Aluminum Hawk

• Art. Nr: 300369 / 300370 / 300372 / 300373 / 300374
• Size: 9" × 9", 10" × 10", 12" × 12", 13" × 13", 14" × 14"
• Material: aluminum, square plate
• Construction: flat working face, nothing protruding through the plate
• Handle: center grip, blue grip body on a black circular base disc

Product Name & Model

Aluminum Hawk

A hawk is the flat hand-held platform a plasterer carries mortar or compound on so the trowel in the other hand always has material within reach of the wall. It is a holding tool, not an application or finishing tool: the hawk holds the material, the trowel places it.

Flat working face. Nothing protrudes through the top face of the plate. A trowel can therefore be drawn across the full width of the plate in one stroke. This is the clearest point of difference against the Plastic Hawk in the same Leading Tools range (300301 / 300302 / 300303), whose face carries visible ribs and a raised handle spigot.

Core Features

• Aluminum platform in five square sizes, 9" through 14". The material does not change across the size ladder: all five article numbers are aluminum.
• Flat working face: nothing protrudes through the platform. The grip sits on a circular base disc, and the face the trowel works on stays flat.
• Center grip. The vertical center grip sits on a round base disc. Center-grip geometry puts the load directly under the hand, which is what makes the standard carrying posture: plate at chest-to-shoulder height, elbow near 90°, sustainable through a shift.
• Soft grip body. A blue soft grip on a black base disc.
• Aluminum working face. The trowel lifts a clean portion and leaves the plate behind.
• Sizes matched to reach, not only to capacity. 9" and 10" for overhead and confined work where the arm holds the tool up for long periods; 12" as the everyday all-round size; 13" and 14" for production runs where cutting reload trips is the point.

Product Advantages

How to Use

When to Use

Basic Technique

Overhead and ceiling work

Carry a reduced load and use 300369 (9") or 300370 (10"). The limiting factor overhead is not plate capacity but how long the arm can hold weight above the shoulder, the standard chest-to-shoulder carrying position no longer applies, so weight, not area, decides comfort.

Decorative and multi-color plaster

Applicators working multi-color plaster use one hawk as a palette, keeping each color in its own zone on the plate and picking up from the zone required. That argues for the larger plates: 300373 (13") or 300374 (14"), since zoned loading uses more plate area than a single centered pile.

Production and commercial runs

For continuous production the largest plates in the range, 300373 and 300374, carry the most material per trip to the mixing station. The trade-off is arm strength: 13" is already a size for experienced applicators, so specify the largest sizes for long flat runs, not for overhead work.

Setting the tool down

While loading from a bucket, rest the plate across the mouth of a second empty bucket so the grip hangs into the opening and the plate sits level.

FAQ

Q: Which size should a first-time buyer choose?
A: 12" (300372). It is the general-purpose size for ordinary plastering jobs. Add 300369 or 300370 for ceilings once you are using the tool every day.

Q: Material slides off while I carry it, and my wrist and shoulder ache after a shift. What should I change?
A: Usually there is too much material on the plate or the plate is tilted too far. Load about half the plate and hold it close to level with a slight tilt toward you, close to the body at chest-to-shoulder height. Holding it away from the body is the main cause of aching; for overhead work drop to 300369 (9") or 300370 (10").

Q: Should I buy aluminum or plastic?
A: Aluminum: flatter working face, heavier. Plastic: lighter, ribbed face. Choose by weight and face. In the Leading Tools range the plastic version is the Plastic Hawk (300301–300303).

Q: Material is sticking to the plate. What should I do?
A: Dried residue is the usual cause. Clear the plate edges regularly and clean the plate before material sets. On a break, cover the load with a damp cloth so it stays workable instead of skinning over.

Specifications Overview

Platform Design

The platform is a flat square aluminum plate with a flat top face. The plate has to stay flat so that material does not migrate to a low corner while it is carried.

Grip Design

Platform Surface

• Finish: aluminum.
• Working face: flat, nothing protrudes through the plate; compare the ribbed face of the Plastic Hawk 300301–300303 in the same range.

Size Range

Selection Guide

Aluminum Hawk vs. Plastic Hawk (the choice within the Leading Tools range)

Leading Tools offers both an Aluminum Hawk (300369–300374, five sizes) and a Plastic Hawk (300301 10"×10", 300302 12"×12", 300303 13"×13"). They overlap at 10", 12" and 13", so this is a real purchasing decision.

Short version: choose by weight and working face. Aluminum has a flat metal face and is heavier; plastic is lighter and has a ribbed face.

Selecting the right size

Buying a series vs. a single size

A practical starter pair is 300372 (12") for everyday work plus 300369 or 300370 (9"/10") for ceilings and patching; production crews add 300373 or 300374.

Full Size Reference

All five article numbers in the Aluminum Hawk range:

Metric values converted at 1" = 25.4 mm.

Care & Maintenance

After each use

• Clean the plate before the material sets. Remove residue with water and a stiff-bristle or plastic scraper. Do not use a wire brush or a steel scraper on the aluminum face: scratches in the surface are what later leave gray marks in a light-colored finish.
• Rinse thoroughly. Cement and lime are strongly alkaline; rinse the plate with clean water rather than leaving residue on the metal.
• Dry the tool. Wipe dry or air dry rather than storing it wet.
• Check the grip. Replace the tool if the grip has worked loose, if the plate has warped, or if any edge has become sharp or broken.

During the working day

Clear hardened material from the plate edges regularly; dried material carried into a fresh mix is a common cause of grit and specks in the finished surface.

Longer-term care

• Surface marking: a scratched or worn aluminum face can transfer gray marks into light-colored finishes; inspect the face before starting white or pale decorative work.
• Bending: the known long-term weakness of an aluminum hawk is a slight permanent bend after years of use. Once the plate no longer sits flat, material migrates to a low corner during carrying, and the tool should be replaced.
• Storage: store the tool flat or hanging, and do not stack weight on the platform.