Thatching Tools

Almost all of a thatchers tools of the thatching trade are hand tools. Even the ladder could be classed as a tool rather than equipment.

The main tools are listed below with a short explanation of what they are used for:

Twister

A sack shutter tool used to twist stainless steel wires down to the screws for a tight fixing.

Drill driver

Used to secure screw fixings to battens with screws and wires fixing method.

Drill Driver

Brush

Used to do final brush down of new roof elevation coatwork.

Knife

Used to cut strings on bundles, some thatchers use to cut out ridging and trim thatch.

Shears

As above and for trimming bundles and cutting eaves out.

Thatching Shears

Set pin

Used to measure the depth of the materials going on the roof.

C - Thatch Advice Centre - Set Pin

Leggett

Flat headed paddle shapped tool used to dress up coatwork on combed wheat reed and water reed.

Mallett

Used to bang in spars and other fixings and pat up the block of the ridge.

Stitching needle and gutter

Used when securing materials to batten with stitching method.

Wire twister

Used to twist the edges of the wire netting together when applying to the completed roof.

Kneelers

Pads worn on the knees to protect the thatcher from discomfort when kneeling on ladders.

kneelers

Spar hook

Used as a knife to cut bundles etc, and used to make liggers and spars, trimming and shortening them as part of the thatching process.