Masonry is an age-old craft and definitely something to be taken lightly. When done correctly and with care, it can lead to wonderous results. What many might think as simply laying bricks, an experienced mason thinks of it as an elegant art.
Whether you are a beginner or an expert at this craft, you need to understand your requirements. In other words, apart from your skill as a mason, you also need to think about the tools that you need to help you carry out a project. Without the right set of tools, you will never be able to get the job done.
To help you get a grip on the basics, we have compiled a list of essential masonry tools and equipment. This article should help you cover all the basic gears that you need before taking on any masonry job.
List of Masonry Tools and Equipment
1. Masonry Hammer
First of all, you need a hammer for any type of masonry project. However, not all hammers work equally well for this task. A masonry hammer comes with a two-sided head with one side featuring a square end to hit nails. The other end of the hammer somewhat resembles a chisel with a sharp tip. This site helps you break the rock or bricks into small pieces.
2. Trowel
A trowel is a masonry specific tool that resembles a small shovel. It is used to spread cement or mortar on the brick. The tool comes with a thick wooden handle, which helps you align the bricks and put them in place. There are a few different kinds of trowels available on the market, so you need to decide which one you need depending on the extent of your project.
3. Masonry Saws
Even in brickworks, saws play a vital role. For masonry projects, you can get away with two different saws. They are
4. Masonry Hand Saw
A masonry hand saw is almost the same as a normal hand saw. However, the teeth are bigger, and the blade is longer in this type of unit. You are not supposed to cut through the entire brick using the hand saw. Instead, you can cut as deep as you can and break off the rest using the hammer.
5. Masonry Power Saw
A power saw for masonry comes with diamond blades. This makes them sharper and also more expensive than any other traditional power saws. Similar to a hand saw you do not want to cut through the entire brick with this tool. They come in two variants, handheld or table mounted. The handheld unit is more portable; however, table-top units give you more precision and control.
6. Masonry Square
A masonry square comes in handy when you are checking if the brick in the corner is in the perfect angle. Without this tool, it would be hard to keep the alignment of bricks in the corners in check. It is usually made of wood or plastic, and also quite lightweight, making them easy to handle.
7. Masonry Level
The masonry levels come with vials set at multiple angles with air bubbles in each of them. You can also find two lines that represent the center of the vials. This tool helps the worker understand whether the work surface is level or crooked. Typically, you want two of them at your disposal.
Plumb Line: To check vertical levels
Level Line: To check horizontal levels.
8. Straight Edge
You also need a straight edge when taking on any masonry project. This tool allows you to elongate the plumb lines helping you check vertical levels. Generally, they are about 1.5 inches thick with a width of about six to ten inches. They can be up to 16 feet in length. Make sure the straight edge is perfectly straight since warping might ruin your measurements completely.
9. Jointers
Another essential tool for a mason is a jointer (like these best ones) or a couple of them. It looks like a bar made of metal and bent in the middle. It is mostly flat; however, you can also find them in a round or pointed shape. The shape of your choice depends on the type of joint you are opting for. These tools help make mortar joints.
10. Mixing Tool
Every masonry project requires some type of mixing tool. Whether you get an electric mixer or not depends on your budget and experience with the device. The extent of the project also plays a role in this decision. For a basic project, you can get by with just a shovel and a bucket of water, in most cases.
11. Mashing Hammer
Splitting bricks and rocks are essential for any masonry works. A regular hammer often lacks the strength needed for the task, and that is why you need a mashing hammer. These tools are heavy and come with a double-sided pounding head. Be careful not to hit your hand when using them.
12. Blocking Chisel
A blocking chisel and a mashing hammer usually go hand in hand. What the mashing hammer lacks in precision is provided by this tool. This device comes with a stainless steel body with a chiseled tip and rounded bottom. The idea is to place the tip where you want the hammer to land and hit the bottom of the chisel with the mashing hammer.
13. Tape Measure
A tape measure is vital to any masonry project. It helps you check the alignment, and also plan your project beforehand by taking accurate measurements. Without this, you risk messing up the entire project.
14. Brushes
If you have any excess mortar leftover after laying down the bricks, you can use a brush to remove it. Make sure the brush comes with soft bristles to prevent wearing on the bricks.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are a lot of tools to worry about before taking on any major masonry job. Depending on the extent of the project, you might require many more tools; however, this list should cover all your basic requirements.
We hope you found our article on the essential masonry tools and equipment informative and helpful. With the information you gathered, you can prepare yourself better for any masonry project you have coming up.
I'm Joost Nusselder, the founder of Tools Doctor, content marketer, and dad. I love trying out new equipment, and together with my team I've been creating in-depth blog articles since 2016 to help loyal readers with tools & crafting tips.
