What is a Plumb Bob?

A plumb bob is a small piece of metal that weighs down a string attached to it to indicate plumb, which is an exact vertical position. Builders today consider the plumb bob a basic tool box item even though it is thought to date back to the ancient Egyptians. Research has suggested that Egyptians used plumb bobs to create the straight vertical lines of their pyramids. A simple plumb bob may be just a plain length of string with a piece of metal tied to it as a weight. Fancy plumb bobs may have decorative, carved wooden or stylish metal sections. Some plumb bobs available today are sold in woodworking kits. The finished plumb bob may be used as a Christmas ornament as well as a working tool. There are even plumb bob ornaments that feature 24 karat gold pointed tips. While an ornamental plumb bob may have separate tip and body sections, purely functional plumb bobs are often just a simple one piece design made to attach to a string. Basic plumb bobs are also usually made in a plain ...  more

very common. A majority of the most experienced carpenters will have a plumb bob in their tool box.  more