Building Tools for All Types of Projects: A Guide to the Blue Spot Range

Whether you're a seasoned professional or a DIY enthusiast, having the right tools can make all the difference in your building projects. Blue Spot Tools understands the importance of efficiency, precision, and durability, which is why their building tools range is designed to meet the diverse needs of builders everywhere. Let's dive into some top products and explore how you can use them to elevate your projects.

Hammers:

An Overview of hammers:

Hammers are essential tools in various trades, each designed for specific tasks. Claw hammers, with their dual-purpose head, are perfect for driving and removing nails, making them a staple in woodworking, general DIY and building. Brick hammers have a chisel-like end for dressing and cutting bricks and a flat end for striking, specifically for masonry work.

Sledge hammers and lump hammers are heavy-duty tools used for demolition, delivering powerful blows. We offer them in various weights depending on your task.

Cross pein hammers are used in metalworking for shaping and riveting, while ball pein hammers, also for metalwork, feature a rounded end for peening. Mortar pick hammers are specialized for cleaning mortar from bricks.

Steel vs. Fiber Glass Hammers:

Steel hammers are known for being ideal and suited for heavy-duty tasks. They are robust and capable of withstanding significant impact, but they can transmit more vibration to the user's hand potentially causing fatigue over extended use. Steel hammers also have a tubular construction which can make them slightly less durable than their fiberglass alternative.

Fiber glass hammers, on the other hand, offer excellent shock absorption, reducing user fatigue and the risk of repetitive strain injuries. They are typically lighter than steel hammers, making them easier to handle for prolonged periods. They provide a good balance of strength and comfort, making them versatile tools for various applications.

Blue Spot Tools offers an extensive range of hammers designed to meet various construction, DIY, and industrial needs. Their selection includes fiberglass dead blow hammers, known for delivering controlled strikes with minimal rebound due to the shot contained within the head. The claw hammers are essential for carpentry, providing both driving and nail-pulling capabilities. For masonry tasks, the brick hammers offer precision and durability.

Lastly, the mortar pick hammers are specially designed for cleaning and chipping mortar from bricks.

Blue Spot Tools ensures that every hammer in their range combines ergonomic design with robust construction, making them reliable tools for professionals and DIY enthusiasts alike.

 

Saws

Hand saws are essential tools in building and woodworking, prized for their versatility and precision. These manually operated saws come in various types, each designed for specific tasks and materials. The most common types of hand saws include the following:

Coping Saw: This saw has a thin, flexible blade held in a U-shaped frame. It excels at intricate cuts and curves, often employed in cabinetry and trim work.

Keyhole Saw: With a long, narrow blade, the keyhole saw is adept at cutting small, awkward shapes and holes. It's particularly useful for drywall and interior work.

What is TPI and what does it mean?

The TPI (Teeth Per Inch) of a saw refers to the number of teeth along a one-inch length of the saw blade.

TPI is a crucial factor that determines the saw's performance in different cutting tasks. Generally, saws with lower TPI cut faster but produce a rougher finish, while saws with higher TPI cut slower but produce a smoother finish. Here is an overview of different TPI ranges and their suitable applications:

 

 

TPI

6-10

11-14

15-20

21-32

Usage

Coarse cuts on soft materials

General-purpose wood cutting

Fine wood and metal cutting

Ultra-fine metal cutting

Details

Ideal for rough, aggressive cuts in softwoods, tree branches, and construction lumber. These saws remove material quickly but leave a rough finish.

Suitable for most woodworking tasks, including cutting hardwoods and softwoods. They offer a balance between cutting speed and finish quality.

Best for detailed woodworking and cutting thin metal sheets or pipes. They provide a finer finish and more precision.

Designed for precise, fine cuts in metalworking, including thin sheet metal, tubes, and intricate work requiring minimal material removal and smooth edges.

 

 

 

By understanding the TPI of a saw, you can select the appropriate saw for your specific cutting needs, ensuring both efficiency and the desired finish quality.

Blue Spot Tools offers a diverse and high-quality range of saws designed to meet the needs of both professionals and DIY enthusiasts. Their product line includes hand saws, hacksaws, coping saws, and more, each engineered for durability, precision, and ease of use. Blue Spot Tools hand saws feature hardened and tempered blades that ensure long-lasting sharpness, while ergonomic handles provide a comfortable grip, reducing fatigue during extended use.

Their hacksaws come with adjustable frames and high-tension blades that deliver straight, clean cuts through metal and plastic.

The coping saws, with their narrow blades and manoeuvrable frames, are perfect for intricate cuts and detailed woodworking. Renowned for their reliability and excellent performance, Blue Spot Tools saws are a valuable addition to any toolbox, offering the versatility and quality needed to tackle a wide range of cutting tasks efficiently.

 

Wrecking Bars:

What is a wrecking bar?

Wrecking bars, also known as crowbars, are robust tools typically made from high-grade hardened steel, which provides the necessary strength and durability for heavy-duty tasks. These tools often feature a flat, chisel-like end and a hooked end, designed to maximize leverage.

What are wrecking bars used for?

Commonly used in demolition, construction, and renovation, wrecking bars excel at prying apart boards, removing nails, and dismantling structures. Their sturdy construction allows them to withstand significant force without bending or breaking, making them indispensable for tasks that require a combination of strength and precision. Additionally, the leverage they provide reduces the physical effort needed, enhancing efficiency and safety for the user.

Blue Spot Tools offers a range of wrecking bars tailored to different requirements and budgets. If you're looking for a basic wrecking bar for daily use, these wrecking bars are a reliable choice. However, if you need something more robust, their premium range of wrecking bars manufactured with 65Mn heat treated and hardened carbon steel construction is ideal. The polished end ensures smoothness and accuracy, making demolition tasks easier and more precise.

Trowels:

Trowels are essential hand tools used in building and construction for spreading, smoothing, and shaping materials such as mortar, concrete, and plaster. There are several types of trowels, each designed for specific tasks to ensure precision and efficiency in construction work.

Brick Trowel: This trowel has a triangular blade, for spreading mortar when laying bricks or blocks. It is designed to allow easy manipulation of mortar with a pointed tip for detailed work.

Bucket Trowel: Designed with a short, broad blade, it is perfect for scooping mortar or plaster from a bucket. The bucket trowel's flat, wide surface allows for easy mixing and smoothing of materials, ensuring a consistent application.

Pointing Trowel: Smaller than the brick trowel, the pointing trowel is used for fine detail work such as filling gaps between bricks and for repair jobs where precision is crucial.

Finishing Trowel: With a rectangular blade, this trowel is used for smoothing and finishing surfaces of concrete or plaster. Its flat blade ensures a sleek, even finish on large surfaces.

Margin Trowel: Featuring a narrow, rectangular blade, the margin trowel is perfect for applying mortar in tight spaces and corners where larger trowels cannot reach. It's also useful for scraping and smoothing small areas.

Gauging Trowel: This versatile tool has a rounded, heart-shaped blade, used for mixing and applying small amounts of mortar or plaster. It's particularly handy for repair work and patching.

Notched Trowel: Known for its serrated edge, this trowel is used to spread adhesives for tiling. The notches help create ridges in the adhesive, ensuring a strong bond between the tile and the surface.

Each type of trowel is designed to meet specific needs in building and construction, making them indispensable for professionals in the trade.

Blue Spot Tools offers a comprehensive range of trowels designed to meet the diverse needs of both professional tradespeople and DIY enthusiasts.

Known for their durability and precision, these trowels are crafted from high-quality materials such as stainless steel and carbon steel, ensuring long-lasting performance and resistance to wear and corrosion.

The range includes various types of trowels, including brick trowels, pointing trowels, and plastering trowels, each ergonomically designed with comfortable handles to reduce hand fatigue during extended use. Whether you're laying bricks, smoothing plaster, or undertaking detailed finishing work, Blue Spot Tools' trowels provide the reliability and efficiency required to achieve a professional finish on any project.

 

Brick Jointers:

What is a Brick Jointer?

Brick jointers, essential tools in masonry, are designed to shape and smooth the mortar joints between bricks and stone, enhancing both the structural integrity and aesthetic appeal of brickwork. Typically made from high-quality, durable steel, brick jointers can withstand the rigors of repeated use on construction sites. Some models may feature handles made from wood or plastic for improved grip and comfort during extended periods of work.

 

What are brick jointers used for?

Commonly used to create concave, V-shaped, or flat joints, brick jointers help achieve uniformity and precision in brick walls, walkways, and other masonry structures. The tool's primary function is to compress and seal the mortar, which not only strengthens the bond between bricks but also makes the joints more resistant to weather and moisture infiltration.

Why use a brick jointer?

Improved durability and longevity of the masonry work, as well as a more polished and professional appearance. By properly compressing the mortar, brick jointers help prevent cracks and gaps, reducing the likelihood of future repairs. Additionally, the consistent and smooth joints produced by these tools contribute to the overall visual appeal of brick structures, making them a favoured choice among skilled masons and construction professionals.

For perfect mortar joints between bricks or paving slabs, Blue Spot Tools' Brick Jointers are indispensable. Their adjustable barrel jointer caters to various brick gaps, while the set brick jointer provides a cost-effective option. These tools not only enhance the lifespan of mortar but also add visual impact to your projects with smooth and imprinted grooves.

Cold Chisels and Scutch Chisel:

Scutch chisels vs. cold chisels, what’s the difference?

Cold chisels and scutch chisels are essential tools in metalworking and masonry, known for their durability and versatility.

Cold Chisels:

Cold chisels are crafted from high-carbon steel, making them exceptionally hard and capable of maintaining a sharp edge. They are primarily used for cutting and shaping cold metals (those not heated), such as iron, steel, aluminium, and brass.

Common applications include cutting bolts and rivets, shaping metal surfaces, and removing excess material from a workpiece.

An advantage of cold chisels is their robustness, which allows them to withstand significant force without deformation. Their versatility also makes them suitable for a wide range of tasks in both metalworking and construction.

Scutch Chisels:

Scutch chisels, also made from high-quality steel, feature a replaceable blade or comb, often made from hardened steel, designed for durability, and repeated use. These chisels are primarily used in masonry for tasks such as dressing stones, cleaning brickwork, and removing mortar.

They are particularly effective in preparing surfaces for finishing or for creating precise grooves and channels. The key advantage of scutch chisels is their replaceable comb, which extend the tool's life and offer a cost-effective solution for maintaining sharp, efficient cutting edges.

Both cold chisels and scutch chisels are indispensable in their respective fields, offering reliability, precision, and cost-efficiency, making them valuable tools for professionals and DIY enthusiasts alike.

Cold chisels are versatile tools used with hammers for stone masonry and heavy-duty tasks. Blue Spot Tools' range ensures durability and reliability for your toughest jobs. Additionally, their Scutch Chisel, designed for stone dressing, offers versatility with its changeable comb, making stone masonry tasks easier and more precise.

Brick Line and Chalk Line:

Brick lines and chalk lines are essential tools in construction and masonry, each serving unique purposes to ensure precision and alignment in various building tasks.

What are brick lines and chalk lines?

Brick Line:

A brick line, also known as a mason's line, is typically made from durable materials like nylon, polyester, or other synthetic fibres. It is used to create straight and level lines between bricks or blocks during construction. By stretching the brick line between two fixed points, builders can ensure that each layer of bricks is laid evenly and accurately. One of the primary advantages of a brick line is its strength and resistance to stretching, which ensures that the line remains taut and reliable, even under tension. Additionally, brick lines are often brightly coloured, enhancing their visibility on the job site and reducing errors during construction.

Chalk Line:

A chalk line is a tool that involves a string coated with chalk powder, housed in a reel. The string can be pulled out and snapped against a surface to leave a straight, temporary chalk mark. This tool is commonly used for marking long, straight lines on flat surfaces such as walls, floors, and ceilings. Chalk lines are advantageous because they provide a quick and easy way to mark straight lines over large distances, which is crucial for aligning materials, cutting straight edges, or laying out patterns. The chalk powder can be easily wiped off or washed away, making it a non-permanent solution ideal for temporary markings.

What are brick and chalk lines used for?

Both brick lines and chalk lines contribute to the efficiency and accuracy of construction projects. Brick lines ensure precise alignment of brickwork, leading to structurally sound and aesthetically pleasing walls. Chalk lines provide a fast and effective way to create guidelines for cutting, aligning, or positioning materials, thereby streamlining various construction tasks.

Setting up a level brick line is essential for a flush and straight laying process, and Blue Spot Tools' alkali-resistant Brick Line ensures just that. Meanwhile, their Chalk Line helps mark precise guidelines on various surfaces for cutting, drilling, and general building tasks, ensuring accuracy and efficiency in your projects.

Helpful Tips:

Safety First: Always wear appropriate safety gear, including gloves and eye protection, when using tools.

Proper Maintenance: Keep your tools clean and well-maintained to ensure longevity and optimal performance.

Practice Makes Perfect: Familiarize yourself with each tool's function and practice using them before starting your project.

Measure Twice, Cut Once: Double-check your measurements and markings to avoid costly mistakes.

Work Methodically: Take your time and work methodically to ensure accuracy and precision in your building tasks.

With Blue Spot Tools' building range and these helpful tips, you can tackle your projects with confidence and achieve professional results every time. Happy building!