Ah, the big debate-London vs. Philly trowels! It's like arguin' if pizza's better with pepperoni or mushrooms-depends on what you're doin' and what you're used to. Let's break it down. First, the London trowel-blade's narrow, pointy, like a little race car compared to a pickup.
Great for tight spots! If you're workin' around windows or corners, that pointy tip gets mortar into gaps a bigger trowel can't reach. It's lighter, too-so if you're fixin' a historic fireplace or a tiny decorative wall, your hand won't cramp up after an hour. Think of it as a small paintbrush-good for details, not big walls.
Now the Philly trowel-wide, rounded, like a sturdy shovel. If you're layin' big bricks or a huge wall, this is your guy. Holds more mortar, so you don't run to the bucket every 2 seconds-saves time, which means you can finish earlier and grab a beer.
It's stable, too-spread mortar in a straight line without wobblin', unlike the London one that can veer off if you're not careful. Buildin' a backyard fence or a retaining wall? Philly trowel all the way.
Here's the thing-neither's better. I got both in my toolbox! Fancy mailbox? London. Big garden wall? Philly. Some masons swear by one, but that's 'cause they learned on it and never tried the other.
My advice? Grab both if you can-hold 'em, spread some mortar, see which feels like it's workin' with you, not against you. It's like pickin' a bike-you don't pick the fastest, you pick the one that fits.
