Fresco Tools and Equipment, mortar tools, plaster, trowels, plastering tools.

Buon Fresco Tools & Equipment

Extended list of Buon Fresco Tools, plastering equipment and devices for large frescoes. Includes power tools, scaffold, mixers, ladders, storage units, also mortar tools, trowels, "small tools".

All right, here we are - Big Stuff Buon Fresco Tools & Equipment for Large Fresco Project, waw. This list may have some items that you would say - "I am not going to worry about that!" Sure, in this case you may get away having just Plastering Fresco Tools Kit you may not need all of it (if you already have some plaster tools), but it is good to have for reference anyway. Also we will get into more detail on smaller things, like fresco trowels, drills, mixers and "small tools" that will make your life as fresco artist a little easier.

NOTE: Plaster tools & equipment from this list can be used for any marmorino, venetian stucco, roman plaster, roman stucco, conventional plastering and any other plaster application.

Below are the combined lists of tools me and Ian use on our fresco projects and have around the studio. In later chapters I will have reminders of for the tools you will need for each step or specific fresco support (aka tile, panel, wall, ceiling)

Plaster Tools List

6X3 stainless steel trowel
8X3 steel trowel
6X2 steel gauger
large scoop hawk (bucket trowel)
square/leaf ornimental tool (small tools)
notched scratcher trowel
wooden "fresco float"
sand sifting screen (window screen)
pudging stick (wooden dowel 2" diameter)
5 gallon buckets
2 gallon buckets
measuring pails (2 gallon)
wire snips (for panel and/or wall prep)
plaster mixing tray
hudson sprayer
wetting brush
cordless drill

for larger fresoes add

metal mixing bath
heavy duty power drill
hammer drill (masonry drill)
masonry wisk
hoe

Fresco Tools you can not do without are:

Plastering Trowels - 8X3 inch and a smaller one 6X3 inch. Larger trowel is better for quicker leveling, however it may appear to be harder to use than a smaller 6X3. For small frescoes you can use regular - hardened steel ones, but for larger ones stainless steel is better. The reason is that hardened steel trowels will leave carbon (dark "mottles") on the plaster if over troweled and at the beginning everyone does over trowel. However you should start with small 16X16 fresco tiles (more in corresponding chapters) and move on to fresco panels. This way you will be less likely to over trowel, since a tile should be plastered in 2-4 passes.

6X2 steel gauger - the handiest trowel for mixing and reworking plaster as well as rough giornata pre-cuts.

large scoop hawk (bucket trowel) - very handy for scooping plaster and using as hawk while plastering.

square/leaf ornamental tool (small tools) - this is the main tool for cutting off, trimming giornata.

wooden "fresco float" - this is a "fresco plastering secret" all consolidation/packing of the plaster as well as leveling is done with the help of this tool. This one is not sold in stores, but fairly simple to make. All the above tools are also offered by TrueFresco.com Fresco Shop in a Fresco Plastering Tool Kit

Fresco Equipment List

Cement (concrete) mixer

Scaffolding

large metal mixing bath

heavy-duty drill

mixing wisk

hammer drill

dollies

pooly

disc grinder

mitter (chop) saw

table saw

welding equipment (mig welder and acetilene torch)

ladders

Equipment list is mostly for reference purpose rather than a list to buy, since all plasterwork for large wall or ceiling frescoes should be done by a professional plaster or plastering company and they would have all that.

On the following page (click this line) you will find this list illustrated.

next chapter: Fresco Studio Setup