What are the Different Types of Masonry Equipment?

Different types of masonry equipment are regularly utilized in commercial, industrial and home masonry, as well as in masonry restoration and masonry repair work. To improve work quality, it is best to use branded, professional-grade masonry equipment. Branded masonry products, while somewhat expensive, are generally reliable and last long if maintained well.

Branded masonry products are easily available at stores stocking masonry supplies and masonry products, or they can be ordered online. Before purchasing, it is advisable to consult a building professional about the masonry equipment essential for the project. Specific projects may have specific requirements.

Mixing equipment like mortar mixing boxes and utility cement mixers are needed mainly to produce mortars of the right consistency. Metal shovels, hoes and wheelbarrows are used to shovel and transport the mortar around the work site. Mortar is held on mortarboards and applied with trowels.

Trowels are made of tempered steel and come in varying sizes and widths. There are two main patterns, the diamond heel London pattern and the square heel Philadelphia pattern. A smaller pointing trowel is also often used in mortar application.

Hammers are handy for breaking masonry units, tooling mortar joints, chiseling work, and driving and setting nails. A hammer head is generally made of steel or carbide-tipped steel, with a square section at one side and a chisel peen edge at the other. It may have a wooden, fiberglass or metal handle.

Cutting and trimming work is accomplished with a standard mason's chisel, a blocking chisel and a plugging chisel. Jointing jobs require tools like grapevine jointers, V-jointers, skate wheel joint rakers, convex jointers and slicker jointers. Both chisels and jointers are usually made from steel, but plastic jointers are often used for achieving cleaner work with light-colored mortars.

Essential masonry equipment also includes hand-operated or power-operated grinders, drillers and saws. Power tools finish a task faster, but can have higher incidents of damage and need experienced handlers. They are not suitable for historical masonry restoration work.

Spacing rules, levels and measuring tapes are used for getting correct alignment in masonry work. Spacing rules are available as brick spacing, modular spacing and oversize scale spacing rules. They are usually six feet (1.83 m) long and come in folding, brass-jointed wooden or fiberglass varieties.

Levels have a standard length of 48 inches (121.92 cm), but are available in various other sizes. They may be made of wood or fiberglass. Measuring tapes for masonry work are generally of steel with plastic or metal housing. They are available in varying lengths, but tapes of 50 feet (15.24 m) or 100 feet (30.48 m) may generally suffice for work purposes.

Squares and mason's lines are also needed to create straight, level structures. Other masonry equipment that may be needed during construction include a water hose, plastic buckets and utility wire cutters. It is a good idea to have a first aid kit too in case of accidents.