Masonry Magazine March 2004 Page. 55
Frustration can sometimes be the best path to innovation.
Boosting Precision and Quickness
FRUSTRATION CAN SOMETIMES be the best path to innovation, and that's exactly what led to our next tool.
Irish inventor and Owner of Marshall Tools Ltd., Noel Marshall, wanted the ability to lay a quick and perfect bed of mortar every time, much like a well-trained mason. Obviously he wasn't the only one wanting this perfection, as he's sold over 53,000 of his invention, the Bricky, since its creation over two years ago.
The Bricky consists of two forms, one horizontal and one vertical, made out of ABS-molded plastic. Once a course is completed, the horizontal form uses spring guides to lay perfectly on top of the wall. A center cut in the form allows the mason to lay a perfect, 3/8" recessed joint, while the two bubble vials keep everything level. Masons are able to slide the tool down the wall without disrupting the mortar. The second form is used to create a perfect vertical joint.
"The ABS plastic is a very durable material," says Marshall. "A mason laying 1,000 brick or block per day will use the tool for at least a full year before any significant wear is noticed."
Readers may balk at the amount that Marshall is speaking about, but he says that it's actually a fair statement. The tool was specifically made for Do-It-Yourselfers, but he claims it can speed up production time by 300% in the hands of a pro.
Another timesaving feature of the Bricky is that it helps keep mortar right where it's supposed to be. Rather than wasting mortar down the face of the wall or into the wall cavity, this innovation has guards on all sides to keep the mortar in the bed. Marshall claims that the Bricky can not only save contractors money by speeding up production, but that 40% less mortar will be wasted and cleaning down the wall will be a snap sometimes even unnecessary.
"Before the Bricky came to market it was very difficult to prevent mortar from dropping into the cavity as the wall was being built," says Marshall. "The Bricky eliminates all mortar waste as it ensures you lay a perfect bed."
Keeping Up with Design Trends
IF YOU'RE LAYING BLOCK and not using a Bricky tool, then you'll probably need to invest in a masonry wallscraper and joint cleaner from SLIP Industries.
Made out of light-weight aluminum with a grinding disc, SLIP's wallscraper not only makes quick clean-up of everything from dust to burrs, but also helps with ergonomics and safety issues as well.
"In the past, bricklayers have used a 2x2 stone block to clean the joints and scrape the burrs off of the block," says Charyl Dommel, President and Owner of SLIP Industries. "Some of the crewmembers would end up with carpal tunnel syndrome, because it's a wrist action. Our wallscraper tool keeps them away from doing that, with a six-foot handle that they can hold with two hands, using their shoulders and arms rather than their wrists."
"The handle also keeps them down off the scaffolding because it not only has a six-foot handle, but also a six-foot extension, so they can get about 12 feet over their head," adds Dommel. "Therefore, you can take the scaffolding down and they can still clean a 14- or 15-foot wall from the ground."
The disc on the wallscraper is made of the same material as what you would find on a grinder disc. How long that disc lasts depends a lot on your crew, though.
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Bricklayer's Tools
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visit us online: www.krafttool.com
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The Voice of the Mason Contractor
March 2004
Masonry 41