If you decide to take on a masonry project, any kind of masonry project, you’ll need to have these masonry tools on-hand. Some of these are multi-purpose tools that you can use for many different types of projects, and some of them are specifically for masonry work. You can buy any of these at any masonry supply store, or chain home-improvement store.
A trowel looks like an upside-down pie server. You use it to pick up mortar and spread it onto the brick or stone you want installed. Trowels come in many shapes and sizes, and it might be worth it for you to purchase a set of these to make sure you have what you need for any masonry project.
A mason’s hammer looks like a standard claw hammer with a square head, except that the other side of the head has a long, sharp chisel that can be used to split brick, or chip away rock.
This hammer is a cross between a rubber mallet and a sledge-hammer. The mashing hammer weighs between 2 to 4 pounds and you use it with a blocking chisel (see #4 below) to make neater splits to brick or stone.
Some amateurs think that the chisel on the end of your mason’s hammer is enough to do the job. No way. You will need something that can take a beating as you work to split stone and brick for your project.
You use jointers to make mortar joints, those little spaces in between the brick where the mortar oozes out between when you set the brick or stone. Most of them look like a flat piece of metal that has been flattened and bent in the middle, but they come in many different shapes. The shape you need depends on the type of joint you make.
A mason’s level is a long level between 36 to 48 inches long and is critical to any masonry project since most of them begin at the ground and build up. Because of this, the layers need to be perfectly level. Any layer that is even slightly off will impact the overall project significantly when you get to the end of it, so a high-quality mason’s level is a must.
A plumb bob is a pointed weight tied to the end of a string and suspended from the vertical surface of a wall or area to make sure that the distance from that wall is uniform at both ends. This helps assure that the walls are “set” straight.
A mason square is used to make sure that walls are set exactly perpendicular to each other.
A mason’s line is highly visible string used to that is used to mark where the project will be.
Self-explanatory.
OK, so this is cheating a little. These are all used to mix the mortar for your projects. For large amounts of mortar, it is good to use a wheelbarrow to mix it. There are also special mortar mixers you can purchase for large or multiple projects.
There are two major types of masonry saws, a hand-held and a table saw. Hand-held saws power saws work best for thinner cuts for brick and block. For deeper cuts, a table saw with an industrial diamond blade can handle brick and block of greater height.
A masonry hand saw looks a bit like a standard hand saw, except the blade is longer and the saw teeth are larger. Typically, masonry hand saws are not meant to cut all the way through the brick or block, but “score” it so that you can use the chisel end of your masonry hammer to finish the job. This makes the process go faster than it would if you use a hammer and chisel alone, and tends to result in cleaner breaks.
Wire brushes are important to help keep your working surfaces clean and clear of any debris during the construction process.
Shop-vacs are nice to have tools to help get rid of the dust and tiny chunks of debris created by any masonry project. Make sure that you outfit it with a filter designed to pick up very fine dust.
What makes Bedrock Orlando unique? We have been manufacturing our own concrete block, concrete brick, decorative concrete pavers, and retaining wall segments in our block manufacturing facility for almost 20 years now. We have all of the masonry supplies you need. Give us a call at 407.859.1300, or fill out our handy online order request form for more information today.
The recent resurgence in COVID-19 cases has many people canceling their holiday travel plans. This provides you with the perfect opportunity to invest the money you would have spent on your trip to install some brick or stone home improvements. Projects such as an outdoor fire pit, garden patio, or water feature can boost your morale and add value to your property. Give us a call at 407.859.1300 to get started today.
407.859.1300
10500 Rocket Court - Orlando, FL 32824
