Properly selected tool speeds up the repair process and facilitates the work of the master. Many self-taught masters do not think about the fact that depending on what building mixture and where to apply, the type of spatula also differs. You can find a wide variety of them on sale, and in this article we will tell you how to choose the right spatula, as well as what to look for when choosing a particular model in a store.
Content
Before buying a tool, you should decide what functions it should perform. Scrapers can be made of rubber, plastic, and also steel. Steel models are considered the most durable. Most often they are made of stainless steel, which does not corrode upon contact with water and does not stain the solution with rusty spots. They can be used in repair and construction, including when working with heavy materials such as plaster.
Plastic scrapers are elastic and resilient, but they are brittle and not suitable for working with heavy mixtures. Most often they are used to smooth the surface and apply putty with a thin layer (for example, for car putty, so as not to scratch the metal). Another area of application is the smoothing of wallpaper during gluing. It is not recommended to use plastic for working with compositions that have solid components, as they scratch its surface, and you will soon need to buy a new scraper.
Rubber models are the most resilient of all that are used in construction. Their plasticity allows you to bend around an uneven surface and repeat its bends. Most often they are used for applying liquid formulations (glue, sealant), as well as for smoothing the surface. Rubber can have different densities, so you can choose one or another degree of hardness, depending on what needs to be done.
Most spatula blades have a handle that is installed in the same plane as the work surface. It can be located at a certain angle, depending on what the product is intended for. The handle can be made from the same material as the work surface, or from another.It can be wooden, plastic, metal. Some types of spatulas do not have handles and are shaped to fit comfortably in the user's palm.
The purpose of the tool is inextricably linked with the material of manufacture. So, a rubber scraper cannot be used for applying plaster, and a metal scraper cannot be used for sealant.
Criteria for choosing spatulas for their intended purpose:
Regardless of what work needs to be done with a spatula, it is recommended to entrust its choice to professionals, since only they understand the specifics and functionality of a particular model, and can advise the best option.
The review of the most budget scraper on Yandex Market begins. It is designed to work with heavy solutions and has a working surface width of 3 cm. Due to its compact size, the tool can be used in hard-to-reach places, as well as to perform a small amount of work. The cloth is made of stainless steel and is not subject to corrosion. The wooden handle of the round shape fits comfortably in the palm of your hand and does not slip. The handle has a hole for wall mounting. The average price of the goods is 18 rubles.
Another popular model that is found on sale everywhere. Like the previous contender, the blade in the spatula is made of stainless steel, but the handle is plastic. The width of the working surface of 6 cm makes the scraper universal, allowing it to be used not only in narrow places, but also in wide areas.Most often it is used to level putty during finishing. The handle with a relief pattern fits comfortably in the palm of your hand, and has a significant advantage over a wooden one - it does not swell upon contact with water and is well attached to the blade. The product is made in Russia, and it can be found not only in construction hypermarkets, but also ordered online in an online store. The handle has a hole for wall mounting. The average unit price is 22 rubles.
The spatula blade in appearance resembles the previous contender and is distinguished by a larger width of the canvas (10 cm). The spatula-scraper is used for applying and leveling putty on various surfaces. The blade material is stainless steel, the handle is made of plastic. The weight of the product is 89 grams, so that the hand does not get tired during operation. The handle has slits to prevent slipping out of your hands. The average price of a product is 40 rubles.
The product is a set of four scrapers with different widths of the working surface - 50, 80, 100, 120 mm. All of them are made of plastic and can be used both for finishing work and for filling in the cosmetic treatment of cars.Due to the fact that the set includes scrapers with different widths, the user can select one or another tool depending on the specific need. Although the scrapers are made of plastic, they are durable when properly handled and resistant to water. The German brand has proven itself well, and according to buyers, the set is worth the price. The cross section of the scrapers is trapezoidal, each of them has a hole for wall mounting. The average price of the goods is 30 rubles per set.
The tool is used for facade work, which is facilitated by the large width of the working surface. It is made in Russia, and is widely distributed in hardware stores. The cloth is made of stainless steel, is not subject to corrosion. The handle is plastic, with a large hole in the middle (for wall mounting), fits comfortably in the palm of your hand and does not slip. The manufacturer gives a guarantee for the tool for 12 months, which is rare for this type of product. The thickness of the steel sheet is 1 mm, it easily bends and repeats the surface of the wall. The average price of a product is 35 rubles.
The model differs from the previous ones by the presence of teeth.As the name of the product implies, it belongs to the professional category. It is used for applying putty, as well as adhesive solutions. Most often, the tool is used in facing works, when laying tiles and porcelain stoneware, leveling putty. The 4mm tines create grooves to help seal and remove excess air from under the cladding material. The blade width of 100 mm ensures universal use not only in hard-to-reach places, but also on large areas. Light weight (70 grams) facilitates the process of applying and leveling putty. The handle is made of plastic with an anti-slip coating and has a wide hole in the middle for wall mounting. The average price of a product is 55 rubles.
Unlike products that were included in the budget price category, the tools in question differ not in plastic or wood, but in a rubberized handle that fits comfortably in the palm of your hand and is securely fixed in it.
BAUMAUTO is one of the best manufacturers of auto body repair tools, its products are distinguished by quality materials and fitted elements. The spatula has a small width of the working surface, which allows you to smooth the mixture in hard-to-reach places and in small areas.The stainless steel of the working element is flexible, repeats the bends of the treated area, while smoothing out irregularities and levels them.
The rubber handle has a hole in the top for wall mounting. The product belongs to the professional line and is sold only in specialized stores. On the network you can find a large number of positive customer reviews of the product. The average price of a product is 105 rubles.
The model is designed to perform facade work, and eliminates the main mistake when choosing spatulas that many buyers make - buying a product with a wide working canvas without a stiffener. It is designed to prevent deflection and crease of the blade when applying heavy solutions. The function of the stiffening rib in the product is performed by an aluminum plate resistant to aggressive media and water. This design is considered the best when leveling putty with a thick layer and for solutions that have solid inclusions (pebbles, grains, etc.).
The two-component handle of the product, made of rubber and plastic, provides ergonomic placement in the palm of your hand and allows you to comfortably operate the scraper. There are two holes on the top.The working width of the model is 300 mm, length - 215. Due to the large weight (almost 300 grams), only a physically strong person can work with a scraper, so it is not suitable for women. The product comes with a small instruction manual, which shows how to apply putty with a spatula and how to hold it correctly so that your hand does not get tired. The description also provides information on how to prepare the product for use and how to clean the spatula from putty. The manufacturer manufactures products in Russia, so finding a product in a store is not difficult. The average price of the goods is 230 rubles.
The Italian brand is well known in the field of workwear and footwear, and recently it has also launched its own line of tools for construction and repair. The model under consideration stands out among competitors not only in appearance, but also in a number of characteristics - the working blade is made of hardened steel with a chrome coating. Due to this, the solution easily glides over the blade, does not stick to it, and is evenly distributed over the treated surface.
The handle has a proprietary two-component ProGrip coating that not only provides a comfortable grip, but also has anti-slip properties. The scraper is used when finishing for processing walls and ceilings, it can be used in hard-to-reach places. Suitable for drywall plastering.The working width of the blade is 40 mm, the structure - semi-rigid - ensures smoothing of irregularities, while keeping the given shape and not bending. Among the advice of builders, you can find recommendations to buy a tool only in trusted stores, since you can often find a fake on sale, and not the original. It is not recommended to order a model via the Internet, since it is impossible to identify a fake from a photo. The average price of a product is 300 rubles.
The review continues with the product of another well-known brand in construction, which has established itself as a good value for money. The working cloth of a product is made of stainless steel which is polished to a condition of a mirror surface. This contributes to the rapid and uniform application of the solution to the treated surface. The handle of the product is two-component, consists of plastic and rubber, has an anti-slip coating. The working width of 300 mm allows you to apply the mortar in hard-to-reach places, and the scraper can also be used for grouting tile joints. Buyers note the optimal length of the handle, as well as the low weight of the product, which allows you to work with it for a long time without getting tired. According to some buyers, this is one of the best products that you can buy for comparable money.Despite how much the model costs (depending on the store, the unit price can reach up to 400 rubles), it is popular and is on sale in most construction supermarkets.
The review continues with a tool for mechanized puttying by the well-known Polish company OLEJNIK J.L. This company is a direct competitor of the well-known brand STORCH, is not inferior to its products in terms of quality, but at the same time has an affordable price, allowing Russian builders to use world-class spatulas.
The model in question is used for machine puttying, therefore, in appearance it differs from the spatulas that were previously presented in the rating. The main parameters of the product: the base is made of aluminum, the working blade is replaceable, made of stainless steel. The width of the working canvas is 15 cm, the width is half a millimeter. Due to this, during operation, the blade keeps its shape, and evens the putty over all surface irregularities. To ensure that no bumps or cavities remain after passing, the blade is polished to a mirror finish. Best of all, the tool showed itself in applying the starting layer. The average price of a product is 1,600 rubles.
The products of the Russian manufacturer Master Color have been present on the building products market relatively recently, but during this time they have won the trust of customers due to their good price-quality ratio. The considered model is intended for front works. The working cloth is made of stainless steel, with an aluminum basis which serves as a stiffening rib. Both of these materials are not subject to corrosion and are not afraid of contact with water. The width of the canvas is 35 cm.
The handle is two-component, consists of rubber and plastic with an anti-slip coating. For ease of placement in the palm of the master, it is attached to the base not perpendicularly, but with a slight inclination to the side. There is a hole on the top of the arm for wall mounting. Users note a flexible canvas that has no roughness and applies the solution evenly, without gaps. The model can be used for both the start and finish layers. The tool showed itself well both when applying putty and when sealing tile joints. The average price of a product is 900 rubles.
Swedish brand tools are an order of magnitude more expensive than Russian counterparts, however, experienced builders recommend buying this particular brand of spatulas if possible.This recommendation is primarily due to the fact that brand products are more durable and reliable than their competitors. This is indirectly indicated by the 12-month warranty that the manufacturer provides for its products (which is rare for such products). The model under consideration is made of stainless steel, the working canvas has a conical shape. This form allows not only to level solutions or mixtures on the surface, but also to use the tool for other types of work.
So, with it, you can clean the walls of wallpaper, or work with wooden surfaces. In case it is necessary to treat an area that is difficult to reach, you can purchase a branded extension cord that allows you to apply mixtures at a great distance from the master. In addition to putty, sealant, glue, and any other viscous composition can be leveled with a spatula. The width of the working cloth is 10 cm, it is made of polished stainless steel. The handle is plastic, with rubberized inserts, has a shape that repeats the bend of a human hand. There is an anti-slip coating. The top has a hole for wall mounting. The average price of a product is 750 rubles.
The model is made in Taiwan. It is designed for facade work and has an increased width of the working canvas of 45 cm. The tool is designed for applying plaster or putty on surfaces with a large plane. The working cloth is profiled, made of stainless steel.There is an aluminum stiffener.
The handle is ergonomic, the shape repeats the bend of the human palm. Slots are applied on the handle in such a way as to reduce the load from the master's hand while working with a spatula. It is made of plastic with a rubberized coating that has anti-slip properties. The manufacturer claims a 2-year warranty, which indicates the reliability and durability of the product. Among customer reviews, you can find the opinion that the blade is thin, which is why it plays with little effort. However, this thickness of the web allows you to achieve a smooth glide over the surface and improve the quality of the application of the solution. Some users also do not like the grip of the handle - they say that the standard shape is more convenient to work with. The large weight of the spatula does not allow unprepared people to use it, as the hand quickly begins to get tired. The average price of a product is 950 rubles.
When choosing which company’s spatula is better to buy, you must first of all understand the purpose of a particular model, and before making a final decision, it is recommended to personally visit the store and “try on” the tool in your hand. You should not choose a spatula on the Internet, since the purchased model may be inconvenient, and it will be impossible to work with such a product.When choosing, we also recommend that you consult with a store consultant regarding the reliability of the product, especially if the scraper is purchased for a long time, or to perform a large amount of work.
We hope that our review will help you make the right choice!