We tested the Claw at a training well we had dug in our village, Bounguel. Mousa Kone was refreshing his wel-digging skills, which he had learned years earlier from another Peace Corps Volunteer.

The Claw is affixed to the brick and lowered into the well. Grabbing the brick with the Claw is faster than re-tying the rope every time, so we're already saving time.

The mason receives the brick, but leaves it in the claw. The weight of the brick is taken by the gang of asisstants on the other end of the rope, not by the mason's back.

The mason guides the brick into position before releasing the Claw. Since he no longer has to hold the brick and untie the rope, he has saved valuable time and energy.