Home handymen will be familiar with the old saying "the right tools for the job", and this holds true for blocklaying as it does for most handyman activities. For the best results you will need the following tools.
Rule: - A spring-return steel tape 3 or 4 metres long is ideal, or a 1 metre carpenter's rule.
Spirit Level: - A bricklayers level at least 1 metre long is essential.
Bricklayers trowel:
String Line: - This needs to be strong and it is worth while buying bricklayers line. Household string is rarely strong enougth. Line pins or line blocks are usefull but not essential.
Mortar Board: - A piece of plywood or hardboard about 800mm square.
Jointing Tool: - A 400mm length of round steel rod 10mm in diameter with slight bends about 100mm from one end and about 50mm from the other makes a useful jointing tool.
Square blade shovel: - (Or spade)
Hammer: - A scutch hammer is good if you have one, but an ordinary claw hammer is satisfactory.
Gauge rod: - You can make one using a straight piece of wood a little longer than the height of the wall you intend to build.
Starting at one end, mark off 100mm intervals with a pencil, then make a shallow saw cut at each mark, so they wont be obscured.
Use the guage rod as an accurate check on the correct height of each course of blockwork as you build the wall up from the footing. For 200mm courses, every second mark on the rod gives you the course height.
Wheel Barrow: - Is useful for transporting blocks and mortar.