Best "TOOL" for taking old plaster off brickwork

[suffolksmallholder]

Beware using any gypsum based plaster on lime related stuff. This takes me off down another route.......Make your own lime plaster to do repairs it is really easy to do and there are no issues with hydroscopic action that gypsum based material will inevitably bring. NHL 3.5 or NHL 2 will be fine These are known as 'moderate' of 'feeble' respectively. NHL 'eminent' is way too strong for interior work. just wear gloves & don't for goodness sake get it in your eyes.

@SilliamWhale If you'd just renovated someones house (solicitor) at some considerable cost (£60k) and he'd requested earlier in the job that you left his big kitchen/dining room ceiling alone. What would you do when he tried to sue you some three months later the whole thing fell down whilst he & his family were having breakfast? Not pleasant & really quite dangerous & a miserable job to rectify when the property is then occupied.
What would you do when another client specifically tells you not to touch the big sitting room ceiling and just as the decorating is sooooo nearly completed the whole ceiling comes down? (I had written the warning down this time so someone else had eggy face) I could go on and repeat more silly requests but by this time I'll be standing firm on my previous advice. 'Tis just not worth leaving it. OK if it's your very own ceiling but not in my world please!
SS

 

[SilliamWhale]

Gypsum on lime plaster does work well on walls it really does. Internal walls especially.

Theres nothing wrong with leaving lath and batten if its sound. I presume the OP is doing his own house

 

[Chickcatcher]

Silliam If I am the "OP" wow not been called that before but I DOOOO Like it. The Wife reconed it meant Old Plodder I had to put her straight on that
Opportunity arose some recently to acquired 42 acres with the idea of a starter farm for a local, hasn't happened yet.
The House and buildings are in a very dilapidated state have achieved 2 Permitted developments 2 and 3 bed bungalows (hopefully for local starter homes) but what to do with House so recent decision has been made that I will move in and let younger generation become residents on main holding.
Referring to Suffolk above had the experience of the Kitchen ceiling on the floor new years day 1978 where I live at the moment.

 

[Happy hillbily]

one of these you want, but dont know where to find one 1

 

[suffolksmallholder]

@SilliamWhale. I'll not enter into an argument. But; there should be a slam-finger-in-door symbol here too. No I'm not getting at you either but there is a better way to skim over existing lime plaster and that's using the original material. If you've never done this before just try it. Even if you buy a tub if lime putty it goes a Really, really, really, really long way, particularly on fresh sand, lime & haired plaster............Or over your existing wall. Why use an INFERIOR material? I can't get the mind-set here!

The best part in todays renovation world is lime is again readily available in your local builders marchant. not ten years ago it was considered 'niche and only available fron exclusive outlets & priced accordingly, plus the younger members working in the dreaded building game had no idea this material existed and were completely ignorant of its uses.

The only analogy I can add is to suggest you paint your car with Dulux paint. Whilst this is a great paint is is not supposed to be used on your car, yes it'll work but.......

This is a simple newspaper cutting explaining;http://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyl.../On-the-level-which-plaster-should-I-use.html

 

[Poorbuthappy]

Some years ago when helping rebuild a couple of farmhouses we were using sds chisels with a comb type attachment. Gentler on the brick in under than a straight chisel. No idea of they're commonplace or particularly necessary - just doing as I was told at the time.

 

[Chickcatcher]

Update, 34 walls now stripped, Half of hall downstairs to do. stairwell and upper landing to do. Oh what a can of worms I have opened, front wall has moved out from internal dividing wall about an inch, fire places and chimneys not too good, one Chimney will need a rebuild of top 4/5 feet quite bad damp shown itself under windows where brickwork has moved. The new conundrum asked authorities what would be position of a rebuild there reply. No problem in principle with that.