Concrete Tools and Supplies Study Guide

Bull Float

Large concrete finishing float with long handle, typically 8 inches wide and 36–48 inches long, made of wood or magnesium.

Concrete Edger

Hand tool with slightly curved edges used to smooth and finish the edges of freshly laid concrete.

Concrete Tampers

Concrete finishing tool with tubular handle used to compact and settle concrete, also called a jitterbug.

Corner Trowel

V-shaped concrete finishing tool sized about 2½ by 2½ by 6 inches, used for shaping inside or outside corners in curbs and steps.

Finishing Trowel

Flat, rectangular, steel concrete finishing tool about 4 inches wide and 14 inches long, used to smooth and polish laid concrete.

Fresno Trowel

Large steel finishing trowel with detachable handle and curved ends used to smooth and level concrete surfaces.

Groover

Finishing tool used to form control grooves in freshly laid concrete, typically 2⅞ by 6 inches with ½-inch ridge depth and width.

Hand Float

Hand tool for rough concrete finishing, typically 4–5 inches wide and 13 inches long, used to smooth and level surfaces.

Hawks

A handheld, flat board with a perpendicular center handle used to hold and carry mortar, plaster, or concrete joint compound.

Masonry Bit

Drill bit with carbide tip used for drilling into brick, block, and concrete, designed for heat and wear resistance.

Mortar Hoe

Long-handled mixing tool with perforated blade used for blending mortar, typically with a 5½-foot handle.

Mud Pan

Shallow tray used to hold and carry joint compound or plaster when working with small trowels or putty knives.

Reinforcing Bar

A solid steel rod with a ribbed surface, used to reinforce concrete in construction; commonly 3/8" to 1" diameter and supplied in 20–40 foot lengths.

Sponge Rubber Float

A hand finishing tool with a sponge rubber pad, used for smoothing plaster or grout; must be kept wet during use to prevent material from sticking.

Star Drill

A hardened steel drilling tool with a star-shaped cutting tip, used for boring holes in masonry by striking with a hammer while rotating by hand.

Brick Chisel

A heavy-duty cutting tool with a wide 3½-inch blade and short body, used for cutting and shaping brick, block, and masonry materials.

Brick Jointer

A metal finishing tool bent at both ends about 20 degrees, used to smooth and shape mortar joints between bricks, with one end serving as a handle.

Bricklayer Hammer

A masonry hammer with a wedge-shaped cutting end and a flat striking face, used for scoring, cutting, and tapping bricks into position.

Brick Trowel

A pointed, triangular steel blade hand tool measuring 4¾ inches by 11 inches, used for spreading, shaping, and applying mortar when laying brick and masonry units.