Types and Uses

TM 9-243 TYPES AND USES CEMENT TROWEL The cement trowel is a flat rectangular blade fastened by a metal strap and shank to a wooden handle. It is used in concrete work for leveling, smoothing, or push- ing wet cement into place. BRICK TROWEL This type of trowel has a pointed flat blade at one end, and a steel shank that attaches to a wooden handle at the other. The brick trowel is used to scoop and spread mortar. MINER’S SPOON The miner’s spoon is used to lift material out of narrow deep holes, in order to clear for further drilling or to permit placing of explosive charges. The miner’s spoon is a slender metal rod with the ends forged into small bowl-shaped projections at right angles to the rod. BLOCKS Blocks are used in combination with rope and wire to hoist and move loads. The block consists of a metal shell which supports both ends of a pin. The shell also houses a grooved pulley that revolves on the pin. Attached at one end of the first block is a freely revolving hook. Blocks may be classified as single, double, triple, etc. according to the number of pulleys housed in the shell of the block. Depending on the various combina- tions of blocks available to do the job, the mechanical advantage can be increased indefinitely. 53-2