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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

Removing Old Brick Mortar

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EddiePetty

05-02-2006 04:39:41




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In remodeling the house, removing two existing 'stoops' and a walkway, I have accumulated several hundred used bricks that I'd like to re-cycle into a garden walk. [These are line bricks (with the holes) and not solid]
I've been peckin' away with a brick hammer and mason's chisel for days now. Removing the old motar is gettin' old, real fast !!!
Anyone got a tip on an easier way to get the motar to let go ?? A soaking solution ?? Heat ??
Dump 'em in the woods ?? TIA, Ed in 'ole Virginny

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EddiePetty

05-03-2006 05:17:19




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 Re: Removing Old Brick Mortar in reply to EddiePetty, 05-02-2006 04:39:41  
THANKS FOLKS !!!!!

I"m actually using several of y"alls suggestions. Step one is to take a half-hatcet and clean the easy stuff, step two, pop away with the air chisel just barely cycling. 95% of the mortar pops off. I only use the brick hammer on a few, isolated tuff spots !! Progress has accelerated GREATLY !!! I"m planning on using the brick, on edge for walkways in the garden area....no real weight area and in well-drained soil. Frost heaving nor real cold weather is not a problem here on the Carolina line. I didn"t even take the bird baths in this past winter !! Thanks to ALL !!! Ed in "ol Virginny

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jeffcat

05-02-2006 19:22:39




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 Re: Removing Old Brick Mortar in reply to EddiePetty, 05-02-2006 04:39:41  
You sure came to the right place! I have been sqrowngin bricks all over the place to make a nice old fasion drive way. First thing is you DO NOT want to use lite weight bricks for anything on the ground!~!!!! First freeze and they will all break. The holes save shipping weigth and the cement sticks better. The frost just loves holes to blow up with ice. You also want what I call SALT brick. If you tap two together they "ting". They are VERY hard and will stand up to cars. The real old bricks from old buildings that are soft had a glaze coat on them from salt thrown in to the kiln. If the glaze is still on them they can last 200 years. The modern day salt bricks are fired at such a high temp that they actually start to melt. History channel had Modern Marvels with a whole one hour show on bricks. I have cleaned a couple thousand bricks with a Harbour freight small size air chisel. Works just great! There is an art to it. You need to turn down the pressure. The screw near the air hose is for that. Next is the chissle needs to be DULL. It works better that way. Wear safty glasses. Now when you clean; lay the brick in a cradle of uncleaned bricks so it will not move and you are sitting on a milk crate. I chip along the center of the birck towards the end. STOP before you get to the end and just squeeeee ze that triger a little so it just chugs. That way you won't bust off the end of the brick. After about the first 50 you should not break any! Just get the hang of it. If the brick only has one surface to clean it should take tops 10 seconds. If the brick needs five surfaces cleaned it can take more like three minutes. The better the cement "harder" the better you can clean it. Old soft or lime cement is a Bi---ch~~. Sorry but the bricks you have are not for walkways. If you can get solid ones and they are hard; then go for it. You should see the couple of bircks I got out of an engine round house from the Civil War era. They were hand thrown in wood froms and you can see finger prints in them. NEET! Have fun Jeffcat

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Ultradog MN

05-02-2006 19:34:26




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 Re: Removing Old Brick Mortar in reply to jeffcat, 05-02-2006 19:22:39  
great post!!
This is exactly the kind of info that makes these forums so valuable. Jerry



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02

05-02-2006 15:57:53




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 Re: Removing Old Brick Mortar in reply to EddiePetty, 05-02-2006 04:39:41  
Air chisel or electric chisel(light one hand operation) Maybe also make up a jig to hold a few bricks at a comfortable height.



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souNdguy

05-02-2006 12:17:19




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 Re: Removing Old Brick Mortar in reply to EddiePetty, 05-02-2006 04:39:41  
Chissles.. wedges... masonry hammer.. how we always used to do it.

Soundguy



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Mark - IN.

05-02-2006 21:57:36




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 Re: Removing Old Brick Mortar in reply to souNdguy, 05-02-2006 12:17:19  
Yep, is the way I did it too. Truck loads of them from a knocked down brick school building for not much money at the time. Hammer and chisle. Stunk real bad.

Mark



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cj3b_jeep

05-02-2006 05:19:07




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 Re: Removing Old Brick Mortar in reply to EddiePetty, 05-02-2006 04:39:41  
If you have an air compressor and a cheap air chisel it'll take it off pretty easy. I've done this alot as I never buy anything like bricks new.



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bjb in NE

05-02-2006 05:08:00




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 Re: Removing Old Brick Mortar in reply to EddiePetty, 05-02-2006 04:39:41  
Depending on the type of brick you could use Muriatic Acid to remove the mortar. It is usually avalible at most hardware stores. The acid reactes with the calcium carbonate that is in mortar and concrete.



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evilboweviel

05-02-2006 04:46:19




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 Re: Removing Old Brick Mortar in reply to EddiePetty, 05-02-2006 04:39:41  
hatchet
good luck
Ron



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ldj

05-02-2006 06:24:51




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 Re: Removing Old Brick Mortar in reply to evilboweviel, 05-02-2006 04:46:19  
evilboweviel
Does your screen name have anything to do with boll weevil?
L.D.



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