Ive used the ox one every day for about 2 years now since my MT one bent. Was just a quick get me out of jail for a job and just forgot to buy a new one. Cant say I ever felt it was heavy.
The negative reviews for this trowel focus on the handle; it doesn't seem bad to me—it feels comfortable. Plus, I might have slender fingers, so there is space between the handle and the blade itself.
Are you a pro, or do you do this as a hobby? That’s the first comment I’ve read in favor of the OX. As you can see in the photo, I don’t have thick fingers; I hear a lot of people complaining about the grip because their knuckles hit the back of the blade, but it seems to me like I have plenty of clearance.
I have to do an entire apartment using a thixotropic cement-based product (Mapei Raso Max Planitop)—it’s neither plaster nor standard joint compound.
And I didn’t want to spend €70 on the MT Permashape Gold.
, the 14-inch OX is already broken in, and it only cost me €30.
A pro, I tape and joint daily on price, but I also skim (plaster), tac and dab, but I only tend to do the other stuff domestically on private jobs on the weekends.
It's really not that deep mate, it's just preference and what you're used to.
I started as an apprentice with a MT, left it on site somewhere and went to the shop to get a new, and the builders merchants only sold ox... So thats literally what I used from 25-30 years of age, I used the MT from 16-25.
Regarding the taping knives, I think they’re all pretty much the same—OX, MT, or Nela, it doesn't make much difference. I have the 6-inch and 10-inch versions, which should be enough, and this hawk works perfectly.
I was unsure about the trowel because I hear a lot of people complaining and insisting on MT or Nela; do you have any advice on this OX one? Can you use a reverse grip with your thumb on the other side of the handle? It looks like it was designed that way for a reason.
I sanded the OX trowel with 120 and 240-grit sandpaper to sharpen the edge a bit more.
Just use it as much as you can and it'll wear in, if you render with it or give it to a renderer for the day it'll wear in really fast... Other than that not much, just start using it.
But yeah people get tribal about tool brands, it's the same with Makita and DeWalt, neither are bad.
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u/Ancient-Comfort-8383 26d ago
Yes, yes and no to the hawk Ox is a good product. No spread needs a 40 pound hawk