Best ways to clean old mortar off bricks

[Alan]

Something to share. Reclaiming old bricks is a great way to save money but cleaning them is a lot of hard work for sure. Anyone done this before? I use a hammer and a wide chisel to pop off the big chunks before I even think about using water. I've seen some use water right away, but what I do works better for me. But you have to be careful not to hit too hard or you will snap the brick right in half. I know some people use acid cleaners but that can ruin the face of the brick if you are not careful, so I don't deal with it. Plus handling chemicals, not a big fan. But what tool do you frequently use for cleaning up salvaged masonry units, if you've done it before, that is?

 

[icyolaf]

Tried using a power washer once to save time but it just chewed up the face of the old clay bricks and made them look terrible. Regretted it. Now I stick to a sharp scutch hammer and a steady hand to flick the old lime mortar off the edges. I notice if the mortar is really stubborn, I let the bricks soak in a tub of water overnight to soften the bond. Kinda slow process but it is the only way to keep that historic look for a fireplace or a feature wall. At least that's how I do it.

 

[crazy reese]

Do you think some old bricks are just too soft to be worth cleaning? I mean... Can be a waste of time.