There are a handful of tools that you’ll find in every mason’s toolkit.
You may have wondered what tools a mason needs to create a wall or a walkway. Whether you are a masonry enthusiast or just plain curious, we can share with you the tools of our trade. Read on to learn what tools a mason uses to lay level bricks, make mortar, and cut concrete.
Trowel
You’ll never catch a mason without his trusty trowel. Trowels are used for applying mortar and come in two varieties: London and Philadelphia. The difference between these two types of trowels is just the subtle shape of the blade; each one is just as good as the other for handling mortar. A larger trowel will most likely be used to apply mortar to new bricks and stones. A smaller trowel is great for the delicate work of repairing old mortar joints and scraping off excess mortar.
Hammer and Chisel
That’s right, the sculptor’s hammer and chisel is also found in the mason’s toolkit. However, a mason’s hammer and chisel is different than a sculptor’s. Mason’s have two different kinds of hammers that are specially designed to take on specific masonry tasks. The first is the basic mason’s hammer, which is used for hammering nails and splitting bricks. The second is the mashing hammer, which is used in tandem with a chisel. This is closer to the traditional artist’s hammer and chisel, but it’s used for splitting stone rather than sculpting it.
Power Saw
Special masonry power saws are used to make clean cuts in brick and stone. Usually, a masonry power saw is either handheld or a table saw. A handheld saw makes a cleaner cut than a hammer and chisel, and a table saw makes cleaner and more stable cuts than a handheld saw.
Level
Finally, another essential tool in every masonry toolkit is the level. A level is used throughout the building process to make sure that masonry is plumb (even horizontally and vertically). Without using a level, you risk the foundational integrity of the entire project. The best levels are spirit levels, so called because they contain alcohol—which is more accurate—rather than water.
Keep Your Masonry Looking Good with Del Prete Masonry!
While there are many other materials that we use at Del Prete Masonry, we’re not about to abandon concrete anytime soon. It has proven its worth many times over and we know that we can bring you a solid masonry structure with it. To find out more about your masonry options including concrete masonry, please contact our office today at 410-683-0650 or email us at mike@delpretemasonry.com. We serve Baltimore City, County, Harford County, Carroll County, Anne Arundel County, and Howard County. Keep up with our blog for masonry related information, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.
Tags: chisel, hammer, level, masonry, toolkit, tools, trowel