Now Available!

Learn Stonemasonry!

Now available on YouTube

   • Learn Stonemasonry - Introduction to ...  

This video tutorial is suitable for anyone interested in traditional stone cutting techniques: from the complete beginner to those already competent in working with brick or stone. It will also be of use to anyone wanting a refresher before returning to their tools.

The video features a highly skilled and experienced stonemason who worked for many years as the Head-mason on one of England's medieval cathedrals - along with narration that gives an introduction to the subject, then covers health and safety issues, stonemason's tools and their purposes, the cutting of stone - from 'roughing out' to advanced cutting of an architectural piece - and the making of templates.

The skills and tasks covered in the video are based upon those a UK apprentice stonemason or NVQ/SVQ (National /Scottish Vocational Qualification) stonemasonry student needs to demonstrate their competence and complete their first year of study. They are skills a mason uses daily and so are amongst the most useful to learn.

The course covers:

Safe working practice / Stone cutting Health and safety

The stone mason's toolkit

The mason's tools explained

Simple geometry and the creation of templets/templates

Marking the stone in preparation for cutting

Stone cutting tasks using a variety of hand tools

Creation of flat and ovolo surfaces

Internal and external corners

The making of an apprentice’s piece


By the end of the video, you’ll have received a clear and comprehensive overview of the terms used in the industry as well as health and safety issues, stonemasons tools, cutting of stone and making of an apprentice’s piece.