DIY Hawk & Trowel

Cement work is impossible without a trowel.

You will never be short-supplied for masonry work when you can build your own tools. Hawks and trowels are imperative when it comes to laying bricks, stone, tiles and other materials in mortar. A hawk is used to hold your mortar and a trowel is used to spread and smooth the mortar. These tools are simple in design but their specific design is important. There can be no screw heads on the bottom of the trowel if you want your finished cement or mortar to be smooth.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Wire brush
• Sheet metal, 1/16 inch by 10 inches by 10 inches
• Oak dowel, 1 1/2 inches by 6 inches
• Epoxy
• Sheet metal, 1/16 inch by 5 inches by 12 inches
• Metal rod, 1/4 inch by 16 inches
• Metal bender

Instructions

Hawk

1. Scrub the surface of the 10 inch by 10 inch sheet metal using your wire brush. A clean surface on the metal will ensure that the epoxy mends the handle to the hawk well.

2. Lay the sheet metal flat and position the dowel on the sheet so it is centered, 4 1/2 inches away from each edge of the sheet metal. The dowel is on one of its ends.

3. Epoxy the dowel to the sheet metal in the position you found in the last step by covering one end of the dowel with a 1/16-inch layer of epoxy. Let the epoxy dry according to the instructions on the container.

Trowel

1. Scrub the surface of the 5 inch by 12 inch sheet metal using your wire brush.

2. Bend the metal rod in two places at a 90-degree angle, 5 inches away from each end of the rod so it has a U-shape. Bend the ends of the rods away from each other at 90-degree angles, 3 inches away from each end. These 3-inch pieces of rod will be epoxied to the 12 inch sheet metal. The 6 inch section of the rod is the handle.

3. Position the 3-inch sections of the rod on top of the cleaned sheet metal surface so the ends of the rod are flush with the 5-inch edges of the sheet. Center the rod so it is 2 1/2 inches away from each 12 inch edge.

4. Epoxy the rod to the sheet metal so the handle is 2 inches above the metal. Let the epoxy dry according to the instructions on the package.

References

• Super Glue Corp: Glue Guide
• "Practical Blacksmithing and Metalworking"; Percy W. Blandford; 1988