Anybody here have any good tips for tuck pointing? I have done it once and it was okay but a little messy. No matter how well I clean off the excess mortar it still looks like I applied it with a snow shovel. I was wondering if I seal the brick first it might not stain as bad. Even cleaning with muriatic acid didn't help. All help is appreciated.
Matthew

It has been way too long for me, but I do remember that rubbing a burlap bag on the brick can be helpful in removing the excess. Also, try and clean up as you go -- or, to be clear, do a little and clean up before it gets to dry, then do a little more...

monstral,

for what they are worth this is what works for me,

use drier mortar than you would use for laying bricks (this stops a lot of the smearing)

put mortar on a hand hawk and apply (press and drag) it to the joints with a pointing trowel


Strike the joints using a piece of 1/2 inch bent copper pipe, pass the bent pipe across the joint to give a smooth uniform concave shape, don't worry about the little bits of squeeze out these will rub off later

when dry rub with a piece of Hessian sacking to knock off all the pointy bits


Hope this helps

monstrol

Call me we will have lunch and i will show you what you need to do. you most likely had your mortar too wet last time. it needs to be fairly stiff. point it wait a lil then work it wait then brush it off.

Thanks Craig

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Thanks for the tips guys! I'll call Monday and we will schedule lunch.
Matthew

Dry is the secret. add only enough water to your mortar mix so that it will say together when you squeeze it in your hand. No moisture should come out. This is the same mix used in stone building. You should have little to nothing to clean up.
Bob

Dry is good for the material you are adding, but IIRC the existing surface could use a little bit of moisture before you start.

Thanks for all the input guys! The joints are really narrow as well so this should be fun..?