To look at the evolution of drywall
finishing tools, we should first look at the evolution of the product they would
eventually be used on. In the 19th century, the construction industry wanted to
come up with a wall surface that was high quality, durable and could be painted
over and over again. This product would have to last as long as the home stayed
standing, so along came the lath and plaster system. The contractor would nail
up thousands of wood slats, lay down a basecoat of lime plaster with a hawk and
trowel, and then apply a finish coat with the same tools. The wood lath would
eventually be replaced by metal lath and metal lath by rock lath as a base in
the 1930s.