Bricky Tool

[m4tty]

Hi,

http://www.brickytool.com/index_eng.html

Just wondered if anyone has used/seen one used and can give any feedback.

If its was that good all brickys would be using it so im wanting feedback for a non qualified bricklayer

Cheers

 

[kerching]

Right then , here goes, brace yourself...

My bricklaying is shite absolute shite....it has to be rendered or plastered to give it support

I borrowed a bricky tool......my brickwork was less shite, but not much

My mate is a bricky and he showed me what to do.....my brickwork is a lot lot lot less shite than before....BUT it is still not good!

Brickwork, how hard can it be? After all it is only "one on top of two"!

 

[Sharpend]

Had one used once, tried traditional methods much better, sold it!

 

[Sidewinder]

I think Badger has got one...

BADGE, wakey wakey!

 

[OnOff]

Sorry......but I LOVE my Brick tool. Traditional methods all well and good but how often would I do it? Very little mess too IMHO. I dare say a few lessons with a decent bricklayer might convince me otherwise but I like mine and continue to use it. One thing.......when I bought mine it said it came with a Marshall trowel - it didn't it was instead a close copy made by "Rolson". I complained and got a new Marshalltown trowel and some extra goodies. Even had a few emails direct with Noel the inventor. BTW the string line holding devices are brilliant. Used it on a small extension:





Even used it on a little dwarf wall base recently to raise an old 10'x8' shed I got given (ignore the vintage 1863 yellow stocks - not one is the same size):



Mates have borrowed it too to lay traditional brickwork. Each to their own I guess. Mind you I can't plaster either!

 

[Steve3948]

Even so called GOOD bricklayers lay wavy line bricks and perhaps should buy one of these, after all most started as a labourer then picked up the trowel and said I'm now a bricky, bit like the 5WW really.

 

[Andy™]

ive tried brick laying. not very good at it, and would only do it if it was being plastered / rendered. although i can lay bricks better than r.b can do electrics

 

[revjames]

I never laid a block in my life and needed to make a base for my conservatory. I thought 'How hard can it be' and proceeded to dig the 600mm footings and laid the first course. Used a string line to keep the line straight and a laser level at one and at the required height for the next course. A rubber mallet used to knock down the block into the mortar until the red line of the laser became visible on the top of the block. Seemed to work OK. I was then faced with the red exterior bricks and was not convinced I could do bricks without making a mess, bought the aforementined tool but in the meantime found a proper bricky to do it and glad I did!

 

[Apache]

I have one and they are great. Save so much wasted mortar. They have improved them now so you can use them with different thickness blocks.

Like everything the layout is so important.

 

[batty]

I am a qualified brick layer but prefer to do electrics so don't do much brick laying. Brick laying is just practice.

 

[OnOff]

I find a wetter mix better using the Bricky and also a add plasticiser. I'm a tad anal and even mortar gun the joints afterwards. The tool I think lets you lay a 12mm bed then a slight tap down takes it to 10mm ish. The one thing it doesn't do too well is lay a bed right up to an existing wall so I made my own similar thing to do this (can't find the piccie at the moment).

And as I was browsing old photos.........with all DIY it's easier to get someone else to do it. My plumber:

 

[Andy™]

where is the high vis? what happens if a car comes flying through the wall and the driver cant see her to avoid hitting her?!

 

[apprentice87]

Why????

Once someone has shown you what to do, brick laying is soooooooo easy...

Start in the corners, just lay one brick if you want, or maybe a few. You should really lay the thing out first with sticks knocked into the ground with string between them to give you your corners. Using a laser level or water level, find the highest corner. Lay just one brick if you want, or a few, up to you, just use a spirit level to get the sides vertical and the bricks level both ways, cross and lengthways. Do another corner, using your level, make sure they are the same hight as the first ones, do the same for the other corners. LET IT ALL SET

This is by FAR the hardest bit..... all easy now!!!

Now get a "brickline" Jam the string at one "corner", pile bricks on it, whatever. Stretch it taut to the next corner, jam the string again. Now, get a piece of cardboard about an inch wide and 3 inches long. Fold it in half over the string, and but a brick on top to hold it. The idea is that you do this at two corners. Adjust the cardboard clamped string in and out till it is just a FRACTION off the edges of the bricks it is clamped to, Now, all you have to do it to lay a row of bricks as close to the string as you can get, but not touching it. This gets the bricks in a straight line and the mortar the right thickness too. DO NOT scrape off excess mortar till it is nearly dry or you will just smear it on the bricks. Now use a round piece of dowel to scrape the semi hardened mortar into a nice curved shape. do the vertical joints first then the horizontal ones.. easy!!!!

I was going to post a picture, but since photobucket have made it impossible to upload a photo unless you give them your email address they have to be having a laugh....

john..

Ahhh, fixed it!!!! Here is the very first bricklaying i ever did.....http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x373/resistance87/ELEC135Iwasagoodbricklayer.jpg

If i can do it, anyone can!!!!!

john...

 

[Sidewinder]

I guess the brunette is your GF?

Rather than anything to do with electrics or machinery!... ; )

 

[apprentice87]

Ha ha!! That is Diane!! She is my friend!! She has gone and covered herself with tattoos now!!! She is barking mad!!

john...

 

[Manator]

I find a wetter mix better using the Bricky and also a add plasticiser. I'm a tad anal and even mortar gun the joints afterwards. The tool I think lets you lay a 12mm bed then a slight tap down takes it to 10mm ish. The one thing it doesn't do too well is lay a bed right up to an existing wall so I made my own similar thing to do this (can't find the piccie at the moment).

And as I was browsing old photos.........with all DIY it's easier to get someone else to do it. My plumber:

She is gorgeous. You should be very proud of her. 

My daughter is now in her 30's she looked cute once!!

 

[OnOff]

She is gorgeous. You should be very proud of her. 

My daughter is now in her 30's she looked cute once!!

Thanks, 7 now, gets it from her Mum not me (been told I look like something from Death Row)! Yep, best to encourage enquiring minds and all that, figured start her young! Into everything. I can send her to get a "4x35" woodscrew or whatever after spending a while teaching her how to measure with the 6" rule and she'll come back with the right thing every time. Can tell a Phillips from a Pozidrive from a Torx etc. Life skills I say!

 

[Manator]

I have worked away from home most of my life, and the one thing I always regret about that is the time I missed with my kids. I am fortunate now that I also have grandchildren, and I hope to make up for lost time with them.

For anyone who does have young children, do what you can at every opportunity, time goes really quickly, and before you know it your little girl or lad is fully grown.

 

[OnOff]

I have worked away from home most of my life, and the one thing I always regret about that is the time I missed with my kids. I am fortunate now that I also have grandchildren, and I hope to make up for lost time with them.

For anyone who does have young children, do what you can at every opportunity, time goes really quickly, and before you know it your little girl or lad is fully grown.

Yep, made the mistake of NOT being there enough for my eldest but came to me senses with this one. Would like nothing more for him to want to help out on the house in the garage or on the cars or even do one up together for when he's driving..........maybe one day.

 

[kerching]

Agree with what Manator says 100%!

They are only young once

They only ever take their first step once

I have always tried to be there for all 3 of ours....they are now. 26, 28, 30 now?

Youngest is f good at sport, I have tried wherever possible to get to as many hockey matches as i could. That includes every level from school, local level, County level, national league. And England Trials

Don,t miss out.....you WILL regret it