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2025-07-21Natural building is as much about philosophy as it is about technique. Working with earth, straw, lime, clay, and reclaimed materials calls for a different mindset — and a different toolbox.
Whether you’re sculpting cob walls, mixing earthen plasters, tamping earth floors, or carving joinery for timber frames, the right tools make a world of difference.
Let’s dig into the best natural building tools, from handmade Japanese trowels to humble tampers and mighty sledgehammers — and where to source them (new or second-hand).
Core Natural Building Tools
1. Trowels
Essential for shaping, smoothing, and finishing plasters and renders. Natural builders often use a mix of:
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Japanese Trowels (Kote): Lightweight, beautifully balanced, and ideal for finish coats. Brands like Shapton or Konishi make highly regarded trowels.
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Pool Trowels: Found at masonry supply stores, these large, curved trowels are perfect for wide swathes of plaster or clay.
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Margin Trowels & Pointing Trowels: Handy for tight spaces and detail work.
Where to buy:
2. Plaster Kits
Many suppliers now offer curated plastering kits with a selection of essential trowels and floats. Look for ones tailored to earthen or lime plasters, not just cement work.
Starter plaster kits typically include:
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Wooden or magnesium float (for base coats)
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Stainless steel finishing trowel
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Sponge float (for smoothing)
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Corner trowels or Japanese detail tools
Good brands/sources:
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Natural Building Company UK
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Clayworks (UK) – offers high-end plasters and tools
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American Clay (USA)
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Earth Plaster Tools (Canada)
3. Tampers & Rammers
Used to compact earth, whether for rammed earth walls, earthbag construction, or earth floors.
You can:
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Buy a commercial steel tamper from landscaping stores.
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Make your own with hardwood handles and a welded steel base.
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Repurpose a sledgehammer head as a mini tamper for tight spots.
Second-hand tip: Check farm auctions or tool swaps — tampers are rarely worn out.
4. Sledgehammers & Mallets
You’ll need these for:
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Driving rebar or stakes
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Compacting cob into formwork
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Breaking up hard soil or clay
Tip: Go for a smaller-sized sledge and a rubber mallet for delicate forming.
Buy new or used:
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Local hardware stores
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Facebook Marketplace / gumtree
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Tool libraries (some cities have them!)
5. Handmade & Specialty Tools
Natural builders often fall in love with handmade tools. These include:
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Carved wooden floats (often from walnut, beech, or ash)
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Custom forged trowels or chisels
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Adzes, froes, and drawknives for timber framing
Check out:
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Blacksmiths at local markets
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Toolmakers like Jayne & Jonathan Schaper (Australia)
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Instagram artisan tool accounts — many makers sell directly via DMs or Etsy
6. Mixing Tools
For cob, plaster, and clay-slip mixes:
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20ltr buckets and mud paddles (power drill-compatible)
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Mortar mixers (look for second-hand!)
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Trample tarps for barefoot mixing
7. Sourcing Second-Hand Tools
Absolutely yes — you can buy many natural building tools second-hand! In fact, older tools are often better made.
Great places to look:
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Local classifieds (Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree)
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Estate sales and garage sales
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Tool libraries and maker spaces
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ReStores (Habitat for Humanity shops)
- Tip Shops
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Flea markets and farm auctions
Search for:
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Masonry tools
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Timber framing tools
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Vintage Japanese or European hand tools
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Garden tampers
What’s Best to Use?
There’s no one-size-fits-all, but here’s a quick cheat sheet:
| Job | Best Tool |
|---|---|
| Earthen plasters | Japanese trowels, sponge floats |
| Lime plaster | Stainless steel finishing trowel, hawk |
| Cob | Garden fork, cob stomping tarp, tamper |
| Earth floors | Heavy steel tamper, magnesium float |
| Timber framing | Drawknife, chisel set, slick |
| Strawbale plaster | Broad pool trowels, corner trowels |
Thanks to Jazz Construction for the feature photo and check out this addictive video of Rancho Mastaal doing some amazing sculpting using specialized trowels




