Tools of the Trade: What You Actually Need for Dry Stone Walling

One of the appealing things about dry stone walling is how little equipment it requires. There is no mortar, no cement mixer, no power tools in the traditional approach. A waller with a hammer, a few chisels, and a good pair of gloves can build a wall that will outlast them. That said, the tools you choose matter, and cheap tools will make the work harder and slower than it needs to be.

The single most important tool is the waller's hammer. This is a heavy, short-handled hammer with a square face on one end and a pointed or chisel-like peen on the other. The square face is for tapping stones into place and for breaking them with a sharp blow. The peen is for trimming edges and shaping stone. A good waller's hammer weighs somewhere between two and three pounds and has a handle long enough to swing but short enough to control. Do not be tempted by a standard lump hammer; the balance is wrong for stone work, and you will tire quickly.

Chisels, Wedges, and Safety Gear

For shaping stone, you will want a small set of chisels. A point chisel for rough breaking, a flat chisel for trimming faces, and a pitching tool for taking off larger flakes. Carbide-tipped chisels last far longer than plain steel, especially in hard stone, and are worth the extra cost if you plan to work regularly. You will also want a pair of stone wedges and a small sledge for splitting larger stones — the traditional method is to drill a line of holes, set the wedges, and tap them in sequence until the stone splits along the line.

Safety gear is not optional. Stone dust is harmful, so a dust mask is essential when you are cutting or shaping. Safety glasses will save your eyes from flying chips, which are common and sharp. Gloves protect your hands from cuts and from the constant abrasion of moving stone, though some wallers prefer to work bare-handed for the feel of the stone. Good boots with steel toes are a sensible investment — a dropped stone on an unprotected foot is a serious injury.

You will also need a line and pins for setting out and checking your wall, a tape measure, and a spirit level for checking batter and level. A wheelbarrow or a stone boat is useful for moving stone around the site, especially if you are working on a long section.

The Tools You Do Not Need

It is worth saying what you do not need. You do not need a cement mixer, and you should not use one. Mortar in a dry stone wall is a contradiction in terms and will cause the wall to fail faster, not slower, because it traps water and prevents the wall from moving with the ground. You do not need power tools for traditional work, though a cut-off saw can be useful for trimming very hard stone if you are prepared to deal with the dust and noise.

You also do not need a huge collection of gadgets. Many experienced wallers carry only a hammer, a couple of chisels, and a line. The rest is skill and patience. If you are starting out, buy the best hammer you can afford, a decent pair of gloves, and a dust mask. Add tools as you need them. The stone will teach you what you are missing.