Dropped $80 on a fancy trowel and it messed up my rhythm

I saw a guy on YouTube using this expensive lightweight trowel from Europe and thought it would make my day smoother. Bought it for $80 plus shipping, figured it was an investment. First job with it on a retaining wall last Tuesday felt totally off, the balance was all wrong and my wrist was killing me by noon. Had to switch back to my beat up Marshalltown halfway through the day. Anyone else blow cash on a tool that just didn't click with how you work?

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caseywest2mo ago

Heavily hyped in the video" is exactly how they get you. I read a contractor blog a while back that broke down how those Euro trowels are made for smooth, butter-like mud, not for anything with rocks or rough joints. Your wrist was killing you because that lightweight design forces your hand to work harder to counteract the torque, especially on a retaining wall. The Marshalltown is heavy but it does half the work for you with that forward weight. Live and learn, right? At least you didn't throw it in the trash, you can probably sell it to some other guy who watches the same YouTube channel.

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evan_harris142mo ago

Eighty bucks on a trowel? Man that hurts just to read. Ive been burned on the lightweight European hype before too, they look so slick in videos but the weight distribution is totally different once you get it in your hand. A beat up Marshalltown always wins in the end though, those things are like an extension of your arm after a few years.

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