The concept behind Hart Tools’ Quick-Tatch system is that one handle can be attached to many different trowel blades or float heads. At first this may not seem like a good idea, if you lose or break the handle you’re not just out the one tool, but the removable handle offers some other features you cannot find in separate fixed-handle tools.
The soft grip handle can be locked anywhere along the rigid metal spine of the trowel or float. It works in the same way as a quick-attach dovetail system. This means you can place the handle in the middle, like a regular trowel, or way at the edge if you need to extend your reach, or anywhere in between.
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The handle is also designed to be reversible, so lefties don’t have deal with a right-handed tool. This could also come in handy when you’re laying down adhesive with a notched trowel in a tight bathroom, you can quickly reverse the handle to get in close to both the left and right sides without changing position or holding the trowel funny.
When you’re done working, the removable handle has another advantage – you can store all of your trowel blades and float heads in less space without the bulk of a built-in handle. If you buy the storage box, you can neatly hold several blades securely without worry.
The trowel blades are stainless steel with an aluminum spine riveted to them for the handle to grab. The floats have the same aluminum spine, but Hart Tools doesn’t mention which metal they use in the base of the gum rubber floats.
Here’s a list of all the trowels and floats in this system:
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- 1/2″ x 1/2″ x 1/2″ Square-Notch Trowel (11″ long x 4.5″ wide)
- 1/4″ x 3/8″ x 1/4″ Square-Notch Trowel (11″ long x 4.5″ wide)
- 1/4″ x 1/4″ x 1/4″ Square-Notch Trowel (11″ long x 4.5″ wide)
- 3/16″ x 5/32” V-Notch Trowel (11″ long x 4.5″ wide)
- 1/4″ x 3/16” V-Notch Trowel (11″ long x 4.5″ wide)
- Finishing Trowel (11″ long x 4.5″ wide)
- Gum Rubber Grout Float (9.5″ long x 3.9″ wide)
- Oversized Gum Rubber Grout Float (11″ long x 3.9″ wide)
- Epoxy Grout Float(9.5″ long x 3.9″ wide)
Over at Home Depot, you can buy two different sets of the Quick-Tatch tools. The 3 piece combo ($15) includes a 1/4″ x 1/4″ x 1/4″ square-notch trowel, a gum rubber grout float, and a soft grip handle.
The 7 piece combo ($40) includes a 1/2″ x 1/2″ x 1/2″ square notch trowel, a 1/4″ x 1/4″ x 1/4″ square notch trowel, a 1/4″ x 3/8″ x 1/4″ notch trowel, a 3/16″ x 5/32″ V-notch trowel, a gum rubber grout float, a soft grip handle, and the blade storage box.
You can also pick up individual trowel blades or gum rubber floats for $8, an extra handle for $5, and the storage box for $13.
Buy Now (3 pc combo via Home Depot)
Buy Now (7 pc combo via Home Depot)
Buy Now (Individual Quick-Tatch components via Home Depot)
Update (in Response to Comments)
I stopped by one of my local Home Depots to see if I could answer some of the questions about the Quick-Tatch system.
First, the metal they use for the base of the floats appears to be aluminum, which would make sense. The floats don’t need to be as rigid, and the aluminum can sit in water for hours without rusting.
Second, the aluminum extrusion seems to be one piece. It appears that the trowel blades are spot-welded to the rivets in the aluminum. I’m not sure why it’s designed this way other than they needed somewhere to spot-weld the stainless steel trowel blade.
Third, the sample handle hanging on the shelf fit the aluminum track very sloppily at first. Even with the lever engaged it would slide along the extrusion. Then I noticed a Phillips head set-screw on the back of the handle. I gave it a few turns with my Leatherman, and this time the handle firmly gripped the extrusion and it felt more like a one piece tool.
Here’s Home Depot and Hart’s promo video, which also mentions another potential benefit – “over 20% savings” compared to buying individual tools:
Henry
As a DIY (I’m a teacher), I tiled our kitchen counters, entryway, and bathroom floor in our old house, and just got done doing the kitchen counters in our new renovated place.
Hard to say w/o a hands-on, but the tools sound, and look to be pretty good quality, and for $15/$40, these sets seem like a steal!
Jerry
Another advantage is cleaning. You can soak the trowel in whatever solvent you need, sor example to dissolve adhesive someone let cure on the blade, and not worry about damaging the handle.
Brent
One correction: The trowels are spot welded to the spines, not riveted.
I purchased the $40 kit some weeks back and while it is indeed a versatile, compact and easy-to-clean solution, I have run into a couple issues…
1.) One of the trowels detached from its spine. In other words, the spot welds broke.
2.) The locking mechanism of the handle doesn’t have a solid, positive-feeling engagement. Maybe it’s just the one I got, but though the handle seems to keep a grip on the attachments, it feels as though it’s just barely so. We shall see…
3.) The stainless trowels are a bit on the thin side, but that also means light weight; in other words, this may be a moot point for me.
Overall, I like the kit and although not new, the concept itself is great. Versatile, small footprint, easy to clean and carry. So long as failing welds aren’t a regular occurrence, I’ll use the system for the foreseeable future.
Benjamen
I rechecked the Hart Website and they say “an aluminum riveted spine.” I assumed that meant the spine is riveted to the blade. You know what they say about assumptions.
Can you even spot weld aluminum to stainless steel? From the pictures it looks the the rail is multiple pieces. Could the bottom piece be steel that’s spot welded to the blade and the aluminum is riveted into that? I might have to go to HD later to check it out.
Brent
We might both be right… Almost looks like pins are spot welded on the blade, then compressed (rivited) into the handle. Or pins fitted in the handle first, then welded – you get the idea. Or possibly the idea you outline. Anyway, wish I had kept the failed trowel so I could take a pic.
Benjamen
About the feel of handle being sloppy, there is a set screw on the back. They had a sample on the shelf at HD. It was loose at first then I pulled out my Leatherman and tightened the set screw. Then it locked pretty rigidly into place.
Blythe M
Really intersecting product, thanks for bringing it to our attention. You would really have to make sure that dovetail-ish rail stayed super clean. What I would be most concerned is how easy it is to clean the lock on the handle- it’s just reality that a trowel gets knocked off the rim and play submarine into half a bucket of mortar. It would be really cool to be able to pivot the handle 90* to normal
Sean
I’ve had this for awhile. They were offering a free handle with any “blade” at HD for a couple months. You could then return either the handle or trowel for a certain percentage of the retail cost. The starter kits are pretty good deals, as well, but I didn’t need all those trowel sizes, so I skipped the $40 combo. However, that is the only combo that comes with the storage container. I now need to buy that separately for $13 because it kind of ties the whole package together…
They need to make other attachments down the road, and I wonder whether they’ve considered it. A drywall sander (or general hand sander) would be awesome! It doesn’t really have to do with tile, but it would be handy nonetheless. I can’t really think of any other attachments that would be useful, at the moment, but I’m sure someone can!
James P.
I just ordered a set from Home Depot. Slightly different then what is available in store. It was on sale for 19.99. Three notched trowels, rubber float, and a finish trowel plus the handle and storage container. I ordered an epoxy float with handle for 4.99 and a 1/2″ notch trowel at full price, giving me many sizes and choices. I’m re-doing my parents’ bathroom over the next several weekends, so I will see how things go.
Benjamen
Nice find! I’m going to be tiling my basement bathroom in a few months and need some trowels.
If anybody else is interested, here are links to the two sets for $20:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/HART-Quick-Tatch-5-Tool-Combo-Kit-with-Handle-and-Storage-Box-HQTC003/206597018
http://www.homedepot.com/p/HART-Quick-Tatch-5-Tool-Combo-Kit-with-Handle-and-Storage-Box-HQTC004/206597021
Benjamen
After reading more pretty much ever Quick-Tatch Item is for sale online ending today (1/31/16). Looks like we missed posing a hell of a deal.
James P.
I picked up my order in store today. I received the finishing trowel, 1/2″ sq. notch, 1/4″x3/16″ V notch, 1/4″sq. notch, 1/4″ x 3/8″ sq. notch, oversized gum rubber float, epoxy float and 2 handles. I found one of the handles was damaged after I opened the packaging, so it will be exchanged. But everything else looks great. Nice feeling weight and fit well in the box. Look forward to using them.
James P.
It appears Home Depot is selling certain Hart packages online only through 4.15.16. May want to look them up of you’re interested in this product. One that retails for 45.99 is on sale for 19.99
Nate
The 19.99 package doesn’t say what kind of steel. If it’s not stainless, probably not worth buying.
Benjamen
http://www.harttools.com/?product=quick-tatch-1-4-x-3-8-x-1-4-square-notch-trowel
I believe all the trowels are stainless steel, at least all the ones I saw on the web page. I have one of the packages that was on sale for $19.99 and they don’t say so on the package, but they are the same part numbers as on the web page. (HQTT052, 055, 054,051)
Interestingly they are ferric stainless steel — magnets are attracted to them. When I was buying a grill, I some advice I found on some websites (don’t remember which anymore) said to take a magnet with you and if it sticks to the stainless steel of the grill it was of lesser quality.
I’m not sure about that advice anymore after reading about the different types of stainless steel, but even if it’s true I’m not sure it applies to trowlels Grills are outside in the elements if you want trowels to last you should take care of them — clean them off and wipe them down before storing them, even being stainless.