Found out my corner trowel angle was off for 3 years, a level finally showed me

I've been laying brick for about 7 years now, mostly small jobs around Austin. Last month I was doing a fireplace surround and kept getting a slight lip on the corners every few rows. I figured it was the mortar mix or just my speed. Then this older mason walked by the site, watched me for a minute, and said 'you're holding that trowel too flat, son.' He handed me a 4-foot level and showed me how the face was tilting just a hair. Turns out I'd been compensating with extra taps for years without noticing. The fix was simple, I just rolled my wrist up maybe 10 degrees and the corners came out clean on the first try. I felt dumb but also relieved because I'd been blaming the brick quality from a local supplier in Round Rock. Has anyone else had a small tool angle habit that took way too long to catch? What tipped you off?

2 comments

2 Comments

sean_torres7118d agoMost Upvoted

Wait, is that really the trowel's fault though, or just how you hold it?

sethhernandez19d ago

My Granny always said a bad workman blames his trowel, took me 10 years to realize she meant me.