Spatula for stretch ceilings

For the installation of stretch vinyl and woven cloths, masters use special devices. The spatula is a blade of a certain configuration with a wooden or plastic handle. Each such device is used to perform individual manipulations at a particular site of work. Stores sell these accessories in sets, but experienced professionals prefer the tool that best meets their professional habits, so they often use hand-made blades.

What are the types of blades

Blades for mounting tension structures are marked with professional codes, which reflect the shape, length of the handle and scope:

Set for mounting tensioning cloths

Spatula main (large) straight. With its help, the middle of the canvas is turned on. It has an elongated handle.
Double-bend metal part at 90 degrees. It is also called cornice. They work in hard to reach places.
Basic series with direct working metal part. Subspecies differ in the length of the handle.
The spatula is small. It is convenient in work on corner sites.
Rounded spatula - designed for mounting polyester stretch ceilings.
Corner with a wide triangular pointed blade for installation in an open baguette.
Perovoi. It is necessary when filling the canvas in corner sections or near pipes.
Dismantling screwdriver. It is necessary when dismantling the structure. A screwdriver is used to remove the ceilings from the profile.
09-10. A series of devices with a Z-shaped bend of a goose blade. Thanks to this form, the hand will not cling to the baguette.
011 and 012. Cornice blades with a narrow pointed working part of the “scarf”.

How to choose a tool

For a beginner, for a simple installation of suspended ceilings, it is enough to purchase a basic, rounded and pointed spatula. It is better to take averages, as they are universal. There are kits with a plastic and wooden handle on sale. The most comfortable shoulder blades with a wooden handle. Although they are more expensive, but they do not slip and they are pleasant to the touch.

Dressing the canvas in a baguette

Quality tools are made of stainless steel.

Video how to work with a set for the installation of suspended ceilings:

Over time, the master begins to be picky about the material and shape of the handle. As a rule, craftsmen remove the handle from the factory tool and make another, according to their taste. Usually redo instruments of the main series.

Nuances

Working with a stretch fabric is a difficult process, requiring a lot of effort and time. Also, the master must have a set of tools for this business. The specialist will need a puncher, tape measure, laser level. A mounting spatula is used to make it easier to fill the canvas in a baguette.

Any spatula has a handle and a tip made of metal. Handles come in different shapes, they can be made of various materials. The tip is made of first-class stainless steel. Due to this, the tool does not bend, which is very important for high-quality work. Indeed, during the installation process, the putty knife is subject to significant load from the web, which presses on it.

Varieties

In the assortment you can find such types of mounting blades:

With a direct nozzle. Such a tool is used to fill the canvas in narrow, difficult to reach areas. For comfort, this device is equipped with a small wooden handle, the width of the main part is from 15 to 50 millimeters. A spatula of this type is often used in those ceiling areas to which water or gas pipes are attached.
Straight bent. With the help of such a tool, the main job of filling the canvas in a baguette is performed. Bent spatulas have different lengths of handles and metal parts. The shape of the main part is made in the form of a trapezoid with an extension at the end.
CornerCorner spatula for stretch ceilings has a sharp ledge to comfortably fill the canvas in the corners of the room.
Semicircular. In certain situations, it is allowed to use spatulas with a semicircular shape, a substantial width. They are very comfortable at work, so filling the canvas into a baguette will be much faster.
Electric. The blade of this product makes the movement due to electricity. Using this device, you can save your time and energy. Installation will occur much faster than with other tools. Nevertheless, it is intended specifically for masters who are engaged in professional activities. The putty knife is notable for its high price, so it does not justify the investment with one-time use.

Handle Material

The handle of the spatula can be made of the following materials:

Tree. Often, wooden handles are made of oak. They are durable and have a long service life.
Plastic. This material is not as durable as wood, but professionals prefer it. Plastic handles are lighter, so hands get tired less when doing work.

Tips for choosing a spatula

In order to get a quality tool suitable for work, it is necessary to take into account the following criteria: type of canvas, design complexity. Choosing a spatula, it is worth considering such nuances:

Handle material. Specialists often choose tools with a wooden handle. They are heavier, but they are durable. A spatula with a plastic handle weighs less, but it does not last a long time. If you chose a spatula with a wooden handle, you should treat the surface of the handle with an emery cloth so that there are no jagging and pointed edges, they can deform the ceiling surface.
The handle of the tool can be of various shapes: oval, round, teardrop-shaped, flat, and so on. To decide which pen is best for work, you should take it in your hand and play several working movements.
The spatula should not be too heavy, because with long work the hands will become very tired, but a light tool will not work (it will not be possible to tighten the elastic cloth qualitatively).

Which spatula to purchase for professional activities?

If you want to engage in the installation of stretch coatings professionally, you should purchase all types of blades listed above. You can buy them in a specialty store or make them yourself.

Acquiring an arsenal of tools is a simple option, but you will need to invest a lot of money in the purchase. Let's say a semicircular spatula costs about 2500 rubles. High-quality corner spatula can be purchased for 1200 rubles. Buying all the tools, you will need to invest a lot of money in the purchase. Therefore, craftsmen who do not have large means often make devices for installation at home.

DIY tool making

There are many ways to make a spatula for mounting stretch sheets yourself. The easiest method is to choose a rigid plate made of metal (you can use a blade from an old knife).

The width of such a tool will be approximately 3 centimeters. Using a grinder, the sharp end of the blade is carefully cut. Then the edges are rounded so that they are not too sharp, as they can damage the ceiling. Then you need to heat the metal to such an extent that it bends well. To do this, you can use a gas oven and pliers. The metal must be bent until the desired bending angle is formed so that the tool can be hooked on a baguette.

Additional arsenal of tools

In addition to spatulas, the following devices are needed for work:

Ladder. A necessary item when working at heights.
Pendulum saw. It is necessary in order to cut profiles at a certain angle.
Different tools for measuring length or width: tape measures, rulers, corners and more.
Metal detectors. Used to avoid possible electric shock. After all, wiring is often laid in one of the layers of plaster.
Screwdriver. With its help, it will turn out to quickly screw the screws.

Spatula for installation of suspended ceilings– product, without the use of which this work cannot be carried out. Therefore, in the arsenal of each master should be several types of such tools, homemade or purchased in a special store.

Features

Installation of a stretch ceiling is not an easy task and requires the masters to have in stock a whole arsenal of tools and devices. Along with tape measure, a laser level and a perforator, the master set also uses special mounting spatulas for suspended ceilings. The main purpose of such a spatula is to make the filling of the ceiling covering into a baguette a less time-consuming process. The baguette is a special profile strip, in the cavity of which the canvas is mounted.

The spatula for stretch ceilings in any of its designs has a handle and a metal tip. The shape of the pen and its material may be different. The tip in its configuration also has a variety of forms for performing all kinds of work. The thickness of the working part of the ceiling spatula exceeds the value of the construction option and ranges from 0.6 to 1 mm.

In addition, the tip of such a spatula is made of high strength stainless steel. These features do not allow the spatula to bend, which is its necessary characteristic. In the process, the putty knife experiences a tremendous load from the canvas pressing on it.

During the stretching of one canvas, several such tools can be used at once, depending on their purpose.

The following varieties of the tool can be distinguished:

With a direct nozzle. This view is exactly the same as a small fellow. It is convenient to fill the canvas with such a spatula in narrow, inaccessible places. For convenience, they have a small wooden handle, and the width of their working part is 15-50 mm. A spatula with a direct nozzle will be especially indispensable in those places of the ceiling to which gas or water pipes adjoin.
Curved, straight shapes. They perform the bulk of the operation of refueling the ceiling material in a baguette. Curved spatulas have a different amount of inclination of the metal part and the length of the handle. The shape of their metal part is made in the form of a trapezoid, expanding at the end. Its bend has a different slope and depends on the profile shape of the baguette itself.

Curved spatulas are:

Large with a shoulder blade bent at an angle of 45 degrees. This model of a spatula is the most popular and is suitable for any installation work both with a fabric cloth and with polyvinyl chloride material. These spatulas are equipped with a wooden handle 40 cm long.
Small with a shoulder blade bent at an angle of 45 degrees. They have the same shape, but differ in the smaller size of the working surface and the holder, which simplifies work in hard-to-reach areas. The handle of such spatulas has a length of only 10-20 centimeters.
An intermediate version of these types of spatulas are medium sized tools. In addition to a 45-degree bend, spatulas can be in the form of a tilt of the metal part and 90 degrees. It is convenient to fill the canvas with a product of this shape in a baguette of its upper part. In addition, with its help it is easy to cope with the installation work of built-in lamps and ceiling fillets.

Curved, triangular in shape. They are classified according to the same principle as direct ones. They can vary in width, angle and length of the handle. The blades are triangular in shape with a narrow tip. This type of ceiling spatula is aimed not at the main process of stretching the ceiling, but at its alignment in hard-to-reach areas of the baguette. In addition, he copes with the tension of the ceiling in curved sections.
Curved goose spatula. Its geometric shape has a double bend, due to which it got its name - goose. This shape is inherent in both large and small models of this tool, and the configuration of the shape of the blade does not matter. This geometric shape of the spatula is used in all its forms. This model is designed for refueling polyvinyl chloride material using the harpoon method of tension, while the shape of the baguette profile may be different. At first glance, it may seem that the shape of this spatula is too complex and therefore may be vulnerable during use, but it is not. A metal spatula blade of this type is made of highly alloyed stainless steel alloys, which endows it with high strength characteristics, as well as resistance to external pressures.

Angular shape. This type of spatula is designed to fix the ceiling canvas in the four corners of the room. To cope with this task, in its design it has a rectangular or sharp blade, which can also be bent at different angles. This type of spatula was widely used in the installation work of a stretch ceiling in open profiles (frames).
Semicircular shape. This model has a thin edge of the working part, which is convenient when installing fabric cloths. Due to the peculiar semicircular shape, it is convenient for them to fill the material into a baguette, to make peculiar inserts, while the speed of the work will be very high.
A separate type of spatula for stretch ceilings should be highlighted electric models. This category is an electrical appliance with automatic reciprocating movement of the working surface (blades). This tool is able to facilitate the work of fixing the canvas and can cope with its tension in a matter of minutes.

It is worth noting that these tools are also classified according to the type of holders (handles). They can have a different configuration: from a standard oval in the form of a drop to a rectangular flat. The shape of the pen will not affect the quality and speed of work. Her choice depends only on the comfortable feeling in the hand of the master.

See how to hold spatulas when installing suspended ceilings in the next video.

Output

Summing up, it can be noted that the spatula is intended to perform an important task in the process of installing a stretch ceiling: with it, the canvas is refilled in the profile of the baguette. When working, it is necessary to use different types of them, each performing its own function: some fix the canvas in the corners, others carry out the refueling process itself, and still others are indispensable helpers in hard-to-reach places.

Acquaintance

The diagram shows the main elements of a spatula for stretch ceilings

A spatula for a stretch ceiling is very similar in appearance to its building counterpart. And at the same time, it has significant differences, as it is used for refueling a polyvinyl chloride or textile fabric into the baguette cavity.

They can be very easily seen when considering the design features of the tool:

Shovel. Key differences:

Lack of flexibility. The stretched fabric will put tremendous pressure on the spatula, so if it starts to bend, it will simply break,

A stretching PVC or textile cloth can break the working part of the tool if it does not have sufficient rigidity

What blades are used for the installation of PVC stretch ceilings

The spatula for a stretch ceiling is a spatula made of high-strength steel with a wooden or plastic handle. The tool is used to refill PVC film into a baguette when installing with a harpoon method. Unlike conventional construction spatulas, the working part is much stronger, since the blade must withstand the great pressure exerted on it when the blade is tensioned. Thin metal will bend and may even burst, damaging walls or material.

A spatula is a must-have tool for installing suspended ceilings; you cannot replace it with anything else. Moreover, one is not enough.

For filling the canvas in corners, inaccessible places and in curved sections, different types of blades are used. They differ in the length of the handle, the shape and the number of bends of the working part. Each is used for specific tasks.

There are many variations of spatulas for suspended ceilings, we will focus on the most common:

Straight - This is the main tool for installing film coatings, which every master must have. Suitable for all types of profiles with harpoon mounting system. The blade is trapezoidal and curved at an angle of 45º. The handle is made of different sizes. Medium (14-17 cm) is universal, in narrow places it is more convenient to short (7-10 cm), in hard-to-reach ones - long (38-40 cm), for example, in niches where it is impossible to get with a short spatula. The length of the handle also affects the weight of the tool, on which the convenience of work directly depends.

Goose - A universal spatula that replaces most other vanes. The working surface is made in the form of a trapezoid with two Z-shaped bends. This is very convenient, since when refueling the canvas, the fingers do not touch the wall, which avoids abrasions and injuries. A shortened handle is used where you can’t crawl with the middle. In other places, in order not to have to stretch, they use a large one, which despite its size (40 cm) has a small weight - only 260 g. It is convenient to work with a spatula, hands are not tired, and the shape of the blade allows you to fill the canvas in almost any area.

Sour - has a trapezoidal working part with a bend of 90º (one or two). It is used to refill the film in step baguettes or plasterboard boxes for multi-level structures with hidden lighting. A spatula with an average handle (24 cm) and two bends is used for soaring ceilings when the gap between the wall and the profile is very small. The extended handle (40 cm) with one bend is well suited for a cornice baguette.

Angular - spatula with a pointed blade of a triangular shape. It is used for mounting at the junction of structures in an open profile. It allows you to more quickly fill the canvas in the corners, but you can do with the usual straight spatula.

Perovoi - differs in a long narrow working surface. The blade has a curved pointed shape and a width of only 2.8 cm. It is used in narrow, inaccessible places, for example, behind gas or water pipes passing close to the wall. A model with a shortened handle (about 9 cm) is used for filling the canvas in the sharp corners of niches and baskets.

A plastic spatula is used to insert the masking tape. It is suitable for all types of decorative caps; the surface glides easily and does not scratch the material. This is an optional tool, but its use greatly speeds up the process.

What spatula is needed for fabric stretch ceiling

The fabric differs in its qualities and installation technology from the film, so others require tools. To tuck the Clipso and Descor canvases into the clothespin profile, use a spatula with one cut and smoothed corner. A fan-shaped option is also common - it is convenient when bypassing pipes. The working surface of the spatula is rounded, noticeably larger than the handle, has no bends and thins to the edge.

Unlike PVC film for fabric stretch ceilings, one tool is used, it is universal and allows you to refill the canvas both in straight sections and in corners. The shoulder blade is inserted into the profile until it stops at an angle of 45 degrees, then it is rotated, as if rolling the fabric into a baguette.

A plastic spatula is used to install fabric ceilings using a glazing method. You can use a wooden wedge. The main thing is that the tool has sufficient rigidity and does not have sharp edges that can damage the canvas.

Some installers use an electric spatula to insert a glazing bead into a baguette. It makes sense to acquire such an instrument to a professional team, so that the work goes faster. And for those who want to install suspended ceilings at home, this is a waste of money, since an electric spatula is not cheap.

How to make a spatula with your own hands

The average price of a professional tool is about a thousand rubles apiece. And one cannot do without, especially when installing complex structures. To save money, you can make a spatula for stretch ceilings with your own hands. If the tool is required only for repairs in your own home, then this is the best option.

What is needed

The mounting blade for PVC film is easiest to make from a conventional construction spatula. A tool with a convenient handle and a working part of a suitable size is selected in the store. In most cases, the optimum width will be about 7 cm and a thickness of 0.8-1.5 mm. A narrow corner or feather blade will come from an old kitchen knife. To make a semicircular spatula for fabric ceilings, you need a stainless steel plate 0.5-1 mm thick and a bar for the handle.