Masonry Magazine January 1962 Page. 43
s are laid, the wall is also at a good level. After work has progressed to a maximum of 4 ft. above masons brackets are attached to the frames at the point possible (Fig. 7b). These brackets project 22 in. from the scaffold and leave about 2 in. toe between the bracket and wall. Masonry materials are locked on the top level of the scaffold frame and the mason has both work and materials at proper height. In much one-story veneer work this one lift is enough to top out the wall.
It costs very little more in laborer time to properly set and stock the scaffold in this way and the advantage gained in mason productivity far outweighs the small increase in labor cost.
One type of tubular scaffold which provides the masons platform and a raised material shelf does not require bracing between frames. See Fig. 7e. Each frame has two 30 in. wide legs which provide independent bracing. Vertical adjustment is gained in 2 in. increments by placing pins through holes in the frame tube and the telescoping legs. Proper planning is important in the use of this scaffold. It is necessary that all or nearly all masonry materials be used up before the platform can be raised.
Through the use of adjustable scaffolds now commercially available or by using improved techniques with existing scaffolds, the mason will be able to achieve greater productivity with less fatigue. Maximum benefits, of course, will be assured only when all three elements of the "process" are used.
THE MARKED TRU-LINE
One of the three important new tools utilized in the "SCR masonry process" is the marked "Tru-Line." A 100 Ib. test, hollow-braided nylon line, it is premarked with a black mark for every half brick and a red mark for every three brick. The marks themselves indicate the location of joints, but not necessarily the actual joint size. In practice, the mason should always lay to the same edge of the joint mark. This allows the joint to take up any variation in brick size and keeps the bond from "floating."
The lines are very resilient and will stretch to accommodate almost any size of brick and joint in standard use in the United States.
Once the line is properly stretched, the entire mason crew can start laying brick simultaneously as long as each man starts at the same edge of any red mark. Starting on a black mark (or ½ brick mark) could cause the bond to be broken and result in half brick being required at the end of that particular run.
The marked line offers two major advantages to the mason. First, it saves time by eliminating any dry bonding, always necessary in the initial layout. This single benefit more than justifies its purchase and use. Second, better workmanship is assured because, by laying to the marks, vertical joints are always aligned. This avoids floating of the head joints and results in a more beautiful and symmetrical wall. Considerable time is saved by the mason, too, especially when laying "over the wall." He does not need to lean over the wall to check the alignment of vertical joints and do the necessary shifting of brick that is always required when no guide is used.
Two types of marked "Tru-Line" are produced - one for modular brick and one for non-modular brick. The modular "Tru-Line" is identified, if not on a marked winder, by the fact that the braided nylon between the marks is all white. The non-modular "Tru-Line" has a black fleck in the white line, caused by braiding a black thread into the line.
Modular brick and tile units are sized so that their lengths, including joints, are multiples of 4 in. Standard modular brick are approximately 8 in. long, with joint, while Norman and Roman brick are 12 in. long, with joint. However, in the manufacture of brick, the length of the unit will often average somewhat longer or shorter than the true modular size.
Non-modular facing brick are produced with an average length of 8 in., or 8% in., including joint. However, here again the average size may vary above or below the 8-in, figure.
Stretching the Marked Tru-Line for Standard Brick
Before stretching the line it is necessary to know the average length of the brick being used on the job. Select 10 brick of varying shades or colors so that you have a