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This type of mallet is used to knock blocks, slabs and other heavy masonry materials into position. The weight of the rubber head means that very little effort is required when you hit the block and the rubber material does not mark the stone even when heavy impact is used.
The large brick trowel has a steel blade that finishes in a point, and a trowel measuring 250mm to 280mm (10in to 11in) from its heel to the point of its blade. It is used for picking up and spreading mortar when bricklaying.
A cold chisel with a broad blade measuring 100mm (4in) used for cutting bricks. Struck with a club hammer.
A heavy hammer weighing approximately 1.2kg used with a brick bolster to cut bricks. It can also be used for demolition work.
This is a large wooden set square used for marking out brick or concrete block corners to ensure they are perfect right-angles. Although sheet metal builders' squares are available it is easy to make one from thick plywood.
You will need three pieces of wood about 50mm (2in) wide and 19mm (3/4in) thick. The three pieces should be measured and marked with different lengths: 450mm (18in), 600mm (24in) and 750mm (30in).
Carefully line up the three lengths of wood to create a right-angled triangle with the longer length 750mm (30in) being the hypotenuse. The two shorter lengths can be joined using a half lap joint. Nail all three lengths together.
Use a set square to check the right-angle for accuracy, then saw off the overlapping ends. The three sides should be exactly 450mm (18in), 600mm (24in) and 750mm (30in). Any three lengths of wood joined together in a 3:4:5 ratio will form a right angled triangle. Finally, reinforce the right angled corner with a piece of hardboard.
A string line weighted at one end, used to check the wall is vertical. Suspend the line from the top course as you build, keeping a small gap between the string and the wall. The gap should be uniform from the bottom of the wall to the top.
Jointers are metal tools used to finish the mortar joints after a wall has been constructed. There are several types of jointer, each giving a different finish depending on the look you are after.
Before it is possible to re-point a mortar joint, the old mortar has to be removed. To do this, you need a joint raker. A masonry nail is positioned between two wheels on an aluminium frame. By wheeling the raker across the surface of the joint, old mortar is scraped out.
The gauging trowel is more general-purpose than the pointing trowel. With its distinctive rounded end, it is used for finishing larger joints and other mortar patching work.