How do I clean and separate the mortar from bricks?

Question

I am having 2 brick planters removed, but want to salvage and reuse some bricks to block a hole where an old window unit air conditionar was cut through brick. How do I get the bricks apart from the mortar and clean them so they will not have red clay stains on them?

Answer 1

a hammer and a wide chisel to remove the mortar joints and then line them up with the face of the bricks showing and pressure wash the clay off. if they are all above grade pressure wash them while still in the wall , it will be easier...

Answer 2

You can use a stiff wire brush and at a mason supply store or even a home center, you can get a pumice thing to sand it off. I got one at a supply store. The only one they had was broken so I got it real cheap. It worked just fine. I don't know the proper name of it, but it worked like a charm.

Answer 3

I find it quick and easy. It is very simple.
I use a simple old carpenters hammer and hit the mortar line.
Most of the time the mortar will fall away.
Pratice will make perfect.

Answer 4

By hand, use a brick chisel and wire brush, hire a bunch of kids on the block to do it...........

Answer 5

i cleaned some bricks using muratic acid. be very carefull when using this product. it is also very good to remove old paint from hinges.

Answer 6

Chisel and sand blaster..

Answer 7

complicated problem. look into over bing and yahoo. that will can assist!