Summary
Highlights
The video introduces the 'pick and dip' bricklaying technique, promising a speed increase of up to 40%. The presenter encourages viewers to subscribe and aims for 50,000 subscribers by the new year. He mentions a previous video on the same topic for technical details.
The presenter sets up two corners for demonstration, focusing on running in bricks. He clarifies that detailed corner building and line setting are covered in his 'bricklaying for beginners' playlist. The initial demonstration shows the pick and dip method for two bricks, followed by a traditional method for comparison.
The traditional bricklaying method is demonstrated, involving laying a bed of mortar, furrowing it, trimming edges, and then buttering individual bricks before placing them. This section visually contrasts the traditional approach with the pick and dip method.
The presenter details the ideal trowel for pick and dip (10-inch London pattern) and explains the core principle: picking up a brick and a trowel full of mortar simultaneously. He demonstrates how to apply mortar to the wall with a 45-degree angle to ensure it comes out the front, not the back.
A direct comparison highlights why pick and dip is faster. Traditional bricklaying requires multiple trips to the mortar board for bedding and then for individual bricks, plus buttering. Pick and dip combines these steps, reducing movement and time. The presenter notes he's 40% faster with pick and dip, a method he only learned this year, despite 18 years of experience with traditional methods.
The presenter advises learning both methods: traditional for precise work like piers, and pick and dip for long flanks and general wall building due to its speed. He emphasizes the financial gain, calculating that a 40% increase in speed means laying two additional days' worth of bricks per week, effectively working five days for seven days' output.
Various close-up angles show the pick and dip technique, focusing on dragging the brick down, angling it at 45 degrees, and pressing it to ensure mortar is pushed forward. The presenter highlights how this method allows for skinnier joints and prevents excessive mortar from going into the cavity.
The presenter reiterates the advantages of pick and dip, particularly for reducing walking and saving physical strain. He encourages viewers to share their opinions on the method in the comments, whether they use it or not, and why. He emphasizes that bricklaying is a job for making money, and faster methods like pick and dip contribute to higher earnings.
The presenter provides a detailed breakdown of how he arrived at the 40% faster figure, referencing a previous video where he timed both methods. He converts minutes to seconds and calculates the percentage difference, confirming the significant speed gain. He then extrapolates this to daily and weekly bricklaying output, showing the substantial increase in productivity.
He specifies situations where pick and dip is not ideal, such as building corners, herringbone panels, or piers, due to the need for greater precision. He briefly touches on the possible origin of the method, suggesting it might have been used by the Dutch, and encourages viewer input on its history.
The presenter advises checking out Charlie Collison's channel for a more experienced pick and dip demonstration. He then recommends his other playlists for detailed bricklaying tutorials and a series on building a three-bedroom house.