Brick masonry is a construction method that uses bricks and mortar to produce a solid, single-piece building element, such as walls or arches. Mortar is used to lay bricks with patterns. Any brickwork project’s success depends on having a strong foundation in masonry, mortar, and brickwork techniques. Mason tools are employed for brick masonry projects.
Buildings made of brick are attractive, practical, and long-lasting. These qualities lead to successful sales. They require only the occasional wipe-down with soap and water for maintenance and are resistant to erosion caused by wind, water, and fire. They are efficient insulators, keeping homes cosy in hot and cold climates.
Tools that every mason needs
Trowel
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The standard masonry trowel is constructed of stainless steel and has a handle made of plastic or wood. A trowel’s ends can be bulldozed or pointed. When building masonry, this is employed to lift and disperse mortar in joints. Trowels come in various shapes and sizes and are used in masonry work.
Setting out square
It is employed to lay out right angles at masonry wall corners. It is a crucial and fundamental tool for masonry work. This tool is “L” shaped. Each arm measures about 0.5 metres in length and is made of flat steel.
Plumb bob
The isometric view of walls is checked using this fundamental masonry tool. It comprises a plumb rule, a straight timber board with straight edges, and a string fastened to a weight at the bottom. A groove is offered on its centre, with a plumb bob inserted. The plumb bob must be within the groove line, indicating the ideal vertical wall when the rule is positioned vertically with the wall. The wall cannot be vertical if the plumb ball doesn’t land on the groove line.
Spirit level
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It is used to verify the surfaces’ verticality and horizontality. Spirit levels have a bubble tube in the middle and are made of hard plastic or wood. Alcohol is used to partially fill the bubble tube, causing an air bubble to form inside it. The surface of a masonry wall is levelled with a spirit level, and the bubble is examined. When the tube’s bubble settles in the middle, the surface is said to be level.
Boning rods
In surveying, it is used to level from two fixed points. It comprises an upright pole with a horizontal board perched atop to create a “T”-shaped rod. Boning rods are typically made in sets of three rods, with the first being identical in shape and size and the third being a longer rod with a moving or detachable ‘T’ piece. The third is referred to as a travelling rod or traveller.
Mortar pan
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Iron or plastic mortar pans are frequently used on construction sites. It is a rigid plastic or steel container used to store or transport sand, cement, mortar, and concrete. On the job site, it is also employed to combine mortar and lift mortar. To use a mortar pan, put the material you feel comfortable carrying, such as sand, cement, and mortar.
Jointer
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In masonry construction, a jointer is a device that takes the shape of a striking iron or other striking tool and is used to seal off horizontal or vertical mortar joints. A hand tool called a jointer, or a brick jointer is used to imprint grooves into freshly filled mortar joints as they begin to set. The longevity of the mortar and the visual impact can both be increased by using a brick jointer. Any tool used to shape the mortar among bricks is called a jointer.
Bevel
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It is used to define angles. It consists of two steel blades with slots attached by thumb screws. It is a tool with two joined rules or arms that can open at any angle.
Chisel
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They are utilised with hammers and mallets. Normal splitting, roughing out, and shaping of the stone are done with a chisel. Various-sized chisels with bladed, flat, tapered, and other shaped chipping points are available. Iron or metal is used to make the chisel’s blade, and wood is used to make the handle.
Spalling hammer
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It is a tool used by the stonemasons. It is a large hammer used to rough dress and cut stones. It has a striking bevelled face. It is a sizable hammer that typically has a flat face and a straight peen for breaking and rough dressing stone.
Mash hammer
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A stone mason’s hammer is another name for a mash hammer. A mash hammer strikes and drives chisels to rough dress stone. It is most frequently used in stone masonry work and has two striking faces on each side. It can be used for tasks like whittling away mortar in stone masonry. It should only be used to hit stones. This hammer has a heavy, typically metal head attached to a wooden handle.
Scabbling hammer
Scabbling, also known as scappling, reduces stone while stone dressing. Only erroneous angels are removed with a scabbling hammer in scabbling dressing. Therefore, a scabbling hammer is a tool for removing irregular casings from the face of the stone or breaking small stone projections. It has a big iron head and a wooden handle.
Pitching tool
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A hand-driven tool called a pitching tool has a long edge and a thick point. The broad flat face of the pitching tool’s “working edge” is typically ground at an angle that deviates just slightly from perpendicular. It primarily serves to produce stones of the desired size. This tool can be utilised to remove a lot of waste material during the initial stages of carving if the carving component of the stone has flat-sawn faces.
Claw tool
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It is used to smooth out the surface of rocks. It comprises an edge with between three and nine teeth on it. After rough sculpting with the point tool, a claw tool is used. The claw tool evens out the surface features left by the point by acting as a rake with its row of pointed teeth. It is crucial to ensure all of the chisel’s teeth are in contact with it to avoid breaking the stone when using this tool.
Wedge and feathers
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It is one of the oldest and most effective tools for splitting stones. It is a set of three tools. Two shims and a metal wedge (also known as a plug) make up each set of tools (also called feathers). The feathers are broad at the bottom, tapered, and contoured at the top. The consolidated width of the set is identical at both ends when the two feathers are positioned on either side of the wedge. After being bored with a jumper, they are hired to cut the stones.
FAQs
What is the proper mason tool to spread mortar?
A masonry trowel is used for levelling, spreading, and shaping mortar or concrete in brick or stone work.
What is placed in between bricks by masons?
Mortar is used to bed masonry units like concrete blocks, bricks, and stones. It combines Portland cement and sand. Adding lime to traditional mortar increases its stickiness, allowing it to adhere to the ends of each concrete block or block as it is positioned.
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