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Notched Trowel — Soft-Grip, U / V / Square Notch
Product Description
Notched Trowel — 641821 series
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Product name | Notched Trowel |
| Lead art. Nr | 641821 |
| Art numbers in the series | 641821 / 644821 / 646821 / 648821 / 661821 / 664821 / 666821 / 668821 |
| Blade sizes | 4" and 4-1/2" wide, in 11" / 14" / 16" / 18" lengths |
| Notch profiles offered | U-notch, V-notch and square (⊔) notch, on every art number in the series |
| Notch profiles | U, V or square ⊔; codes and sizes in table B of section 6 |
| Ordering | Blade art number plus notch code, e.g. 641821-76 (4" x 11" blade, 6 mm square notch) |
| Construction | Spot Riveted |
| Blade material | Stainless steel; for carbon steel, contact sales |
| Handle | Red and black soft-grip handle |
| Series | Notched Trowel 641821 series; the full notch drawings are on page 15 of the product catalog, which can be downloaded from the site footer |
| Flat-blade counterpart | Spot Riveted Plaster Trowel: flat blade in the same eight sizes |
The eight art numbers set the blade size. The notch is written as a two-digit code after the art number; codes and sizes are in table B of section 6. See Selection Guide below.
The flat trowel in the same blade sizes is the Spot Riveted Plaster Trowel. Both share the same blade sizes and a soft-grip handle, and both are Spot Riveted.
One blade size, several notch options. Every one of the eight blade sizes is shown in the catalog with U, V or square notches. A tiler who has settled on a 4-1/2" x 14" blade can keep that blade across mosaic work, standard wall tile and large-format floor work by changing only the notch: for example from a 4 mm to a 6 mm or 12 mm square notch, which changes the suffix from -74 to -76 or -82.
The notch is a specified dimension, not an adjective. Each notch is given by its notch width, land width and depth; the full notch drawings are on page 15 of the product catalog, which can be downloaded from the site footer.
Notch geometry determines adhesive bed thickness and coverage percentage, and coverage percentage is what building standards specify. ANSI A108.5 requires an average of at least 80% mortar contact on dry-area walls and ceilings and 95% in wet or exterior areas. Check the adhesive manufacturer's data sheet and local regulations for the figure that applies to your job.
All three notch geometries on one blade platform. U, V and square notches are not interchangeable.
Square and U notches deposit more adhesive and suit rougher substrates and larger tiles; V notches carry the least adhesive, which suits small tiles on smooth substrates such as plasterboard but handles thick, aggregate-loaded mortars poorly. Sourcing all three on one blade platform means you stock one product family instead of three.
Stainless steel blade. The listed art numbers are stainless steel, the corrosion-resistant choice for wet-area crews and for sites where tools are hosed down. Each art number corresponds to one blade material; carbon steel, the lower-cost option where the blade is dried and lightly oiled after each use, is available through Leading Tools sales.
Blade lengths from 11" to 18": a real productivity range. An 18" blade covers roughly 64% more substrate per pass than an 11" blade of the same width. Both ends of that range exist in this series on the same handle and the same construction.
Spot Riveted construction. The blade is joined to the mount by spot-riveting; for mount material and joint details, contact us.
Soft-grip handle for combing work specifically. Combing is a repetitive pulling motion under load, not the light finishing stroke a flat trowel makes. This series uses a soft-grip handle rather than the blue bridge handle of the German Standard Notched Trowel (702301-74 / -76 / -78 / -80 / -82).
Matched flat trowel in the same sizes. The flat Spot Riveted Plaster Trowel comes in the same eight blade sizes. Crews that alternate a flat tool and a notched tool get both with the same reach, the same handle and the same construction.
| Application | Configuration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ceramic and porcelain tile adhesive (thin-set) | Any blade size; notch by tile format | The core application: the notched edge meters the adhesive into ribs that collapse under the tile |
| Natural stone | Wider blade; square or deep U notch | Deep-U profiles are specifically associated with stone and large slab work |
| Large-format tile and porcelain slab | 16"–18" blade; 12 mm or larger square notch, plus back-buttering | Large format means an edge of 600 mm or more; apply adhesive to both substrate and tile |
| Floors | Size the notch up and check coverage on a lifted tile | Under-sizing here shows up as short coverage, not as a finish issue |
| Small tile and mosaic on plasterboard | 4" blade; V notch or a 4 mm square notch | V notches carry the least adhesive, which is what a small tile on a smooth board wants |
| Thick, aggregate-loaded mortars | Square or U notch, not V | V geometry spreads sanded, thick-bodied mortars poorly |
| Step | Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Place with the flat | Lay a first coat of adhesive on the substrate using the flat face of the blade | The flat face places the material; the notched edge only meters it |
| 2. Comb at 45–60° | Hold the notched edge at 45–60° to the substrate and draw it through | It is a control, not a detail: a steeper angle leaves a thicker bed |
| 3. One direction only | Comb every pass in the same direction across the area | Reversing or swirling folds air into the bed and produces ribs of uneven height |
| 4. Bed the tile | Press the tile straight down into the ribs with firm, even pressure, within the adhesive's open time; if it needs adjusting, push it once at right angles to the ribs. Do not twist | The ribs collapse and close the gaps between them, which is what produces full contact |
| 5. Check the back | Lift one tile early in the run and read the coverage on its back | The recommended self-check, and the only way to verify against coverage figures |
| 6. Correct | If coverage is short: size the notch up, back-butter the tile, or both | Both remedies are standard practice for large-format and low-porosity tile |
The angle range for combing is 45–60°. The flat-side spreading pass and the notched combing pass are done at different angles by different edges of the same tool, not at a single fixed angle.
| What the back shows | Reading | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Continuous adhesive, ribs fully closed, 95–100% | Meets the ANSI wet-area and exterior figure (95%) | Continue as set up |
| 85–95%, ribs closed over most of the back | Above the ANSI dry-area average; below the ANSI wet-area figure | Size up or back-butter for wet areas and exterior work |
| 80–85% | Meets the ANSI dry-area average of 80%; not enough for wet or exterior areas | Check the adhesive data sheet and local regulations before continuing |
| Below 80%, open rib lines still visible | Below the ANSI figures | Move up one notch size, back-butter, or both |
| Adhesive on the ribs but bare patches between them | The notch is too small for the tile, or the substrate is not flat | Size the notch up; a larger notch is the standard compensation for substrate variation |
This is the highest-volume case in the range. Take a 4" x 11" or 4" x 14" blade (641821 or 644821) with a 6 mm square notch. Place the adhesive with the flat, comb at 45–60° in one direction, and press the tiles home within the adhesive's open time. Expect roughly a 3 mm bed once the tile is bedded. Lift the first tile of each wall and confirm at least 80% contact (the ANSI A108.5 dry-area average) before committing to the run; if the wall is a shower or wet room, the figure rises to 95% and you should plan on either an 8 mm notch or back-buttering.
Move to the 4-1/2" width and a 14" or 16" blade with a 10 mm square notch (664821 or 666821), the default trowel for most domestic floors up to 600 mm. The bed will be roughly 5 mm. Floors are the unforgiving case: the lifted-tile check is not optional and back-buttering is common rather than exceptional.
At 600 mm and above, combing the substrate alone stops being enough. Go to a 16" or 18" blade with a 12 mm square notch for 600–900 mm (666821-82 or 668821-82), or a 15 mm square notch (code 85) for porcelain slab above that. Then butter the tile as well.
The method is specific: the large notch on the substrate, and a small notch, for example 4 mm, spread thinly on the back of the tile. In coverage terms: on large-format and low-porosity tile the required percentage is reached with both surfaces coated, not one. Buy the small back-buttering trowel as part of the same order: a 4" x 11" blade with a 4 mm square notch (641821-74) does that job.
Stone backs are rarely flat, and the rib has to fill the low spots rather than bridge them. Two profiles are in play. A square notch gives the highest adhesive volume for a given depth and a rib of constant section. A deep U (also called elliptical) suits stone and large slab work.
Both are shown in the catalog for this series, including a 15 mm U notch (code 39) and a 15 mm square notch (code 85). Take the wider 4-1/2" blade, check coverage on a lifted piece early, and confirm adhesive compatibility with the stone supplier before starting: some stones are sensitive to cement-based and to moisture-carrying adhesives.
This is the one case where a V notch is genuinely the right answer rather than a compromise. V geometry carries the least adhesive of the three profiles, which suits a small tile on a smooth, absorbent board where too much adhesive squeezes into the joints. Take the 4" width for control and a V notch (code 53, 53-1 or 55). Do not use V geometry with a thick, sanded mortar: it spreads those materials poorly.
Notched trowels are also used to lay thin-coat plaster and EIFS base coats at a consistent thickness, keying into the insulation board so the mesh and finish coat bond properly.
| Adhesive type | Suitability | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cement-based thin-set mortar | Standard application | The reference case for every notch-to-tile-size table cited here |
| Thick, sanded or aggregate-loaded mortar | Use square or U geometry | V notches spread these materials poorly |
| Polymer-modified thin-set | Suitable across all three profiles | Longer open time; clean the blade before the polymer starts to cure |
| Ready-mixed paste adhesive | Test the combination first | Round-bottomed U profiles release lower-viscosity materials more easily than square profiles |
| Epoxy adhesive | Test first, and clean immediately | Cured epoxy has to be removed mechanically, and solvents can damage the blade |
| Gypsum-based plasters | Suitable; clean before set | Gypsum sets fast and is much harder to clear from notches once cured |
| Error | Result | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Combing in alternating directions or in arcs | Ribs of uneven height; air folded into the bed | Comb every pass in one direction |
| The angle drifting through the stroke | Bed thickness varies across the area | Hold a steady 45–60° from the start of the pass to the end |
| Sliding the tile after placement | Ribs collapse in an uncontrolled way; voids under the tile | Press straight down with firm pressure and do not twist; if a tile needs adjusting, push it once at right angles to the ribs |
| A notch too small for the tile format | Coverage below the specified percentage | Size against the tables in the Selection Guide and verify on a lifted tile |
| Using a V notch with thick sanded mortar | Poor spread, short coverage | Use square or U geometry for those materials |
| Notches clogging during the run | Rib height drops, and coverage drops with it | Clear the notches before the adhesive sets |
| Metal tools used to clean the notches | Rounded notch corners; the tool no longer lays the rib its notch size specifies | Plastic or wooden scrapers only on the notched edge |
| Combing too large an area at once | Adhesive skins before the tile goes on | Work to the open time on the adhesive manufacturer's data sheet, in sections you can tile within it |
Q: What notch size for my tile?
A: A bigger tile takes a bigger notch. As a working ladder: 4 mm up to 100 mm tile, 6 mm for 100–300 mm wall tile, 8 mm for 200–400 mm floor tile, 10 mm for 300–600 mm floor tile, 12 mm for 600–900 mm, and 15 mm (code 85) above that; for larger, contact sales.
Q: Square, U or V: which should I order?
A: Square for most work, and always where the specification states bed thickness or coverage percentage. U for stone, uneven substrates and thick-bed work. V only for small tile on smooth substrates such as plasterboard.
Q: Which blade width and length should I choose?
A: 4" wide for walls, small tiles and confined work; 4-1/2" wide for floors, larger tiles and open runs. For length, 11" for small areas and work around fittings, 14" as the general-purpose length, 16" for open floors and large-format tile, and 18" where maximum coverage per pass matters.
Q: My coverage came out short. What do I change first?
A: Notch size first, then technique. Confirm the tile size against the notch ladder; if the notch is right for the tile, look at the stroke, because a drifting angle or a reversed pass both produce short coverage.
Q: How does this series differ from the German Standard Notched Trowel?
A: The German Standard Notched Trowel (702301-74 / -76 / -78 / -80 / -82) is a metric series: five art numbers, one square notch size each (4–12 mm), all on a 130 × 280 mm blade, with a blue bridge handle. The 641821 series is imperial: eight blade sizes from 4" x 11" to 4-1/2" x 18", all three notch profiles, and a soft-grip handle.
Q: How do I order a specific notch?
A: Take the blade art number and add the notch code, for example 641821-76 for a 4" x 11" blade with a 6 mm square notch, or 664821-39 for a 4-1/2" x 14" blade with a 15 mm U notch. For a notch not shown in the catalog, contact Leading Tools sales.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Blade shape | Rectangular flat blade, notched on one long edge and the adjacent short end |
| Blade widths | 4" (102 mm) and 4-1/2" (114 mm) |
| Blade lengths | 11" (279 mm), 14" (356 mm), 16" (406 mm), 18" (457 mm) |
| Notch profiles | U-notch, V-notch, square notch: all three available on every art number |
| Notched edges | Notches run along one long edge and the adjacent short end; the two remaining edges stay plain for flat spreading |
| Blade material | Stainless steel |
| Blade face | Flat and unnotched, so the same tool places the adhesive before the notched edge meters it |
Millimetre figures are conversions from the nominal inch dimensions at 1" = 25.4 mm; this series is specified in inches only.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Handle type | Soft-grip handle |
| Handle material | Red and black soft grip |
| Mount | The blade is joined to the mount by spot-riveting; for mount material and joint details, contact us |
| Construction | Spot Riveted |
The listed art numbers are stainless steel. Each art number corresponds to one blade material; for a carbon steel blade, contact Leading Tools sales. The comparison below is for reference.
| Variant | Blade material | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon steel | Carbon steel blade | Cost-driven projects and dry-area work, where the blade is dried and lightly oiled after each use |
| Stainless steel | Stainless steel blade | Wet areas, daily washdown, long service life, and crews that cannot be relied on to oil a tool |
The notch drawings on page 15 of the product catalog (which can be downloaded from the site footer) give every notch a two-digit code, and the table on page 16 groups the codes into three ranges: U-notch 25–39, V-notch 40–59, square notch 60–89.
For metric square notches the code is 70 plus the notch size in millimetres, so 76 is 6 mm and 82 is 12 mm; the German Standard Notched Trowel 702301-74 to -82 uses the same codes. The size for each code is in table B of section 6, Full Size Reference.
The art number is the blade art number plus the notch code. Choose the blade from the series table, for example 664821 for a 4-1/2" x 14" blade, then add the notch code: 664821-76 is a 4-1/2" x 14" blade with a 6 mm square notch. For a notch or size not shown in the catalog, contact Leading Tools sales. The flat trowel in the same blade sizes is the Spot Riveted Plaster Trowel.
Notch dimension is the specification. Everything else on this tool, width, length, handle, steel, affects how fast and how comfortably the work goes. Only the notch decides whether the finished installation meets the coverage percentage the job is specified to. Order the notch first, then the blade.
Square notches follow the half-bed rule; U and V notches do not. Because a square notch has equal notch width and land width, the ribs collapse into the gaps and leave a bed of roughly half the notch depth: 12 mm of notch gives about 6 mm of bed, 10 mm gives about 5 mm, 6 mm gives about 3 mm.
Round-bottomed and pointed profiles carry less material for the same depth and do not follow that arithmetic. When converting a specification written for one profile into another, convert on bed thickness, not on notch depth.
Bigger tile, bigger notch. This is the basic principle for choosing a notch by tile size.
A flat face and a notched edge in one tool. The blade face is unnotched, so the adhesive is placed with the flat and then metered with the notched edge: the standard three-step method. Two of the four edges stay plain for scooping and cleaning off.
| Blade width | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| 4" (102 mm) | Walls, small and mosaic tiles, confined work, and any surface where the tool has to be steered around fittings | Less substrate covered per pass |
| 4-1/2" (114 mm) | Floors, larger tiles, open runs where coverage per pass is what limits the day's output | Slightly more effort to hold flat on a vertical surface |
The flat Spot Riveted Plaster Trowel also comes in 3" and 4-3/4" widths; the notched series is limited to 4" and 4-1/2".
| Blade length | Best for |
|---|---|
| 11" (279 mm) | Small rooms, splashbacks, work between fittings, and anywhere the tool has to be lifted and repositioned often |
| 14" (356 mm) | The general-purpose length: enough reach for floor work, still controllable on a wall |
| 16" (406 mm) | Open floor areas and large-format tile, where fewer passes means fewer rib joins |
| 18" (457 mm) | Maximum substrate per pass; needs a level substrate and steady pressure across the full edge to keep the rib height even |
| Profile | What it does | Choose it when |
|---|---|---|
| U-notch | Round-bottomed ribs; adhesive spreads outward from the base of the rib as the tile is bedded | The substrate is rough, the tile is large, or the adhesive is a thick mortar; deep U profiles suit stone and large slab work |
| V-notch | Pointed ribs carrying the least adhesive of the three profiles | Small tiles on a smooth substrate such as plasterboard; not for thick, aggregate-loaded mortars, which V notches spread poorly |
| Square notch | Flat-bottomed ribs of constant section, the highest adhesive volume for a given depth, and the profile the half-bed rule is written for | Larger tile, rough substrates, and any job where bed thickness or coverage percentage is written into the specification |
When deciding what to stock: hold square as the volume line, U for stone and thick-bed work, V for small-format and smooth substrates.
The ranges below are typical starting points. When in doubt, size up and check coverage on a lifted tile.
| Tile format | Notch size | Approx. bed after pressing |
|---|---|---|
| Mosaic, up to 50 mm | 4 mm | 2 mm |
| Up to 100 mm | 4 mm | — |
| 100–300 mm wall tile | 6 mm | 3 mm |
| 200–400 mm floor tile | 8 mm | 4 mm |
| 300–600 mm floor tile | 10 mm, the default trowel for most domestic floors | 5 mm |
| 600–900 mm large format | 12 mm | 6 mm |
| Above 900 mm porcelain slab | 15 mm (code 85); for larger, contact sales | — |
| Standard | Requirement | What it means for notch choice |
|---|---|---|
| ANSI A108.5 (US) | Average contact area not below 80% on dry-area walls and ceilings; not below 95% in wet or exterior areas | The 80% figure is an average, not a floor for any single tile; leave headroom by sizing up in wet areas |
Coverage is checked by lifting a tile early in the run and reading the back. The adhesive manufacturer's data sheet and local regulations take precedence.
| Application | Blade width | Blade length | Notch profile | Blade art number and notch size (add the notch code to order) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mosaic and small wall tile up to 100 mm | 4" | 11"–14" | Square | 641821 / 644821; 4 mm |
| Standard ceramic wall tile 100–300 mm | 4" | 11"–14" | Square, or V on a smooth board substrate | 641821 / 644821; 6 mm |
| Small-format floor tile up to 200 mm | 4-1/2" | 14" | Square | 664821; 6–8 mm |
| Standard floor tile 300–600 mm | 4-1/2" | 14"–16" | Square | 664821 / 666821; 10 mm |
| Large-format 600–900 mm | 4-1/2" | 16"–18" | Square, with back-buttering | 666821 / 668821; 12 mm |
| Porcelain slab above 900 mm, or stone with an uneven back | 4-1/2" | 16"–18" | Square or deep U | 666821 / 668821; 15 mm square or 15 mm U |
| Back-buttering the tile itself, any format | 4" | 11" | Square, small | 641821-74 (4 mm square) on the tile back; the substrate notch comes from the rows above |
| Art. Nr | What it is | When to specify it instead |
|---|---|---|
| 641821 / 644821 / 646821 / 648821 / 661821 / 664821 / 666821 / 668821 | Spot Riveted Plaster Trowel: flat blade in the same eight blade sizes, same soft-grip handle | Flat spreading, floating and finishing rather than combing |
| 631821 / 634821 / 636821 | Spot Riveted Plaster Trowel (flat), 3" wide in 11" / 14" / 16" | Narrow flat work; not offered as a notched version |
| 670821 / 674821 / 676821 / 678821 | Spot Riveted Plaster Trowel (flat), 4-3/4" wide in 11" / 14" / 16" / 18" | Maximum flat coverage; not offered as a notched version |
| 702301-74 / -76 / -78 / -80 / -82 | German Standard Notched Trowel: five art numbers, one square notch size each (4–12 mm), all on a 130 × 280 mm blade; blue bridge handle | Jobs specified in metric blade sizes, or where a bridge handle is preferred to a soft grip |
| 702301 | German Standard Trowel, the same 130 mm x 280 mm blade with no notches and a wood handle | Flat finishing on the metric blade platform |
Leading Tools offers two notched trowel series. The differences are these:
| Feature | Notched Trowel 641821 series | German Standard Notched Trowel 702301-74 / -76 / -78 / -80 / -82 |
|---|---|---|
| Blade sizing | Imperial: 4" and 4-1/2" wide, 11"–18" long, eight sizes | Metric: five art numbers, all on a 130 mm x 280 mm blade |
| Notch profiles | U, V and square, all three on every art number | Square only |
| Notch sizes | U, V or square notches; add the notch code after the art number | One square notch size per art number: 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 mm |
| Handle | Red and black soft-grip handle | Blue bridge handle |
| Construction | Spot Riveted | Spot Riveted |
| Blade material | Stainless steel | Stainless steel |
| Flat counterpart | Spot Riveted Plaster Trowel (same blade sizes) | German Standard Trowel 702301 |
| Buy it for | Range: any of three notch profiles, eight blade sizes, and a cushioned grip for long combing runs | Simplicity: one metric blade size, five art numbers with one square notch each |
Every blade art number in the Notched Trowel 641821 series, with the notch profiles shown in the catalog. To order, add the notch code from table B:
| Art. Nr | Blade size (in) | Blade size (mm) | U notch | V notch | Square ⊔ notch | Blade material | Handle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 641821 | 4" x 11" | 102 x 279 mm | Yes | Yes | Yes | Stainless steel | Red/black soft grip, Spot Riveted |
| 644821 | 4" x 14" | 102 x 356 mm | Yes | Yes | Yes | Stainless steel | Red/black soft grip, Spot Riveted |
| 646821 | 4" x 16" | 102 x 406 mm | Yes | Yes | Yes | Stainless steel | Red/black soft grip, Spot Riveted |
| 648821 | 4" x 18" | 102 x 457 mm | Yes | Yes | Yes | Stainless steel | Red/black soft grip, Spot Riveted |
| 661821 | 4-1/2" x 11" | 114 x 279 mm | Yes | Yes | Yes | Stainless steel | Red/black soft grip, Spot Riveted |
| 664821 | 4-1/2" x 14" | 114 x 356 mm | Yes | Yes | Yes | Stainless steel | Red/black soft grip, Spot Riveted |
| 666821 | 4-1/2" x 16" | 114 x 406 mm | Yes | Yes | Yes | Stainless steel | Red/black soft grip, Spot Riveted |
| 668821 | 4-1/2" x 18" | 114 x 457 mm | Yes | Yes | Yes | Stainless steel | Red/black soft grip, Spot Riveted |
Millimetre figures are conversions at 1" = 25.4 mm.
The notch codes and sizes drawn in the catalog are listed below; contact sales for any notch not listed.
| Code | Profile | Notch geometry | Approx. bed after the tile is bedded |
|---|---|---|---|
| 39 | U | 15 mm notch width, 15 mm land, 15 mm deep, round-bottomed | Deep-bed work; the half-bed rule does not apply to round-bottomed profiles |
| 53 | V | 1/2" pitch, 1/2" deep, continuous pointed teeth | Not covered by the half-bed rule |
| 53-1 | V | 1/2" pitch, 1/2" deep | Not covered by the half-bed rule |
| 55 | V | 1/8" notch width, 5/16" land, 1/4" deep | Not covered by the half-bed rule |
| 66 | Square | 1/2" x 1/2" notch and land, 1/2" deep | Approx. 1/4" (6 mm) |
| 68 | Square | 3/32" x 3/32" notch and land, 1/8" deep | Approx. 1/16" (1.6 mm) |
| 74 | Square | 4 x 4 mm | Approx. 2 mm |
| 76 | Square | 6 x 6 mm | Approx. 3 mm |
| 78 | Square | 8 x 8 mm | Approx. 4 mm |
| 80 | Square | 10 x 10 mm | Approx. 5 mm |
| 82 | Square | 12 x 12 mm | Approx. 6 mm |
| 85 | Square | 15 mm notch width, 15 mm land, 15 mm deep | Approx. 7.5 mm |
Every blade size against every notch profile shown in the catalog for the series. Notch codes and sizes are in table B above.
| # | Art. Nr | Blade size | Notch profile | Notch size | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 641821 | 4" x 11" (102 x 279 mm) | U | Codes in table B | Small-area stone and thick-bed work on walls |
| 2 | 641821 | 4" x 11" (102 x 279 mm) | V | Codes in table B | Small tile and mosaic on smooth board substrates |
| 3 | 641821 | 4" x 11" (102 x 279 mm) | Square ⊔ | Codes in table B | Standard wall tile in confined areas |
| 4 | 644821 | 4" x 14" (102 x 356 mm) | U | Codes in table B | Stone and thick-bed work on walls, longer runs |
| 5 | 644821 | 4" x 14" (102 x 356 mm) | V | Codes in table B | Small tile on plasterboard over larger areas |
| 6 | 644821 | 4" x 14" (102 x 356 mm) | Square ⊔ | Codes in table B | General-purpose wall tiling |
| 7 | 646821 | 4" x 16" (102 x 406 mm) | U | Codes in table B | Deep-bed work where reach matters more than width |
| 8 | 646821 | 4" x 16" (102 x 406 mm) | V | Codes in table B | Long runs of small tile on smooth substrates |
| 9 | 646821 | 4" x 16" (102 x 406 mm) | Square ⊔ | Codes in table B | Wall and light floor tiling over open areas |
| 10 | 648821 | 4" x 18" (102 x 457 mm) | U | Codes in table B | Longest reach in the 4" width for thick-bed work |
| 11 | 648821 | 4" x 18" (102 x 457 mm) | V | Codes in table B | Long runs on smooth board substrates |
| 12 | 648821 | 4" x 18" (102 x 457 mm) | Square ⊔ | Codes in table B | Maximum pass length at 4" width |
| 13 | 661821 | 4-1/2" x 11" (114 x 279 mm) | U | Codes in table B | Stone and uneven substrates in confined areas |
| 14 | 661821 | 4-1/2" x 11" (114 x 279 mm) | V | Codes in table B | Small-format work needing the wider blade |
| 15 | 661821 | 4-1/2" x 11" (114 x 279 mm) | Square ⊔ | Codes in table B | Floor tiling in bathrooms and small rooms |
| 16 | 664821 | 4-1/2" x 14" (114 x 356 mm) | U | Codes in table B | The general-purpose stone and thick-bed configuration |
| 17 | 664821 | 4-1/2" x 14" (114 x 356 mm) | V | Codes in table B | Mixed small-format work on smooth substrates |
| 18 | 664821 | 4-1/2" x 14" (114 x 356 mm) | Square ⊔ | Codes in table B | The volume configuration: standard floor tiling |
| 19 | 666821 | 4-1/2" x 16" (114 x 406 mm) | U | Codes in table B | Large stone slabs with uneven backs |
| 20 | 666821 | 4-1/2" x 16" (114 x 406 mm) | V | Codes in table B | Long smooth-substrate runs at full width |
| 21 | 666821 | 4-1/2" x 16" (114 x 406 mm) | Square ⊔ | Codes in table B | Large-format floor tile |
| 22 | 668821 | 4-1/2" x 18" (114 x 457 mm) | U | Codes in table B | Maximum coverage per pass for deep-bed stone work |
| 23 | 668821 | 4-1/2" x 18" (114 x 457 mm) | V | Codes in table B | Maximum coverage per pass on smooth substrates |
| 24 | 668821 | 4-1/2" x 18" (114 x 457 mm) | Square ⊔ | Codes in table B | Porcelain slab and large-format floor work |
| Contaminant | Cleaning method |
|---|---|
| Wet adhesive or mortar | Wipe the blade and clear the notches with a damp cloth or sponge before the material sets |
| Stubborn residue | Scrape gently with a plastic or wooden scraper; do not use metal tools on the notched edge, which deforms the notch |
| Set-on residue | Soak in warm water with a neutral detergent, then clear the notches with a soft brush |
| Hardened cement | Soften with a proprietary cement remover, then clear with a nylon brush; do not use carbon steel wool or wire brushes |
| Epoxy adhesive | Mechanical removal only; solvents may damage the blade surface |
| Every time | Rinse, dry completely, and store dry |
The notch dimension is the specification, so the notched edge gets treated differently from the rest of the blade. Clear each notch individually with a wooden toothpick or a small stiff brush while the residue is still soft. Never force a metal pick into a notch: rounding the corners of a square notch quietly reduces the bed it delivers, and the tool goes on looking correct while the coverage falls below what the job is specified to.
Store the blade flat or hung so it cannot bow, keep it dry, and use an edge guard or a padded pouch to protect the notched edge. Carbon steel blades stored for more than a short period should carry a light film of oil, and a hard case or padded bag with a rust inhibitor is the recommendation for long storage. Do not stack other tools on top of a notched trowel: a knock that deforms one notch changes the rib that notch lays.
Replace the tool when the notch corners have rounded or a notch has deformed. Because the notch size is the specification, worn notches deliver a thinner bed than specified, and the failure shows up as short coverage rather than as an obviously worn tool. Replace a blade that no longer sits flat on a straightedge, since uneven contact produces ribs of uneven height.
Notched Trowel — 641821 series
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Product name | Notched Trowel |
| Lead art. Nr | 641821 |
| Art numbers in the series | 641821 / 644821 / 646821 / 648821 / 661821 / 664821 / 666821 / 668821 |
| Blade sizes | 4" and 4-1/2" wide, in 11" / 14" / 16" / 18" lengths |
| Notch profiles offered | U-notch, V-notch and square (⊔) notch, on every art number in the series |
| Notch profiles | U, V or square ⊔; codes and sizes in table B of section 6 |
| Ordering | Blade art number plus notch code, e.g. 641821-76 (4" x 11" blade, 6 mm square notch) |
| Construction | Spot Riveted |
| Blade material | Stainless steel; for carbon steel, contact sales |
| Handle | Red and black soft-grip handle |
| Series | Notched Trowel 641821 series; the full notch drawings are on page 15 of the product catalog, which can be downloaded from the site footer |
| Flat-blade counterpart | Spot Riveted Plaster Trowel: flat blade in the same eight sizes |
The eight art numbers set the blade size. The notch is written as a two-digit code after the art number; codes and sizes are in table B of section 6. See Selection Guide below.
The flat trowel in the same blade sizes is the Spot Riveted Plaster Trowel. Both share the same blade sizes and a soft-grip handle, and both are Spot Riveted.
One blade size, several notch options. Every one of the eight blade sizes is shown in the catalog with U, V or square notches. A tiler who has settled on a 4-1/2" x 14" blade can keep that blade across mosaic work, standard wall tile and large-format floor work by changing only the notch: for example from a 4 mm to a 6 mm or 12 mm square notch, which changes the suffix from -74 to -76 or -82.
The notch is a specified dimension, not an adjective. Each notch is given by its notch width, land width and depth; the full notch drawings are on page 15 of the product catalog, which can be downloaded from the site footer.
Notch geometry determines adhesive bed thickness and coverage percentage, and coverage percentage is what building standards specify. ANSI A108.5 requires an average of at least 80% mortar contact on dry-area walls and ceilings and 95% in wet or exterior areas. Check the adhesive manufacturer's data sheet and local regulations for the figure that applies to your job.
All three notch geometries on one blade platform. U, V and square notches are not interchangeable.
Square and U notches deposit more adhesive and suit rougher substrates and larger tiles; V notches carry the least adhesive, which suits small tiles on smooth substrates such as plasterboard but handles thick, aggregate-loaded mortars poorly. Sourcing all three on one blade platform means you stock one product family instead of three.
Stainless steel blade. The listed art numbers are stainless steel, the corrosion-resistant choice for wet-area crews and for sites where tools are hosed down. Each art number corresponds to one blade material; carbon steel, the lower-cost option where the blade is dried and lightly oiled after each use, is available through Leading Tools sales.
Blade lengths from 11" to 18": a real productivity range. An 18" blade covers roughly 64% more substrate per pass than an 11" blade of the same width. Both ends of that range exist in this series on the same handle and the same construction.
Spot Riveted construction. The blade is joined to the mount by spot-riveting; for mount material and joint details, contact us.
Soft-grip handle for combing work specifically. Combing is a repetitive pulling motion under load, not the light finishing stroke a flat trowel makes. This series uses a soft-grip handle rather than the blue bridge handle of the German Standard Notched Trowel (702301-74 / -76 / -78 / -80 / -82).
Matched flat trowel in the same sizes. The flat Spot Riveted Plaster Trowel comes in the same eight blade sizes. Crews that alternate a flat tool and a notched tool get both with the same reach, the same handle and the same construction.
| Application | Configuration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ceramic and porcelain tile adhesive (thin-set) | Any blade size; notch by tile format | The core application: the notched edge meters the adhesive into ribs that collapse under the tile |
| Natural stone | Wider blade; square or deep U notch | Deep-U profiles are specifically associated with stone and large slab work |
| Large-format tile and porcelain slab | 16"–18" blade; 12 mm or larger square notch, plus back-buttering | Large format means an edge of 600 mm or more; apply adhesive to both substrate and tile |
| Floors | Size the notch up and check coverage on a lifted tile | Under-sizing here shows up as short coverage, not as a finish issue |
| Small tile and mosaic on plasterboard | 4" blade; V notch or a 4 mm square notch | V notches carry the least adhesive, which is what a small tile on a smooth board wants |
| Thick, aggregate-loaded mortars | Square or U notch, not V | V geometry spreads sanded, thick-bodied mortars poorly |
| Step | Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Place with the flat | Lay a first coat of adhesive on the substrate using the flat face of the blade | The flat face places the material; the notched edge only meters it |
| 2. Comb at 45–60° | Hold the notched edge at 45–60° to the substrate and draw it through | It is a control, not a detail: a steeper angle leaves a thicker bed |
| 3. One direction only | Comb every pass in the same direction across the area | Reversing or swirling folds air into the bed and produces ribs of uneven height |
| 4. Bed the tile | Press the tile straight down into the ribs with firm, even pressure, within the adhesive's open time; if it needs adjusting, push it once at right angles to the ribs. Do not twist | The ribs collapse and close the gaps between them, which is what produces full contact |
| 5. Check the back | Lift one tile early in the run and read the coverage on its back | The recommended self-check, and the only way to verify against coverage figures |
| 6. Correct | If coverage is short: size the notch up, back-butter the tile, or both | Both remedies are standard practice for large-format and low-porosity tile |
The angle range for combing is 45–60°. The flat-side spreading pass and the notched combing pass are done at different angles by different edges of the same tool, not at a single fixed angle.
| What the back shows | Reading | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Continuous adhesive, ribs fully closed, 95–100% | Meets the ANSI wet-area and exterior figure (95%) | Continue as set up |
| 85–95%, ribs closed over most of the back | Above the ANSI dry-area average; below the ANSI wet-area figure | Size up or back-butter for wet areas and exterior work |
| 80–85% | Meets the ANSI dry-area average of 80%; not enough for wet or exterior areas | Check the adhesive data sheet and local regulations before continuing |
| Below 80%, open rib lines still visible | Below the ANSI figures | Move up one notch size, back-butter, or both |
| Adhesive on the ribs but bare patches between them | The notch is too small for the tile, or the substrate is not flat | Size the notch up; a larger notch is the standard compensation for substrate variation |
This is the highest-volume case in the range. Take a 4" x 11" or 4" x 14" blade (641821 or 644821) with a 6 mm square notch. Place the adhesive with the flat, comb at 45–60° in one direction, and press the tiles home within the adhesive's open time. Expect roughly a 3 mm bed once the tile is bedded. Lift the first tile of each wall and confirm at least 80% contact (the ANSI A108.5 dry-area average) before committing to the run; if the wall is a shower or wet room, the figure rises to 95% and you should plan on either an 8 mm notch or back-buttering.
Move to the 4-1/2" width and a 14" or 16" blade with a 10 mm square notch (664821 or 666821), the default trowel for most domestic floors up to 600 mm. The bed will be roughly 5 mm. Floors are the unforgiving case: the lifted-tile check is not optional and back-buttering is common rather than exceptional.
At 600 mm and above, combing the substrate alone stops being enough. Go to a 16" or 18" blade with a 12 mm square notch for 600–900 mm (666821-82 or 668821-82), or a 15 mm square notch (code 85) for porcelain slab above that. Then butter the tile as well.
The method is specific: the large notch on the substrate, and a small notch, for example 4 mm, spread thinly on the back of the tile. In coverage terms: on large-format and low-porosity tile the required percentage is reached with both surfaces coated, not one. Buy the small back-buttering trowel as part of the same order: a 4" x 11" blade with a 4 mm square notch (641821-74) does that job.
Stone backs are rarely flat, and the rib has to fill the low spots rather than bridge them. Two profiles are in play. A square notch gives the highest adhesive volume for a given depth and a rib of constant section. A deep U (also called elliptical) suits stone and large slab work.
Both are shown in the catalog for this series, including a 15 mm U notch (code 39) and a 15 mm square notch (code 85). Take the wider 4-1/2" blade, check coverage on a lifted piece early, and confirm adhesive compatibility with the stone supplier before starting: some stones are sensitive to cement-based and to moisture-carrying adhesives.
This is the one case where a V notch is genuinely the right answer rather than a compromise. V geometry carries the least adhesive of the three profiles, which suits a small tile on a smooth, absorbent board where too much adhesive squeezes into the joints. Take the 4" width for control and a V notch (code 53, 53-1 or 55). Do not use V geometry with a thick, sanded mortar: it spreads those materials poorly.
Notched trowels are also used to lay thin-coat plaster and EIFS base coats at a consistent thickness, keying into the insulation board so the mesh and finish coat bond properly.
| Adhesive type | Suitability | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cement-based thin-set mortar | Standard application | The reference case for every notch-to-tile-size table cited here |
| Thick, sanded or aggregate-loaded mortar | Use square or U geometry | V notches spread these materials poorly |
| Polymer-modified thin-set | Suitable across all three profiles | Longer open time; clean the blade before the polymer starts to cure |
| Ready-mixed paste adhesive | Test the combination first | Round-bottomed U profiles release lower-viscosity materials more easily than square profiles |
| Epoxy adhesive | Test first, and clean immediately | Cured epoxy has to be removed mechanically, and solvents can damage the blade |
| Gypsum-based plasters | Suitable; clean before set | Gypsum sets fast and is much harder to clear from notches once cured |
| Error | Result | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Combing in alternating directions or in arcs | Ribs of uneven height; air folded into the bed | Comb every pass in one direction |
| The angle drifting through the stroke | Bed thickness varies across the area | Hold a steady 45–60° from the start of the pass to the end |
| Sliding the tile after placement | Ribs collapse in an uncontrolled way; voids under the tile | Press straight down with firm pressure and do not twist; if a tile needs adjusting, push it once at right angles to the ribs |
| A notch too small for the tile format | Coverage below the specified percentage | Size against the tables in the Selection Guide and verify on a lifted tile |
| Using a V notch with thick sanded mortar | Poor spread, short coverage | Use square or U geometry for those materials |
| Notches clogging during the run | Rib height drops, and coverage drops with it | Clear the notches before the adhesive sets |
| Metal tools used to clean the notches | Rounded notch corners; the tool no longer lays the rib its notch size specifies | Plastic or wooden scrapers only on the notched edge |
| Combing too large an area at once | Adhesive skins before the tile goes on | Work to the open time on the adhesive manufacturer's data sheet, in sections you can tile within it |
Q: What notch size for my tile?
A: A bigger tile takes a bigger notch. As a working ladder: 4 mm up to 100 mm tile, 6 mm for 100–300 mm wall tile, 8 mm for 200–400 mm floor tile, 10 mm for 300–600 mm floor tile, 12 mm for 600–900 mm, and 15 mm (code 85) above that; for larger, contact sales.
Q: Square, U or V: which should I order?
A: Square for most work, and always where the specification states bed thickness or coverage percentage. U for stone, uneven substrates and thick-bed work. V only for small tile on smooth substrates such as plasterboard.
Q: Which blade width and length should I choose?
A: 4" wide for walls, small tiles and confined work; 4-1/2" wide for floors, larger tiles and open runs. For length, 11" for small areas and work around fittings, 14" as the general-purpose length, 16" for open floors and large-format tile, and 18" where maximum coverage per pass matters.
Q: My coverage came out short. What do I change first?
A: Notch size first, then technique. Confirm the tile size against the notch ladder; if the notch is right for the tile, look at the stroke, because a drifting angle or a reversed pass both produce short coverage.
Q: How does this series differ from the German Standard Notched Trowel?
A: The German Standard Notched Trowel (702301-74 / -76 / -78 / -80 / -82) is a metric series: five art numbers, one square notch size each (4–12 mm), all on a 130 × 280 mm blade, with a blue bridge handle. The 641821 series is imperial: eight blade sizes from 4" x 11" to 4-1/2" x 18", all three notch profiles, and a soft-grip handle.
Q: How do I order a specific notch?
A: Take the blade art number and add the notch code, for example 641821-76 for a 4" x 11" blade with a 6 mm square notch, or 664821-39 for a 4-1/2" x 14" blade with a 15 mm U notch. For a notch not shown in the catalog, contact Leading Tools sales.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Blade shape | Rectangular flat blade, notched on one long edge and the adjacent short end |
| Blade widths | 4" (102 mm) and 4-1/2" (114 mm) |
| Blade lengths | 11" (279 mm), 14" (356 mm), 16" (406 mm), 18" (457 mm) |
| Notch profiles | U-notch, V-notch, square notch: all three available on every art number |
| Notched edges | Notches run along one long edge and the adjacent short end; the two remaining edges stay plain for flat spreading |
| Blade material | Stainless steel |
| Blade face | Flat and unnotched, so the same tool places the adhesive before the notched edge meters it |
Millimetre figures are conversions from the nominal inch dimensions at 1" = 25.4 mm; this series is specified in inches only.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Handle type | Soft-grip handle |
| Handle material | Red and black soft grip |
| Mount | The blade is joined to the mount by spot-riveting; for mount material and joint details, contact us |
| Construction | Spot Riveted |
The listed art numbers are stainless steel. Each art number corresponds to one blade material; for a carbon steel blade, contact Leading Tools sales. The comparison below is for reference.
| Variant | Blade material | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon steel | Carbon steel blade | Cost-driven projects and dry-area work, where the blade is dried and lightly oiled after each use |
| Stainless steel | Stainless steel blade | Wet areas, daily washdown, long service life, and crews that cannot be relied on to oil a tool |
The notch drawings on page 15 of the product catalog (which can be downloaded from the site footer) give every notch a two-digit code, and the table on page 16 groups the codes into three ranges: U-notch 25–39, V-notch 40–59, square notch 60–89.
For metric square notches the code is 70 plus the notch size in millimetres, so 76 is 6 mm and 82 is 12 mm; the German Standard Notched Trowel 702301-74 to -82 uses the same codes. The size for each code is in table B of section 6, Full Size Reference.
The art number is the blade art number plus the notch code. Choose the blade from the series table, for example 664821 for a 4-1/2" x 14" blade, then add the notch code: 664821-76 is a 4-1/2" x 14" blade with a 6 mm square notch. For a notch or size not shown in the catalog, contact Leading Tools sales. The flat trowel in the same blade sizes is the Spot Riveted Plaster Trowel.
Notch dimension is the specification. Everything else on this tool, width, length, handle, steel, affects how fast and how comfortably the work goes. Only the notch decides whether the finished installation meets the coverage percentage the job is specified to. Order the notch first, then the blade.
Square notches follow the half-bed rule; U and V notches do not. Because a square notch has equal notch width and land width, the ribs collapse into the gaps and leave a bed of roughly half the notch depth: 12 mm of notch gives about 6 mm of bed, 10 mm gives about 5 mm, 6 mm gives about 3 mm.
Round-bottomed and pointed profiles carry less material for the same depth and do not follow that arithmetic. When converting a specification written for one profile into another, convert on bed thickness, not on notch depth.
Bigger tile, bigger notch. This is the basic principle for choosing a notch by tile size.
A flat face and a notched edge in one tool. The blade face is unnotched, so the adhesive is placed with the flat and then metered with the notched edge: the standard three-step method. Two of the four edges stay plain for scooping and cleaning off.
| Blade width | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| 4" (102 mm) | Walls, small and mosaic tiles, confined work, and any surface where the tool has to be steered around fittings | Less substrate covered per pass |
| 4-1/2" (114 mm) | Floors, larger tiles, open runs where coverage per pass is what limits the day's output | Slightly more effort to hold flat on a vertical surface |
The flat Spot Riveted Plaster Trowel also comes in 3" and 4-3/4" widths; the notched series is limited to 4" and 4-1/2".
| Blade length | Best for |
|---|---|
| 11" (279 mm) | Small rooms, splashbacks, work between fittings, and anywhere the tool has to be lifted and repositioned often |
| 14" (356 mm) | The general-purpose length: enough reach for floor work, still controllable on a wall |
| 16" (406 mm) | Open floor areas and large-format tile, where fewer passes means fewer rib joins |
| 18" (457 mm) | Maximum substrate per pass; needs a level substrate and steady pressure across the full edge to keep the rib height even |
| Profile | What it does | Choose it when |
|---|---|---|
| U-notch | Round-bottomed ribs; adhesive spreads outward from the base of the rib as the tile is bedded | The substrate is rough, the tile is large, or the adhesive is a thick mortar; deep U profiles suit stone and large slab work |
| V-notch | Pointed ribs carrying the least adhesive of the three profiles | Small tiles on a smooth substrate such as plasterboard; not for thick, aggregate-loaded mortars, which V notches spread poorly |
| Square notch | Flat-bottomed ribs of constant section, the highest adhesive volume for a given depth, and the profile the half-bed rule is written for | Larger tile, rough substrates, and any job where bed thickness or coverage percentage is written into the specification |
When deciding what to stock: hold square as the volume line, U for stone and thick-bed work, V for small-format and smooth substrates.
The ranges below are typical starting points. When in doubt, size up and check coverage on a lifted tile.
| Tile format | Notch size | Approx. bed after pressing |
|---|---|---|
| Mosaic, up to 50 mm | 4 mm | 2 mm |
| Up to 100 mm | 4 mm | — |
| 100–300 mm wall tile | 6 mm | 3 mm |
| 200–400 mm floor tile | 8 mm | 4 mm |
| 300–600 mm floor tile | 10 mm, the default trowel for most domestic floors | 5 mm |
| 600–900 mm large format | 12 mm | 6 mm |
| Above 900 mm porcelain slab | 15 mm (code 85); for larger, contact sales | — |
| Standard | Requirement | What it means for notch choice |
|---|---|---|
| ANSI A108.5 (US) | Average contact area not below 80% on dry-area walls and ceilings; not below 95% in wet or exterior areas | The 80% figure is an average, not a floor for any single tile; leave headroom by sizing up in wet areas |
Coverage is checked by lifting a tile early in the run and reading the back. The adhesive manufacturer's data sheet and local regulations take precedence.
| Application | Blade width | Blade length | Notch profile | Blade art number and notch size (add the notch code to order) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mosaic and small wall tile up to 100 mm | 4" | 11"–14" | Square | 641821 / 644821; 4 mm |
| Standard ceramic wall tile 100–300 mm | 4" | 11"–14" | Square, or V on a smooth board substrate | 641821 / 644821; 6 mm |
| Small-format floor tile up to 200 mm | 4-1/2" | 14" | Square | 664821; 6–8 mm |
| Standard floor tile 300–600 mm | 4-1/2" | 14"–16" | Square | 664821 / 666821; 10 mm |
| Large-format 600–900 mm | 4-1/2" | 16"–18" | Square, with back-buttering | 666821 / 668821; 12 mm |
| Porcelain slab above 900 mm, or stone with an uneven back | 4-1/2" | 16"–18" | Square or deep U | 666821 / 668821; 15 mm square or 15 mm U |
| Back-buttering the tile itself, any format | 4" | 11" | Square, small | 641821-74 (4 mm square) on the tile back; the substrate notch comes from the rows above |
| Art. Nr | What it is | When to specify it instead |
|---|---|---|
| 641821 / 644821 / 646821 / 648821 / 661821 / 664821 / 666821 / 668821 | Spot Riveted Plaster Trowel: flat blade in the same eight blade sizes, same soft-grip handle | Flat spreading, floating and finishing rather than combing |
| 631821 / 634821 / 636821 | Spot Riveted Plaster Trowel (flat), 3" wide in 11" / 14" / 16" | Narrow flat work; not offered as a notched version |
| 670821 / 674821 / 676821 / 678821 | Spot Riveted Plaster Trowel (flat), 4-3/4" wide in 11" / 14" / 16" / 18" | Maximum flat coverage; not offered as a notched version |
| 702301-74 / -76 / -78 / -80 / -82 | German Standard Notched Trowel: five art numbers, one square notch size each (4–12 mm), all on a 130 × 280 mm blade; blue bridge handle | Jobs specified in metric blade sizes, or where a bridge handle is preferred to a soft grip |
| 702301 | German Standard Trowel, the same 130 mm x 280 mm blade with no notches and a wood handle | Flat finishing on the metric blade platform |
Leading Tools offers two notched trowel series. The differences are these:
| Feature | Notched Trowel 641821 series | German Standard Notched Trowel 702301-74 / -76 / -78 / -80 / -82 |
|---|---|---|
| Blade sizing | Imperial: 4" and 4-1/2" wide, 11"–18" long, eight sizes | Metric: five art numbers, all on a 130 mm x 280 mm blade |
| Notch profiles | U, V and square, all three on every art number | Square only |
| Notch sizes | U, V or square notches; add the notch code after the art number | One square notch size per art number: 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 mm |
| Handle | Red and black soft-grip handle | Blue bridge handle |
| Construction | Spot Riveted | Spot Riveted |
| Blade material | Stainless steel | Stainless steel |
| Flat counterpart | Spot Riveted Plaster Trowel (same blade sizes) | German Standard Trowel 702301 |
| Buy it for | Range: any of three notch profiles, eight blade sizes, and a cushioned grip for long combing runs | Simplicity: one metric blade size, five art numbers with one square notch each |
Every blade art number in the Notched Trowel 641821 series, with the notch profiles shown in the catalog. To order, add the notch code from table B:
| Art. Nr | Blade size (in) | Blade size (mm) | U notch | V notch | Square ⊔ notch | Blade material | Handle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 641821 | 4" x 11" | 102 x 279 mm | Yes | Yes | Yes | Stainless steel | Red/black soft grip, Spot Riveted |
| 644821 | 4" x 14" | 102 x 356 mm | Yes | Yes | Yes | Stainless steel | Red/black soft grip, Spot Riveted |
| 646821 | 4" x 16" | 102 x 406 mm | Yes | Yes | Yes | Stainless steel | Red/black soft grip, Spot Riveted |
| 648821 | 4" x 18" | 102 x 457 mm | Yes | Yes | Yes | Stainless steel | Red/black soft grip, Spot Riveted |
| 661821 | 4-1/2" x 11" | 114 x 279 mm | Yes | Yes | Yes | Stainless steel | Red/black soft grip, Spot Riveted |
| 664821 | 4-1/2" x 14" | 114 x 356 mm | Yes | Yes | Yes | Stainless steel | Red/black soft grip, Spot Riveted |
| 666821 | 4-1/2" x 16" | 114 x 406 mm | Yes | Yes | Yes | Stainless steel | Red/black soft grip, Spot Riveted |
| 668821 | 4-1/2" x 18" | 114 x 457 mm | Yes | Yes | Yes | Stainless steel | Red/black soft grip, Spot Riveted |
Millimetre figures are conversions at 1" = 25.4 mm.
The notch codes and sizes drawn in the catalog are listed below; contact sales for any notch not listed.
| Code | Profile | Notch geometry | Approx. bed after the tile is bedded |
|---|---|---|---|
| 39 | U | 15 mm notch width, 15 mm land, 15 mm deep, round-bottomed | Deep-bed work; the half-bed rule does not apply to round-bottomed profiles |
| 53 | V | 1/2" pitch, 1/2" deep, continuous pointed teeth | Not covered by the half-bed rule |
| 53-1 | V | 1/2" pitch, 1/2" deep | Not covered by the half-bed rule |
| 55 | V | 1/8" notch width, 5/16" land, 1/4" deep | Not covered by the half-bed rule |
| 66 | Square | 1/2" x 1/2" notch and land, 1/2" deep | Approx. 1/4" (6 mm) |
| 68 | Square | 3/32" x 3/32" notch and land, 1/8" deep | Approx. 1/16" (1.6 mm) |
| 74 | Square | 4 x 4 mm | Approx. 2 mm |
| 76 | Square | 6 x 6 mm | Approx. 3 mm |
| 78 | Square | 8 x 8 mm | Approx. 4 mm |
| 80 | Square | 10 x 10 mm | Approx. 5 mm |
| 82 | Square | 12 x 12 mm | Approx. 6 mm |
| 85 | Square | 15 mm notch width, 15 mm land, 15 mm deep | Approx. 7.5 mm |
Every blade size against every notch profile shown in the catalog for the series. Notch codes and sizes are in table B above.
| # | Art. Nr | Blade size | Notch profile | Notch size | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 641821 | 4" x 11" (102 x 279 mm) | U | Codes in table B | Small-area stone and thick-bed work on walls |
| 2 | 641821 | 4" x 11" (102 x 279 mm) | V | Codes in table B | Small tile and mosaic on smooth board substrates |
| 3 | 641821 | 4" x 11" (102 x 279 mm) | Square ⊔ | Codes in table B | Standard wall tile in confined areas |
| 4 | 644821 | 4" x 14" (102 x 356 mm) | U | Codes in table B | Stone and thick-bed work on walls, longer runs |
| 5 | 644821 | 4" x 14" (102 x 356 mm) | V | Codes in table B | Small tile on plasterboard over larger areas |
| 6 | 644821 | 4" x 14" (102 x 356 mm) | Square ⊔ | Codes in table B | General-purpose wall tiling |
| 7 | 646821 | 4" x 16" (102 x 406 mm) | U | Codes in table B | Deep-bed work where reach matters more than width |
| 8 | 646821 | 4" x 16" (102 x 406 mm) | V | Codes in table B | Long runs of small tile on smooth substrates |
| 9 | 646821 | 4" x 16" (102 x 406 mm) | Square ⊔ | Codes in table B | Wall and light floor tiling over open areas |
| 10 | 648821 | 4" x 18" (102 x 457 mm) | U | Codes in table B | Longest reach in the 4" width for thick-bed work |
| 11 | 648821 | 4" x 18" (102 x 457 mm) | V | Codes in table B | Long runs on smooth board substrates |
| 12 | 648821 | 4" x 18" (102 x 457 mm) | Square ⊔ | Codes in table B | Maximum pass length at 4" width |
| 13 | 661821 | 4-1/2" x 11" (114 x 279 mm) | U | Codes in table B | Stone and uneven substrates in confined areas |
| 14 | 661821 | 4-1/2" x 11" (114 x 279 mm) | V | Codes in table B | Small-format work needing the wider blade |
| 15 | 661821 | 4-1/2" x 11" (114 x 279 mm) | Square ⊔ | Codes in table B | Floor tiling in bathrooms and small rooms |
| 16 | 664821 | 4-1/2" x 14" (114 x 356 mm) | U | Codes in table B | The general-purpose stone and thick-bed configuration |
| 17 | 664821 | 4-1/2" x 14" (114 x 356 mm) | V | Codes in table B | Mixed small-format work on smooth substrates |
| 18 | 664821 | 4-1/2" x 14" (114 x 356 mm) | Square ⊔ | Codes in table B | The volume configuration: standard floor tiling |
| 19 | 666821 | 4-1/2" x 16" (114 x 406 mm) | U | Codes in table B | Large stone slabs with uneven backs |
| 20 | 666821 | 4-1/2" x 16" (114 x 406 mm) | V | Codes in table B | Long smooth-substrate runs at full width |
| 21 | 666821 | 4-1/2" x 16" (114 x 406 mm) | Square ⊔ | Codes in table B | Large-format floor tile |
| 22 | 668821 | 4-1/2" x 18" (114 x 457 mm) | U | Codes in table B | Maximum coverage per pass for deep-bed stone work |
| 23 | 668821 | 4-1/2" x 18" (114 x 457 mm) | V | Codes in table B | Maximum coverage per pass on smooth substrates |
| 24 | 668821 | 4-1/2" x 18" (114 x 457 mm) | Square ⊔ | Codes in table B | Porcelain slab and large-format floor work |
| Contaminant | Cleaning method |
|---|---|
| Wet adhesive or mortar | Wipe the blade and clear the notches with a damp cloth or sponge before the material sets |
| Stubborn residue | Scrape gently with a plastic or wooden scraper; do not use metal tools on the notched edge, which deforms the notch |
| Set-on residue | Soak in warm water with a neutral detergent, then clear the notches with a soft brush |
| Hardened cement | Soften with a proprietary cement remover, then clear with a nylon brush; do not use carbon steel wool or wire brushes |
| Epoxy adhesive | Mechanical removal only; solvents may damage the blade surface |
| Every time | Rinse, dry completely, and store dry |
The notch dimension is the specification, so the notched edge gets treated differently from the rest of the blade. Clear each notch individually with a wooden toothpick or a small stiff brush while the residue is still soft. Never force a metal pick into a notch: rounding the corners of a square notch quietly reduces the bed it delivers, and the tool goes on looking correct while the coverage falls below what the job is specified to.
Store the blade flat or hung so it cannot bow, keep it dry, and use an edge guard or a padded pouch to protect the notched edge. Carbon steel blades stored for more than a short period should carry a light film of oil, and a hard case or padded bag with a rust inhibitor is the recommendation for long storage. Do not stack other tools on top of a notched trowel: a knock that deforms one notch changes the rib that notch lays.
Replace the tool when the notch corners have rounded or a notch has deformed. Because the notch size is the specification, worn notches deliver a thinner bed than specified, and the failure shows up as short coverage rather than as an obviously worn tool. Replace a blade that no longer sits flat on a straightedge, since uneven contact produces ribs of uneven height.
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