A specialized stone-cutting tool with a wide, toothed or flat cutting edge, used to knock off large chunks of material and rough out a block before finer dressing. Masons strike the heavy handle with a mallet to carve away excess stone quickly.
Heard on the job
Grab the broach and knock down that high spot before we start trying to face it.
Insider tip
Not to be confused with a machinist's broach; a stonemason's broach is strictly an impact chisel for fast material removal.