Today, let’s talk about stone acquisition and the tools a stonemason needs to create his/her masterpieces. Let’s start with “Where did the Native American stonemasons obtain the stones used in their construction projects?”
Some of the stone were found – that is, the stones were picked up and transported to the building site. This was the low-cost means of obtaining building materials and often allowed the land to be cleared before construction began.
Frederick Snyder, superintendent of the Stewart Indian School (SIS) from 1919 – 1934, was a great proponent of found stones collection method. He, his friends and the SIS students would take long drives in the Nevada Desert collecting the stones used in the construction of the buildings on campus. It’s even said that he required anybody making a delivery to the school, to collect stones for him.
And some of the stone came from local quarries. This allowed the stonemason the opportunity to select the stone he/she wanted to use instead of having to use found stone. It is possible the some of the Native American stonemasons used both found and quarried stone in their projects.
Quarry (Dictionary.com): noun, plural quarries.
1. an excavation or pit, usually open to the air, from which building stone, slate, or the like, is obtained by cutting, blasting, etc.
2. an abundant source or supply.
Quarries are a form of open pit mining. The quarried stone is just as important to Nevada’s economy as is the gold and silver produced by underground mining. Nevada has a number of active quarries, still in operation today, where the stone used in foundations, counter tops, shower stalls and fascia is found.
For more information on mines and/or quarries in Nevada, see http://www.nbmg.unr.edu/Mining/MiningRecords.htm
We know that much of the pink stone used by the Native American stonemasons came from the quarries owned by the Wungnema Family. These unspecified locations, along the Carson River, provided the Rhyolite that was used locally.
These quarries are still in limited operation today and are still owned by the Wungnemas. The family shares the exact location of these quarries only with their closest associates. Contrary to public speculation, none of the quarries are – or ever have been – underwater.
Unfortunately, in Northern Nevada construction projects, Rhyolite is not used as much as it was in the past since the above-ground supply of the stone in this area has been depleted and, due to federal regulations, it is expensive to mine/dynamite the underground supply of the stone.
Note: The Carson Ridge Disc Golf Course is near the Carson River and appears to sits on a seam of Rhyolite. As the property is city-owned, it is unlikely that the seam will be mined.
In today’s modern business environment, a master stonemason needs to know his/her craft, as well as being technologically savvy, computer literate and aware of ever-changing government regulations.
What skills and tools does a stonemason need? It’s not as easy as it looks to lay stones, bricks or cinder block. There’s a skill, an art to it. Many masons apprentice on to a master stonemason in order to learn from the best.
A stonemason needs the following skills:
- The ability to follow architectural plans and drawings (if provided)
- A careful approach to work and attention to detail
- Math skills for accurately measuring areas
- Coordination and practical skills for using tools
- A good eye and a sense of creativity
- Business skills so that the proper fees are calculated and invoiced
- Interpersonal communication skills for increased customer satisfaction
A mason tender, or a hoddy, assists the stonemason by setting up the scaffolds, mixing the mud, retrieving the stones or bricks and getting the materials/tools ready for the mason.
According to doityourself.com, “Masonry tools are as important as the skill of a mason. They are widely available in hardware stores and supply outlets. Due to the nature and scope of masonry work, they are built with durable materials to withstand heavy use.”
While the tools themselves have not changed that much in the last 100 years, the advances in material composition and production techniques have rendered today’s versions of those tools more user-friendly. The modern tools are lighter in weight, yet just a durable as their predecessors, which allows for greater productivity.
And, then there’s laser levels – these levels provide a greater degree of accuracy than a traditional mason’s level.
See https://www.masonrymagazine.com/blog/2017/12/28/on-the-level/ for more information on levels and laser levels.
The tools for a brick mason needs are as follows:
Trowels – The uses of this triangular-shaped tool: to pick up mortar from a board; to place and spread the mortar into a brick, or set of bricks; to secure a brick into the mortar by tapping. Sizes vary and can reach up to 11 inches in length and 8 inches in width. Masons prefer using short and wide trowels since they do not put excessive stress on wrists.
Chisel – A chisel is used to cut bricks into specific sizes. Chisel width ranges from 2 1/2 to 4 1/2 inches.
Hammer – A masonry hammer has a square face on one end for breaking; it has a sharp edge on the other for cutting. They are used to split hard bricks.
Jointer – A jointer is used to make mortar joints. There are three types of jointer shapes: flat, pointed and rounded.
Squares – Squares are used when constructing and measuring right angles and for corner layouts. They are usually made of metal for durability.
Mason’s Level – A mason’s level is used when establishing vertical or plumb lines and horizontal or level lines. They are typically made of wood, metal, or a combination of both. They come equipped with either single or double vials. The latter is preferred by more masons since they can be used for both horizontal and vertical measurements.
Straightedge – Straightedges act as extensors to mason’s levels: they are used when levels are shorter than the area that needs to be measured or assessed. The middle section of the top of the straightedge must be horizontally parallel to the bottom section. Widths of these tools range from 1 1/8 to 1 1/2 inches; they can be as long as 16 feet.
((https://www.doityourself.com)
A Stonemason uses the same tools as a brick mason plus these tools:
Chisel – Chisel is an important, and basic tool used for cutting stones. You will see a chisel accompanying every mason.
Mallet – Mallet is wooden-headed hammer used for wooden headed chisels.
Iron hammer – An iron hammer finds use for carving stones.
Pick – This is used for rough dressing of granite.
Spalling hammer – A spalling hammer is used for rough dressing of stones in quarry.
Claw tool – This is an edge with number of teeth 3mm to 9mm in width. It is used for dressing the surface of stones.
Pitching tool – It is used for reducing in size of stones.
Jumpers – These are used for making holes in the stones.
Wedge and feathers – These are small conical wedges and curved plates. They are used for cutting the stones after they have been bored with jumper.
Natural bed of stone – It is the term applied to the original position occupied by the stone during its formation.
Gads – Gads are used for splitting the stones.
Saws – Saws are tools that need to be used for cutting with hands.
(https://www.thepassionateseeker.com/twelve-tools-are-used-in-stone-masonry-works/)