I'm having a hard time making the edges of a counter top look good. (too many lap lines) It's an eased edge/slightly rounded top & bottom. Any hints/suggestions to get this to look really smooth?

Thanks

Kerry, I would try a yellow bondo scraper that you purchase at the auto stores such as "Napa" or others. They come in three different sizes and do not have a handle on them. They are pliable and conform to the surface you are troweling. Hope this answers your question. You would use the same on a column.

HI Melody,
Thanks, I currently use a bondo scraper, but it just isn't cutting it. I probably just need more
practice.
Happy Thanksgiving

Well...there is always the trusty finger! Ok guys...does anyone have a secret tool they use? I would be glad to hear about it cause I have trouble sometimes also.

There is a discussion about various tools including credit cards in this section...check out posts from Aug. 22-29.

quote:

Originally posted by Kerry Hoffman:
HI Melody,
Thanks, I currently use a bondo scraper, but it just isn't cutting it. I probably just need more
practice.
Happy Thanksgiving

I use credit cards over the bondo scrapers because the edge is more user friendly. If I get a nick in the edge of the card I can sand out the problem....i've tried this with the bondo scraper but the plastic is too soft for my liking, the blade tends to scratch too easily and I haven't been successful at sanding out the nicks on the bondo.....

I forgot to state that the topic is Working in Tight Areas.

quote:

Originally posted by Jo:
There is a discussion about various tools including credit cards in this section...check out posts from Aug. 22-29.

quote:

Originally posted by Kerry Hoffman:
HI Melody,
Thanks, I currently use a bondo scraper, but it just isn't cutting it. I probably just need more
practice.
Happy Thanksgiving

When I can with the heaver plasters I will use a bull nose trowel. For something like Veneziano "if I am getting the right image in my head" I'll just use my trowel but moviing in a upward diagonal motion.

Hope it helps.

Kerry,
The trick is to use as few strokes as possible. Try to come from under the bullnose upwards, only doing one stroke each and feather them out differently as you come up onto the counter.
I hold the bondo with both hands. If you hold it with the thumb and forefinger, you can go from the bottom up and over in one stroke. Simon is right, coming up and moving diagonally, varying the direction with each and making sure you go into the previous wet plaster a little will help keep your design from having all those lap lines. When doing plaster on a wall, we call this back trowelling.

In small difficult areas like those, I usually take a chip brush, dip it into the plaster, smear it on the area, and then use the bondo scraper to remove excess. That ensures you will have fewer strokes showing.