Hot take: I still use a wooden hawk for my mortar, not a metal one.

Everyone on the crew for the big apartment job in Springfield said I was nuts for not switching to a lightweight metal one. I picked my old wooden one because the mortar doesn't stick to it as much in the cold, and I can just sand it down if it gets rough. It went fine, I kept pace with everyone else and my mix stayed workable. Has anyone else stuck with an older tool that still works better for them?

2 comments

2 Comments

jesse_green559h ago

Look, I gotta be honest, sticking with that old wooden hawk sounds like stubborn pride more than smart work. Metal ones are lighter so you're less worn out by lunch, and that non-stick coating they use now is way better than sanding down splinters every other week. You might have kept pace this time, but you're fighting the tool instead of letting it help you. Sometimes newer is just better, and holding onto the past can slow the whole crew down.

sethhernandez8h ago

Plus you're gonna feel that shoulder tomorrow.