Whats the most eficient way to remove mortar from between brick courses on a chimney? I need to replace the gavanized flashing which has rusted out and I was planning to mortar in a new lead flashing. Is lead a better material? The sheet metal guy looked at me funny when I asked him for some. The mortar on this chimney is hard hard, not soft and crumbly like some old chimneys. Thanks in advance
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a 5" grinder with a cutting wheel...
the most elegant tool is a handheld air chisel with a 1/4 " bit
the material varies in different parts of the country..
here, 90% would be lead, stepped and let-in
the rest would be copper
sounds like your primary material is terne.. often installed in a cut-in reglet, instead of stepped with the brick coursing
mcfish,
I do this all the time. I used to use an abrasive wheel in an old circular saw.
5 inch grinder works much better and lets you get in tighter spaces on nasty steep roofs.
One tip-----use a diamond blade in the grinder---NOT an abrasive wheel. the diamond blade will cut that mortar like its butter and will leave a thinner kerf.
Lead is more of a regional thing------rarely used here. and hard to locate
copper is more common than lead here---but still RARELY used. Easy to locate, however.
Painted aluminum trim coil almost universally used here and will last the life of shingle roof
but if doing repair work on a slate or tile roof----I would pop for the copper----I can get a 3ft x 10 ft piece of copper from one supplier and a 2ft. x 10 ft. piece from another supplier depending on how big a piece I need.----It's been a while---but either of those pieces would be under $100 or so.
stephen.
BTW---in a previous trade I worked with a LOT of sheet lead every day. Personally I don't like the way it bends and forms for flashing.
copper bends much more gradually than aluminum and can be depended on to "behave" better than aluminum. aluminum can crease and dent suddenly-----copper can take a curve better.
Well, since Stephen is too modest to say it himself, I'll say it.
Stephen wrote an excellent article in FHB a few years ago on this very subject (maybe SOMEONE here knows which issue). Check your back issues from...I'd say...2000, maybe 2001?
(I still haven't found a buyer for that sheet metal brake, Stephen)
Jim, if this attachment thing works out
People can clearly see that you stole half of my sheet metal brake------but left me enough to flash this chimney
Stephen
I just saw DeWalt 5" grinder wheel made exactly for that purpose. Don't know how much it costs.