Narrow London Pattern Brick Trowel — CO2 Welded

• Art. Nr: 119721, 110721–112721 (4 sizes)
• Sizes: 9"–12" (229–305 mm)
• Material: Carbon steel, polished blade
• Construction: CO2 welded blade and neck
• Handle: Soft grip, BF21

Product Name & Model

Product name: Narrow London Pattern Brick Trowel
Construction line: CO2 Welding Carbon Steel

Art. Nr (four sizes): 119721 (9"), 110721 (10"), 111721 (11"), 112721 (12").

The four art numbers are one product family in one blade pattern, differing only in blade length. They are supplied as a single range under the designation "Narrow London Pattern Brick Trowel / CO2 Welding Carbon Steel", alongside a second Narrow London line made as a one-piece forging.

Alternative construction. The same Narrow London blade shape is also built as Forged in One-piece High Carbon Steel in the same four sizes: 019721 (9"), 010721 (10"), 011721 (11"), 012721 (12"). The two constructions are set side by side under CO2 Welded vs. One-Piece Forged below, because construction is the main purchasing decision for this tool.

Related patterns in the Leading Tools range. Wide London Pattern Brick Trowel (forged 029721 / 020721–022721, CO2 welded 129721 / 120721–122721) and Philadelphia Pattern Brick Trowel (forged 009721 / 000721–002721, CO2 welded 109721 / 100721–102721), each with its own product description. Every pattern is offered in both constructions, so a buyer can hold construction constant and compare patterns, or hold the pattern constant and compare constructions.

About the name

"Brick trowel" is the generic term for the large, pointed trowel used to pick up, spread and furrow mortar when laying brick and block.

Blade shapes are named by pattern: the London pattern has a long, tapered blade with a rounded heel that carries mortar forward toward the point; the Philadelphia pattern has a wider blade that holds more mortar. Leading Tools offers the London pattern in two widths. "Narrow London" is the slimmer of the two, and this description covers its CO2-welded construction.

Core Features

CO2 welded construction

The construction line for this product is "CO2 Welding Carbon Steel". The blade and the neck are joined by CO2 welding. This is a different route from the one-piece forging used for the Narrow London Forged line.

In summary: the construction is CO2 welding, the blade is carbon steel with a polished finish, and the handle is a soft grip, BF21.

Narrow London blade profile

The Narrow London is the slimmer member of the London family: a long, tapered blade that runs to a fine point, with the rounded heel that gives the London pattern its handling character. Two things follow from that shape, and they are the reasons a mason chooses it:

• Controlled mortar loads. The slimmer blade picks up a smaller, more manageable load per scoop than a wide pattern, which keeps the bed even and reduces mortar to trim off afterward.
• Good visibility and clearance at the joint. The narrow blade fits between units and along the wall line without catching on neighbouring faces, and the mason can see the bed and the brick edge while working.

Polished carbon steel blade

Every trowel in this family has a polished carbon steel blade. Carbon steel is the traditional brick-trowel material, but it must be wiped dry and thinly oiled after use or it will rust. Stainless steel has high corrosion resistance and low maintenance; chlorinated water, coastal air or prolonged soaking can still cause rust spots, so rinse with clean water and dry after use.

Soft grip handle, BF21

Every trowel in this family carries the soft grip handle BF21, which is used across the Leading Tools brick trowel range.

Neck

The neck is a carbon steel part joined to the blade by CO2 welding.

Product Advantages

Narrow London handling in a CO2 welded construction

This line puts the Narrow London blade shape into a CO2 welded construction. Leading Tools offers the same pattern in the same four sizes in two builds. Choosing the CO2 welded Narrow London instead of the forged one keeps the blade shape, the polished carbon steel, the soft grip handle and the size ladder, and changes only how blade and neck are joined.

For a professional daily-use specification, see CO2 Welded vs. One-Piece Forged below for when the forged line is the better fit.

A precise tool for neat, controlled brickwork

The slim London blade suits work where the mortar bed and the joint are on show. It lays a clean, even bed, trims cleanly at the brick edge, and gives the mason a clear line of sight along the wall. That makes it a natural choice for face brickwork and finely coursed or decorative bonds.

Familiar London handling

The London pattern is the blade profile many masons are trained on, so a Narrow London feels familiar in the hand from the first course. For distributors, this is a pattern that sells on recognition: the buyer already knows what a London-pattern trowel is for.

Full four-size ladder in one construction

All four sizes, 9", 10", 11", 12", are available in the CO2-welded build, so a distributor can stock a complete size ladder in one construction, rather than mixing constructions across sizes. That helps range presentation.

Low-maintenance soft grip

The BF21 soft grip needs no oiling, seasoning or splinter dressing, and it wipes clean with soap and water. For crews that hand tools around or work in wet conditions, that is a practical advantage over a wood handle.

How to Use

When to Use

Basic Technique

Working with the Narrow London blade

The pattern's defining working property is the slim, tapered blade. In practice that changes three things in the cycle above.

Loading. Each scoop carries less mortar than a wide pattern, so the mason makes more trips to the board per course but places each load more precisely. On face work that trade is worth making.

Spreading. A slimmer load is easier to lay as an even ribbon and leaves less squeeze-out to clean off the face. The mason can bring the bed to its full width in a couple of passes and keep the line straight.

Carrying forward. The London geometry carries mortar toward the point. Deliver mortar from the front third of the blade rather than tipping it off the heel.

Application: face brickwork and exposed brick

Exposed brickwork is judged on the joint, so the bed must be even and the face must stay clean. Put down only as much mortar as the unit needs, strike off squeeze-out promptly rather than letting it stiffen, and never drag stiffened mortar across a face brick, because it smears.

Furrow or open the bed as the mortar and the unit require, and keep the course heights consistent. A 9" or 10" blade gives the finest control.

Application: fine and tight coursing

Decorative coursing and narrow bed faces benefit from the slim blade, which clears neighbouring faces and lets the mason see the bed. In these jobs the 9" (119721) is usually the most comfortable size.

Application: mortar workability and weather

Mortar consistency governs everything the blade does. Mix to a consistency that spreads smoothly and holds a furrow, adding water gradually. In hot or windy weather evaporation stiffens the bed before the brick goes down, so spread shorter beds: three bricks is already the working guide, and shorten them further rather than fighting stiffened material. Cold weather works the other way: below 4°C / 40°F hydration and setting slow down, so the priority is protecting the mortar from freezing.

Working habits that protect the trowel

• Do not use the blade as a pry bar to lift units or lever material: side load is what a trowel is not designed for.
• Do not hammer the blade against masonry to break it up; tap the brick, do not strike the wall.
• Do not push the tool into a tub of stiff mortar and lever it out.
• Do inspect the blade-to-neck join whenever the tool is cleaned, together with the blade and handle.

FAQ

Q1. What is the difference between the Narrow London and the Wide London pattern?
A. Both are London-pattern blades with the same handling family. The Narrow London is slimmer and carries a smaller, more controlled mortar load, while the Wide London is wider at the heel and carries more mortar per scoop. Choose the Narrow London for face work and fine coursing, and the Wide London where more mortar per load is wanted.

Q2. How is this CO2-welded line different from the forged Narrow London, and is it good enough for professional use?
A. Only the construction differs: the forged line is one piece of steel, while this CO2-welded line has the blade and neck made separately and joined by a weld, with the same blade shape and sizes.

The CO2-welded line suits light-to-moderate professional use; the forged line suits daily professional laying and heavier working loads. If a crack appears where the blade meets the neck, stop using the trowel and replace it.

Q3. Which size should I buy?
A. 10" (110721) is the general-purpose size. Go to 9" (119721) for tight spaces or if the operator tires quickly, and to 11"–12" (111721, 112721) for longer runs and a higher work rate.

Q4. Carbon steel or stainless steel?
A. This line is built in polished carbon steel only. Carbon steel must be wiped dry and thinly oiled after use or it rusts; stainless steel has high corrosion resistance and low maintenance, though chlorinated water, coastal air or prolonged soaking can still cause rust spots, so rinse with clean water and dry after use. Contact Leading Tools sales for stainless availability.

Q5. How do I keep the blade clean and free of rust?
A. Clean the blade immediately after use rather than at the end of the day, never with a wire brush or wire wheel, which scratches the blade surface; if mortar has set hard, remove it with a plastic scraper or a nylon brush without leaving the blade soaking for long periods, then dry it.

Always clean before oiling, because cement residue holds moisture against the steel and defeats the oil. Apply a thin film of tool oil, and hang the trowel on a rack or keep it in a tool box rather than in a damp, closed bag.

Specifications Overview

Specifications

CO2 Welded vs. One-Piece Forged: the structural difference

Both Narrow London lines carry the same blade shape in the same four sizes. The difference is in how blade and neck are joined.

Choosing between the two constructions:

Forged one-piece. Blade, heel and neck flow together in a single piece with no joint, which suits daily professional laying and heavier working loads.

CO2 welded. Blade and neck are joined by CO2 welding. As on any trowel, check the blade and handle regularly; on this line the blade-to-neck join is part of that check (see Care & Maintenance below).

Same working shape. The blade geometry, polished face, handle and sizes are the same in both lines, so for light-to-moderate duty the CO2-welded build delivers the same working shape.

Pattern comparison within the Leading Tools range

Buyers usually choose pattern before size, and Leading Tools carries each pattern in both constructions.

As a rule of thumb: choose the pattern by the unit you are laying, the construction by how hard the tool will be worked, and the size by the operator. Clay brick and face work go to the Narrow London, wider units to the Wide London, and block and large stone to the Philadelphia.

Selection Guide

Step 1: Choose the pattern

Step 2: Choose the construction

Step 3: Choose the size

Sizing by operator. A beginner who tires quickly, or anyone working in confined spaces, should go shorter; a larger operator or a faster crew can go longer. If in doubt, 10" is a sound general-purpose choice.

Sizing by unit and joint.

• Standard clay brick: 9"–10" is comfortable; 11" if the work rate is high.
• Face brickwork and fine joints: 9"–10" for the finest control.
• Long straight runs of standard brick: 11"–12".
• Standard 10 mm (3/8") bed joints: 9"–11".

Step 4: Blade material

This line is built in polished carbon steel only. Carbon steel must be wiped dry and thinly oiled after use or it rusts; stainless steel has high corrosion resistance and low maintenance, though chlorinated water, coastal air or prolonged soaking can still cause rust spots, so rinse with clean water and dry after use. Contact Leading Tools sales for stainless availability.

Step 5: Handle

Every art number in this family carries the soft grip handle BF21. Other handles can be fitted on request: contact Leading Tools sales.

Full Size Reference

All four art numbers for the Narrow London Pattern Brick Trowel — CO2 Welded.

Cross-reference: same blade shape, forged construction:

Inch-to-millimetre conversions use 1" = 25.4 mm. The size is the nominal blade length.

Care & Maintenance

Carbon steel is the material that makes this tool feel right and the material that punishes neglect. Daily cleaning is the single highest-value maintenance action.

After each use: daily cleaning

Mortar that hardens on the blade holds moisture against the steel and causes rust, which is why cleaning is a same-day job rather than a weekly one.

Rust prevention and storage

• Dry completely before the tool goes away: this is the whole of rust prevention on carbon steel.
• Apply a thin, even film of tool oil over the blade and the neck. A thin film is enough; pooled oil collects dust.
• Store dry and hung, or in a dedicated tool box; do not stack tools flat where dust and damp collect.
• Never store the tool in a closed bag while still damp from washing.
• For storage of weeks or months, wrap the blade in lightly oiled cloth or waxed paper.
• If rust has already formed, remove light surface rust with a fine abrasive pad, then oil the blade immediately.

Regular inspection

Check the trowel regularly for signs of wear such as cracks in the handle or chips in the blade. On this tool, also check the blade-to-neck join.

Handle care: soft grip (BF21)

The BF21 soft grip needs less maintenance than a wood handle. Wipe it clean with mild soap and water if it becomes contaminated or sticky, rinse and dry it, and inspect the grip for cuts and hardening. Cement dust left in the grip texture is abrasive against the palm and shortens grip life, so cleaning the handle is worth the thirty seconds it takes.

Edge maintenance

The blade edge is used for trimming and striking off, and it dulls and chips with use. Dress it with a fine single-cut file or a fine stone, following the original factory bevel, stroking in one direction and oiling afterward. Do not reprofile the edge into something the factory did not grind: the way the blade releases mortar depends on the original shape.

End of life

A brick trowel is a consumable in professional use. Replace the tool rather than repairing it when: the blade-to-neck join shows any crack; the blade has lost enough material to repeated dressing that it no longer meets the line; the handle is cracked; or rust pitting has gone below the surface. Do not attempt to repair a cracked join; replace the tool.