Braided Nylon Mason’s Line: A Mason’s Friend

Words: Steve Cook/Public/News/20101213060000-1.jpg" width="600" height="338" border="0" alt="Braided nylon mason’s line." />
SBraided nylon mason’s line.
Braided nylon mason’s line is a product used everyday by the professional brick mason. Also known as mason’s twine, it does not get the credit it deserves. When using mason’s line, you do not have to use leveling tools as often. This speeds the job and, if used correctly, can give you a straight line for accuracy when laying bricks or blocks.

Most bricklayers have experienced, at one time or another, sagging, unraveling or inferior mason’s line when laying bricks or blocks. Valuable time can be spent correcting problems caused by inferior or poor quality mason’s line. This can be prevented by using a higher quality bonded braided mason’s line.

What Makes a Good Mason's Line?

Line used in laying bricks should be 100 percent nylon. Nylon will not mildew and is effected less by moisture and humidity. It should be abrasion- and alkali-resistant, so it is not easily damaged by trowels and other tools. Tight, consistent braiding will make a quality, easy-to-use line. Remember, the tighter the braid, the stronger the line.

W.Rose, a Kraft Tool Co. brand, produces one of the strongest bonded braided mason’s line available — 216-pound test. The highly visible mason’s line is available in five different colors: yellow, orange, florescent orange, camouflage, and the all-American red, white and blue.

When comparing braided mason’s line, look at the quality of the braid. A loose braid will allow the line to sag and unravel easily, making it more difficult to use. A tight braid allows it to be pulled taut between block and line holders. This adds additional strength and gives you the straight line you need for laying your bricks or blocks faster and more efficiently.

Consistent color is an important factor when using braided line. Mason’s line must be visible in many job conditions. W.Rose premium mason’s line uses only the highest quality nylon and is always bright and consistent. Nylon line that does not have consistent color throughout the roll is hard to see and difficult to use.

All of W.Rose line is bonded, which means the line goes through a special manufacturing process. Bonding not only helps prevent fraying, but also makes the line longer lasting and abrasion- and alkali-resistant, and allows the line to perform to the highest standards.

When choosing your next roll of mason’s line, remember it is not just another roll of string. Be sure to get the high quality you deserve to prevent those expensive mistakes.
The Enduring Power of Structural Masonry
July 2025

Masonry has been holding its ground for millennia — literally. And thanks to the simple brilliance of arching action, it continues to do so with strength, style, and surprising efficiency. In an era of advanced modeling and fast-moving schedules, one time

Shayne Sanders
Read More
Outreach Outlook: Momentum in Motion
July 2025

As we move into the heart of summer, the masonry industry continues to thrive—fueled by innovation, partnership, and a growing commitment to excellence in education and workforce advancement. June has been a remarkable month, marked by events that not onl

Conner Birdsong
Read More
Building More: Slow, Fast, or Consistent. What is Tempo?
July 2025

It was a drizzly midweek day when I rolled up to the project we were working on just outside of town. The foreman paced the scaffolding, rain hood half-zipped, barking at two laborers who were sprinting bricks like they were late for a flight. Forty feet

Corey Adams
Building More
Read More
Marvelous Masonry: Belém Tower
July 2025

The Belém Tower in Lisbon, Portugal, stands as a testament to stone construction's enduring artistry and technical prowess. Erected between 1514 and 1519, this iconic structure served as a defensive bastion at the mouth of the Tagus River and as a ceremon

Cass Stern
Marvelous Masonry
Read More