Removing cement from bricks

[Wombat2]

I hand cleaned 22,000 bricks with a tomahawk ( not the same one -wore out about a dozen or so) The old house they came from had an extension added at some time and they had used lime mortar - that was a bugger to get off but the original old stuff would come off in sheets with one blow when hit 'just right'

[jags]

you can get different size hard wire brushes that fit onto an angle grinder they are ideal for this kind of job . though i do love my Ozito hammer drill which would also do the job ,
best of luck
rob

[echnidna]

tomahawk works real well

[Brickie]

A 4 year old thread, I assume the bricks would be well and truly clean by now..

[echnidna]

:d

[ian]

so the thread's 4 years old ...

if you have a lot, the "best" option may be to put them in a container and send them to East Timor
They need the work and you might be able to claim half the cost as "foreign aid"

[GraemeCook]

Karcher, or similar high pressure water jet is far more efficient than any hand tool.

Bunnings had them on special near Christmas at little more than hire costs!

[autogenous]

Is there any less time-consuming way of removing thick deposits of cement from bricks other than via a hammer and chisel? I don't want to 'clean' them as such (with acids etc), just remove the major deposits of cement from the bricks. Any ideas appreciated.

Do you have a picture MR OOP?

I sit face brick or you don't really care?

Really don't care, brick hammer or scutch hammer

Some small jack hammers are cheaper these days though.

Sounds like you have a mess Mr OOP