raking out mortar

[larco]

a diyer raking out pointing joints, is he better off with grinder or chisel and hammer?

I've read conflicting reports on which method is best to get rid of the 2.5cm existing mortar.

Any advice would be appreciated.

thanks

 

[stuart45]

I've used both methods over the years, and it depends on the amount of pointing that you need to do which method you use. I've also use a Hilti gun which was very good. However I often felt that if you had to grind out the joints or knock them out with a gun that they were not that bad to start with. Using a plugging chisel means a lot less dust, which often sticks to the brickwork. Grinding them with a diamond blade is a lot quicker. The Hilti gun made a lot less dust.

 

[noseall]

We used an angle grinder joint rake attachment the last wall we did.

 

[stuart45]

How did you find the mortar rake noseall? I've never used one.

 

[^woody^]

If its soft mortar or soft mortar with a loose harder face, then a chisel is much quicker

If some of the mortar is still hard and the arrises soft, then a chisel with chip the arises and repointing can look a mess

If you use a grinder, use a proper (thicker) grinding blade not a cutting blade

I've used a rake attachment but found it harder to see the joint properly to allow the tool to be pushed in a straight line. Also, dust is just as bad unless a high powered vacuum is used too

 

[larco]

isn't using a chisel more likely to cause some damage to nearby bricks ?

thks

 

[oilman]

Have you seen what a carelessly aimed angle grinder can do? What sort of mortar is it? If it needs much effort to get it out, it probably doesn't need doing.

 

[noseall]

How did you find the mortar rake noseall? I've never used one.

It was perfect for the wall in question, though i would imagine far from ideal in certain scenarios.