Mortar tags???

B

Beth & Rod

SR Wood Geek / Moderator
How would you go about removing mortar tags? I know that for the mortar smearing you would use an acid bath, but what about the tags?

Beth
 
we usually use a 4" wide Stortz scraper ($7) to get the larger pieces. You can also use a piece of brick, a wood block or grinding stone.
On the rest of it we use Prosoco 600 Detergent for red brick and Vana Trol for white and other sensitive bricks and colored mortar.
Dwell time is important as always (3-6 minutes). We use about 1:4 or 6:1 mix. Scrub with a Tampico brush and rinse at about 1500PSI.

Regards,
 
Thanks Paul, is that what you do to remove mortar smearing on the red brick as well? Have been using muratic acid in a diluted form. Ratio about 20% to the rest water. Scrubbing with a stiff bristed deck brush. Worked great on flagstone.

Just want to be prepared for a slightly different application....

Beth
 
Cool! Thanks! Am hearing alot about Sure Klean 600...

Beth
 
Canadian bricks are inferior to American bricks. We only use American bricks made with Georgia clay.

Beth,
Your dilution of Muriatic acid at 1:4 gives you about a 6% acid.
What you don't get with straight Muriatic mixed with water is the surfactants/wetting agents/etc.
Muriatic Acid = Hydrochloric acid = Hydrogen Chloride - all three names are used synonomously.

Prosoco Sure Klean 600 Detergent is made for red brick new construction cleaning. There are some bricks that can not be cleaned with anything but water, but that's usually an exception. If you're cleaning new construction, the drawings will spec bricks and maybe cleaning, if not then the brick supplier can tell you what is acceptable.

600 Detergent contains up to 30% hydrochloric/muriatic acid which you dilute 1:4 (6% acid ) to 1:12 (2.4% acid) based on testing.

Vana Trol also contains up to 30% hydrochloric acid and also contains Glycolic acid. Vana Trol is diluted 1:4 to 1:10 with water.

You can check out www.prosoco.com for all specs and MSDS sheets. Find out who your local rep is and get one of their catalogs (it's over 1/2" thick and informative for all masonry cleaning).

By the way, I was only kidding about Canadian bricks vs. American bricks.

Ron/Beth,
As for Canada Brick, I believe they are repeating what someone told them without knowing what it really means. They counterdict themselves several times on their web site. If you look closely, they don't recommend using Muriatic acid because it can damage brick and mortar joints. However, they recommend cleaning with Prosoco 600 and Vana Trol which both contain Muriatic / Hydrochloric acid.
What gives? Ahy?
Are they selling Prosoco Products ??? Ayh?
or are they misinformed??? Ayh?

I still drink Canadian beer and like Canadian hockey, but pass on the Canadian bricks. Ayh?

Regards,
 
I forgot to mention that your rep. will most likely deal on the prices. Cash/check gets better discount than 30 day account. 600 Detergent can be had for about $34 for a 5 gallon container (cash) or less if you buy 55 gallons in my area. Products will last up to 3 years unopened. Protect from freezing. Vanatrol can be had for $47 or less for 5 gallons in my area.

This in comparison to Dietrich 202V or Vana Stop about $65 for 5 gallons in my area (which is the equal to Vana Trol).
It maybe different in your area but Dietrich products are almost 40-50% more expensive than Prosoco products (in my area).

Regards,
 
There is another kid on the block.......NMD80 by eachchem. Is more versatile than prosoco's products, costs less, and kicks butt.

We do 5-10 new brick constructions per week and won't use anything else anymore. No switching products for different bricks, no worries about etching glass or damaging metal light fixtures either.

Celeste
 
Celeste,

Any truth to what I heard concerning the rumor that LaFarge will not warranty any brick or mortar cleaned with eachochem?
I heard it from a fairly reliable source, but have not followed up beyond that.
 
First I've heard of anything like that.....really never heard of LaFarge...is that a brick manufacturer?

Celeste
 
Do be advised that D600 and et. al. do contain muratic, but at lower concentrations and some chems are buffered.
 
We have two large companies in North & South Carolina that are brick manufacturers - Boren Brick & Palmetto Brick. We do know that Boren participates in the Prosoco pallet tag program but I've never heard of anyone not warrantying anything if another acid was used. Frankly, the upper ups at Palmetto don't believe in pressure washing brick at all. I would be interested in hearing/reading what you have be privvy to on the LaFarge thing though. We have had better results and have a wider range of uses with the NMD80 than the multiple products recommended for various jobs by Prosoco.

As Bill3752 said...most all are muriatic based so it's the rest of the additives that have helped in our useage.

Celeste
 
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