The word “Sexy” never really comes to mind when you think of plastering trowels…that’s until now! This is the Nela Black Edition Trowel Review! And this has to be one of the most stylish looking trowels you can buy. But is it as good as it looks??
In today’s article, we’re going to see if this trowel lives up to expectations. But before I start I have to say that the Nela trowel company have been progressively growing in popularity – especially since the manufacturing of the Medi Flex and the Nela Flex Mark 2 Flexi trowel. And it has to be said that these are some of the best Flexi trowels on the market at this moment in time.
But does the Nela Black Edition live up to it’s predecessors??
Let’s cut to the chase with this Youtube video which was filmed just after the Nela Black Edition was released in December. This was literally filmed 8 days before Christmas which was clearly an early present for me. But let’s see if it performed:
(To watch more video’s like this one, check out our YouTube channel from this link)
So that was the initial review. But how did it perform over time??
The Good, The Bad And The Ugly
Ok, I’ll have to be honest, it wasn’t all fun and games so I’ll get the negatives out of the way first. It was a while until the trowel was completely “broken in”.
And by that, I mean that it was quite some time until it was smooth to use during plastering. There’s always a rough period when using a new trowel and it can often pull and drag the plaster. This is always the case with new plastering trowels.
Which is why Flexi Trowels we’re made. They’re supposed to come pre-worn which removes that annoying initial stage of a trowels life. However, it wasn’t quite the case with the Nela Black Edition.
I think I was completely comfortable with it after about a month. Now, it might not seem that long compared to a new Marshalltown plastering trowel, but the truth is that this is a decades worth compared to the other Flexi trowels on the market.
For example, the new Ragi Flexi Trowel was worn in about a day. (It’s a brilliant trowel by the way!)
I also found that the plastic sleeve that covers the base plate is quite naff. It comes away quite easily if you dink your trowel. But when all the dust settles something magical happened.
The Nela Black Edition Was Another Level…
I nearly gave up on it. I was sick of waiting for it to sharpen and I had loads of other Flexi trowels to use. The Nela Black Edition trowel was breaking in too slowly!! I was close to giving up and I swear down I nearly binned it.
“I’ll give it one more shot!”
It was a ceiling for a Mezzanine we had just built. Only a little hit in-between some other bits and bobs. Nothing major. But this one ceiling was the game changer – the trowel performed like a dream.
The blade had finally broken in and I could feel the difference. There was no more pulling, no more resistance. It just glides across the plaster and I have to say that the Nela Black edition was a dream to use.
And the finish it left afterwards was remarkable. It was smooth, flat and flawless. And I have to admit that I’ve been using it ever since. It’s got the perfect balance in terms of flexibility. It’s the perfect middle ground making it perfect for flattening and finishing alike.
And even though it has it’s drawbacks, I have to say that it’s one of the best trowels I own now. The handle has the perfect grip which makes the intense stages of plastering a doddle. It takes all the pressure away. So with that said…
The VERDICT – Nela Black Edition Trowel Review??
I didn’t want to like it because of all the hype, all the expectations. I much prefer backing an underdog…but I have to say that this trowel is amazing. The Nela Black Edition did take some time to break in and it’s probably a lot longer than most trowels but here’s the deal:
It just works.
It ticks every box. It’s safe to use for flattening but it still has the same benefits to the Nela Flexi Mark 2. It just feels right when you’re using it and I must say that once it’s finally broken in, the finish is stunning. It’s a great trowel!
So after a rough breaking in period, I have to say it’s the one I always find myself going back to. It’s almost a guilty pleasure now because I really wanted to hate it but I just can’t. It’s one of the best trowels I own!
But is it better than the Refina Superflex 2?? That is a question for another day because that trowel is the one to beat. To read the full review on the Refina Superflex 2 check out this article here. It’s definitely worth reading if you’re after a decent Flexi trowel!
Thank you for reading and if you’re new to plastering, check out our online plastering course. IT’S FREE 😉