Plastic Hawk

• Art. Nr: 300301 / 300302 / 300303
• Size: 10" × 10", 12" × 12", 13" × 13"
• Material: plastic (panel material: please contact us)
• Construction: concentric-ring and radial rib pattern molded into the panel
• Handle: center grip

Product Name & Model

Plastic Hawk
Art. Nr: 300301, 300302, 300303 — Float range

A hawk is the flat carrying platform with a vertical center handle that a plasterer holds in the non-dominant hand while the dominant hand works the trowel. The trade uses several names for the same tool: plasterer's hawk, mason's hawk, hand board, more or less interchangeably.

Core Features

• Grip type: center grip, a single vertical cylindrical handle rising from the middle of the platform, held in the non-dominant hand.
• Grip position: centered on the platform, so a loaded board balances over the wrist instead of levering toward one edge.
• Platform material: plastic. Panel material: please contact us.
• Platform face: a molded pattern of concentric rings crossed by radial ribs runs across the face of the panel.
• Sizes: three: 10" × 10", 12" × 12" and 13" × 13".
• Corrosion behavior: a plastic panel cannot rust, so a board stored damp does not carry rust staining into the next batch of material.

Product Advantages

These are the reasons a buyer specifies the plastic board rather than the aluminum one in the same Leading Tools range. Operating instructions are under How to Use below.

• Lower arm and shoulder load than an aluminum hawk. Aluminum hawks are heavier and feel more solid in the hand; plastic hawks are chosen specifically because the lighter board reduces operator fatigue over a full day, and above all on ceilings and overhead runs.
• Cleans down fast. A plastic face wipes clean easily when rinsed before material sets.
• No rust, no staining of the work. Plastic does not corrode in contact with water, cement, lime or gypsum.
• Balanced center grip. With the handle at the middle of the square, the load stays over the wrist rather than twisting it, which is what makes a one-hand carry across the work area possible.
• Three sizes. 300301 / 300302 / 300303 cover detail and overhead work, general plastering and large-area production.

The Selection Guide below sets out the comparison with the aluminum hawk.

How to Use

When to Use

Basic Technique

Wall and Ceiling Plastering

This is the core job. The hawk lets the plasterer stand at the wall with a working quantity of material in hand, so the trowel reloads from the board instead of from the spot board on the floor. For a ceiling or any sustained overhead run, drop one size: a 300301 at 10" × 10" carries less, but it is far easier to hold above shoulder height for a long period, and reduced fatigue is the specific reason plastic is chosen for this work.

Pointing and Patching

For brick and block pointing, the hawk holds a small quantity of mortar close to the joint being filled while the pointing trowel does the work. The same applies to patch repairs in plaster or drywall: load only what the patch needs, which is exactly the case where the 10" × 10" 300301 is the right tool rather than the largest board.

FAQ

Q: What is a hawk used for?
A: A hawk is a flat board with a handle in the middle. You hold it in one hand and load plaster or mortar onto it, then work the trowel with the other hand.

Q: Which size should I buy first?
A: 300302 (12" × 12"). It is the middle size and balances load against control; add 300301 (10" × 10") later for ceilings and other overhead work.

Q: Is a plastic hawk as good as an aluminum one?
A: Choose by weight and working face. Plastic is lighter and easier on the arm and shoulder; aluminum has a continuous flat metal face and is also available in 9" and 14" sizes.

Q: The compound keeps sliding off the board. What am I doing wrong?
A: Usually one of two things. Wipe a thin skim of material over the board before the first full load so the batch stays put, and load only about half the board and keep it close to level while you carry it.

Q: How do I clean and store it?
A: Rinse it with water as soon as you stop work. If material has already set, soak it and scrape it off with a plastic scraper. Keep paint thinners and similar solvents off it, and store it flat, out of direct sun and away from heaters.

Specifications Overview

Platform Design

Grip Design

Panel Material

Panel material: please contact us.

Selection Guide

Choosing the Right Size

Size Comparison

Plastic Hawk vs. Aluminum Hawk: the choice within the Leading Tools range

Leading Tools offers both tools. The Aluminum Hawk covers Art. Nr 300369 (9" × 9"), 300370 (10" × 10"), 300372 (12" × 12"), 300373 (13" × 13") and 300374 (14" × 14"): a wider ladder, reaching one size smaller and one size larger than the plastic range.

Choose the Plastic Hawk (300301–300303) when:

• Overhead and ceiling work is a large share of the job and shoulder and arm fatigue is the limiting factor.
• Fast clean-down matters.
• Storage conditions are damp: coastal sites, unheated containers, long gaps between cleaning.

Choose the Aluminum Hawk (300369–300374) instead when:

• You need a size outside 10"–13": 9" × 9" (300369) for tight detail work, or 14" × 14" (300374) for maximum load per fill.
• The job calls for a dead-flat, uninterrupted working face: the aluminum face has nothing protruding through it, while the plastic face carries molded ribs and a raised handle spigot.

Full Size Reference

All three art numbers in the Plastic Hawk range.

Note: 1" = 25.4 mm; the metric figures above are conversions of the nominal inch sizes, rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Related Leading Tools boards, for cross-reference: Aluminum Hawk 300369 (9" × 9"), 300370 (10" × 10"), 300372 (12" × 12"), 300373 (13" × 13"), 300374 (14" × 14"); Harling Trowel 301055 (6").

Care & Maintenance

• Wash immediately after use. Rinse the platform with water as soon as work stops; do not let cement, lime or gypsum compounds cure on the panel. A plastic face wipes clean quickly when rinsed before material sets.
• Set material. If material has already set, soak it and scrape it off with a plastic scraper.
• Deep clean periodically. Warm water and a mild detergent lift residue out of the rib pattern, which is where build-up hides.
• Inspect the handle before each use. Check that the grip is tight against the platform; a handle that has worked loose costs control and spills material.
• Inspect the platform. Look for cracks, gouges and permanent deformation. A cracked panel flexes unevenly under load and will dump material.
• Store flat and dry. Store the board flat and unloaded so it does not take a set; keep it away from heaters and out of direct sun. Plastic does not rust, but prolonged UV exposure degrades plastics over time.
• Solvent contact. Keep paint thinners, acetone and similar solvents off the panel; these attack common thermoplastics and can craze or soften the surface.