Pro tip: An old timer told me my buttering was too thick and it changed my whole game

I was laying a brick veneer on a house in Tempe last month and this retired guy from the neighborhood stopped to watch. He said, 'Son, your butter is so thick you're building a dam, not a wall.' I realized I was using a 3/4 inch bed when I could get away with a solid 1/2 inch. Switched my trowel technique and my speed and mortar use improved instantly. Anyone else get a piece of simple advice that fixed a bad habit you didn't even know you had?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_cora1mo ago

Man, that's so true. It's crazy how the wrong tool can make you work against yourself for years. I was using a cheap margin trowel that was too flexible for years, always fighting to get a clean edge. Bought a decent stiff one on a whim and suddenly my lines were sharp. Felt like I'd been trying to write with a wet noodle. Ever have a tool upgrade that felt like unlocking a cheat code?

barbararamirez1mo ago

Honestly, same thing happened with my old kitchen knives.