayed which any other time of the year would not be a problem but due to my holiday commitments it only left me with 10 days to get as much of the plastering done as possible.
What I like about these few and far between jobs that I do is that I get to play with some of the tools that I get sent and if you read my mixm8 review previously it can uncover some interesting findings. So this job was going to give me plenty of time to play with some new tools which includes the Speedskim and also something called a Japanese trowel.
So lets get started with the Speedskim.
I have used these in the past and I think it was also in the mixm8 review where I discussed that I used the Speedskim on the barrel ceiling that I had to re-plaster. So although I have used the Speedskim in the past I had not used it enough to come to a full conclusion.
I have enough plastering experience and am a very open minded person to know when a product is going to be something that is valuable and also very useful.
When I first saw the Speedskim on The Plasterers Forum I knew that it was going to be a great product and from the reveiws from some of the experienced members I also knew that it was going to be popular and seeing that I have very much been behind the success of the plastic trowel in the plastering industry I knew that the Speedskim might just become as popular if not more so
There have been some very mixed reveiws about it from the beginning as some plasterers just don’t like change and so we tend to ignore their comments as I think they would still be mixing up with a podger if they could. The general consensus is that its been a very handy tool.
So the first task of this job was to skim a small study which had been plasterboarded, The builder gave me this room to break me in gently as the next room had a monster of a ceiling. I put the ceiling on first and once the first coat was on I used the 1200 Speedskim to flatten it off , The Speedskim left 2 fairly big lines though the ceiling where the corners dug in which was OK but meant I had to get my trowel out to flatten them in afterwards. However it did make very light work of flattening in and it also highlighted a couple of hollows in the ceiling, which was good, as overall you should get a better flat ceiling.
A Video Of The Speedskim In Action
The second coat went on and was also flattened off with the Speedskim and once again it was very easy to do but still once again it left 2 lines where the edges of the Speedskim had dug in. I had also put on the window reveals and used the Speedskim to flatten off which made very light work of them.
I decided to take the plunge and round off the corners on the Speedskim and with my bead snips this was quickly achieved along with a bit of sandpaper I had nicely round corners and I was keen to see if this made any improvements.
The next set was a just a couple of walls (remember I am not as quick as I once was and was already exhausted) the walls went on nicely and the Speedskim was used again and boy what a difference it made taking the corners off , no lines and flattening in was now even easier. I was ever so slightly impressed.
Using a Speedskim is very much like using a featheredge as you do need to make sure that it is clean and free from and dried lumps of plaster. But the real test was going to be when I put the massive ceiling on the following day
So this ceiling was pushing 40 m2 and although it was over plasterboard the ceiling was up and down like a fiddlers elbow so it was going to be a bit of a challenge and the other challenge was going to be me having enough energy to put the ceiling on and finish it.
Ok so the first coat took a little over 3 bags to get on and because speed was of the essence I was not going to worry too much about using a trowel to flatten it in but simply get straight to the point and use the 1200 Speedskim.
All I am going to say is that I was impressed!!!
The ceiling was very quickly under control and flattened in and it once again highlighted a few hollows which I filled out but it did make it easier. I was also doing this ceiling on one of the hottest days of the year so I was sweating buckets.
So the rest of the job I was either re-skimming board work or re-skimming old plaster and it soon became clear that I was using the Speedskim on every single wall and every time I would use it a little smile would creep in as I realised how little effort it took to flatten in. Especially in the heat.
I was really impressed with the Speedskim I can pretty much say that it has now become an essential tool in my plastering kit and I don’t think I will ever not use it.
Yes a few people don’t like it but that is common with anything and to be honest you can’t please everybody and over the course of the years the Speedskim has evolved and changed ever so slightly. Like they have now got interchangeable blades and come in various sizes.
I think that is probably enough for this article I will discuss my thoughts about the Japanese trowel later on this week. If you would like even more information on the Speedskim then please go and head to their website where they will be more than happy to help. Also go and do a search on the plasterers forum for Speedskim and you can read about the other ways that plasterers are using the Speedskim.
You can get your Speedskim directly from www.speedskim.co.uk or you can get them from www.plasterers1stopshop.co.uk
Do you just flatten with speed skim without water and then carry on with normal trowel once its flattened?
Yes I just flatten it in without water although the speedskim is washed before using so it is wet π
And then just final trowel as normal with water? Cheers
Yep…. its mainly for flattening in between coats but there has been talk over at The Plasterers Forum that are some are using them to finish with.
For me flattening in saves a lot of time….
I also like to finish my walls/ceilings with a plastic trowel.
Cheers mate. Just got one but wasn’t sure if you finish with it. Thanks again
The speedskim is an innovation in plastering tools. Easy to use and above all saves you time in flattening off walls and ceilings in a fraction of the time. Because the blade is plastic so doesn’t draw all the water to the surface which allows you to second coat sooner. If funds allow buy the whole set, I did and will never be without them. Spares are available and the delivery time is superb, in all top top product and super helpful staff. Buy them, you won’t regret it.
Nice comment mark π I hope you are enjoying Plasterers News π
Danny
Hi Danny, yeah good site mate. Keep up the good work.
Thanks π
3 bags used on your 1st coat on a 40sm ceiling???
That was a long time ago…. But yes, if thats what it said π
It sounds as though you are a bit puzzled by this, any reason why??
I’ve been using Speed skims for 18 months and I love it. Make my life a lot easier, and as I get older the more the help I need. π
Yes it has to be easier on the body and joints π
I recently borrowed a 1200 speed skim from work along with the refina spatula and plastic trowel. I am very impressed with all 3, I know a lot of people on the plasterers forum are very much against change but let’s face it, if you can get the same results a little easier then why not? The plastering industry is changing all the time and not all products or materials are going to work, but they all deserve a try…. And in my opinion I think the speed skim and plastic trowels are a revelation!
Sorry, but since when has a 40m2 ceiling been “Massive”
Its massive when I only skim about 5 ceilings a year these days π It came out lovely though π
40 m2 is a large area…keep that up and your career along with rotator cuff will not last too long! π I’m using speed skim now and yes, well impressed, less labour and true flat finish….using board finish if wall/ceiling bounce abit.
My career as a full time plasterer is indeed over… but then thats due to running these sites π Glad you like the speedskim it is a great product and they are always developing it further. Enjoy Plasterers News π
Hi Danny
I just bought the new speedskimsf 600
I’ve got the Ezz spat with rounded corners and find this smooths the plaster leaving no big blade lines unlike the speedskimsf
With the spat I can go straight to it but I find the speedskimsf is only good when plaster has gone right off
I see you rounded your corners is it easy to do and what and how did you do it
Hi guys, ive used the speedskim st for a complete finnish then if required my trowel in the corners it really does polish up nice, ceiling and walls ive just been on the speedskim web site and they have the sf model for polishing
i bought a speedskim set a few months ago after seeing them on the forum, never had it so good. i used to use a spatular for flattening but thats redundant now as these are easier to use and leave work flatter. wish id had a speedskim years ago i would have paid off my house. setting is much easier now. good product be mad not to have one.
good work Danny
Thats great news π They are a great tool π
Anyone that doesn’t think a 40m2 ceiling is a big hit is suffering from ‘Johnny Big Potato’ syndrome. Nice article by the way, just ordered mine.
He didn’t say a big hit . He said massive. I work with around 20 other plasterers and only 3 or 4 would say
that 40m2 was anywhere near massive
I agree with a few of the guys on here, 40m2 on your own is a hard days work!
Nice site Danny
Thanks James π I try and be as honest as I can and try and be as unbiased as possible :-\
Anyone who thinks 40m2 isn’t a decent sized hit or a large ceiling is probably not doing a very good job, it’s Β£3 labour a meter for a reason, your expected to produce an average of 2 x 25-30m hits per day, granted I have have blokes that hit nearer 40m as a minimum on each hit, I recon they all respect a 40m ceiling though,
Yeah its enough for me on my own thats a sure fact… to be honest my shoulder is still giving me hell even to this day :-\
Just ordered a set of speed skim, looking forward to trying it out.
I been doing this long before speedskim came out. Put first hit on and walk it with a large Spachchelor on my stilts, and same with 2nd coat. Ok it’s not as big as the speedskim blade but is a great way of saving time. I may invest in one real soon π
So funny reading all these comments about people saying a 40m celling is not a big hit. Course it is you nutter. Do 3 of them aday and tell me how you feel then..speed skim are the future, plastic trowels are the future. Cleaner quicker no dirty water. More metres more money end of. If that whisk ent turning we ent earning
I been plastering for nearly 30years.it slowly taking its toll on me wear&tear.so when i heard of the refina plastic trowel& speedskim off me apprentice i was in2minds at1st.so i got plastic trowel a while ago&bam its belting so gonna invest in speedskim.&a40m2 ceiling is a good hit for any plaster of any age who knows his onions.
Had a speedskim for about a year now, takes a lot of work out of flattening in, really good investment, use it along with the plastic trowel for finishing, took a bit of getting used to but definately a good tool.
Been plastering over 30yrs and sorry mate a 40 m ceiling is a big area
Never stop learning and improving after reading you guys comments I’m gonna invest in a set
Is the st version mentioned earlier different to the standard set?
I’ve noticed there’s a marshaltown Magic trowel which I’m also interested in which looks like a plastic bladed spat have you used that Danny
Nice forum mate will follow
The blue bladed ones are plastic and they are the ones I like using π
I am not aware that MArshalltown have bought out a plastic trowel… I know that NELA have a nice plastic trowel that is very popular http://www.plasterers1stopshop.co.uk/nela-plasticflex-trowels-c-12_65_129.html?osCsid=efvaj96rgh89jgs428tvckp347
I love plastic trowels but it took me a while to get use to the NELA one but it is growing on me a lot at the moment π
So entertaining understanding every one of these remarks about individuals saying a 40m celling is not a major hit. Course it is you nutter. Do 3 of them aday and let me know how you feel then..speed skim are the future, plastic trowels are what’s to come. Cleaner faster no filthy water. More meters more cash end of. In the event that that whisk ent turning we ent acquiring
Hi, i have a small plastering company and have nothing but problems with plasterers using speed skim, and refine spats. These plasterers usually use the same muck for both coats and it looks great until it’s painted and a bit of light casts across the walls. I’ve never met a plasterer who can produce the same quaiyof work with a speed skim or spat as one using the traditional trowel
Unfortunately a lot of the skills of using a basic trowel has been lost with using tools like the speedskim and flexible trowels… You need the skills before you use the short cuts and I think some “plasterers” already lack those skills and hence don’t get the best finish.
A lot of new users to Speedskim and Flexible trowels also dont realise they need to change their timings and in all honesty using the same gear to top out is laziness and explains the bad work left…
I’ve been spreading for 30 years now and am always willing to try new kit. I love a spat for flattening but have struggled with plastic trowels so still tend to revert to old habits and the steel trowels come out! I’m using a new super flex to give final trowel. Where am I going wrong with the plastic trowels cause I’m thinking speedskim and plastic would keep the arches away?
Myself & another plasterer worked in England late eighties London areas & then Holland early nineties,he got big into the spats which were very common with the dutch spreads & they were superb at flattening big lids & walls! Back to Ireland around end of 95 we’re both Irish lads & the spreads laughed at these new techniques fast forward & we are seeing a lot more spreads been more open minded about making changes & expanding their plasterering arsenal,these speedskims are the way forward & I love them,anything for an easier pain free day!
YUp speedskims are awesome π