Aged brickwork cosmetic scraping, wirebrushing tools - Do these described tools exist?

[Tom]

I'm looking for a quite slow rotational speed electric wirebrush, or a design that has a wide (~5cm) brush wheel or separated twin wheel pair (Segway style). In both cases with the brush wheel's axis perpendicular to the power tool's body length so that it doesn't snatch sideways as does a drill supporting a brush wheel. In the mode I describe any snag against the brushwheel must overcome the inertia of the power tool so it should be more manageable.

I'm also after a decorators' hook but much more robust, for scraping

100 year old sooty plaster-like material from a fireplace opening.

Tom

[Tim Lamb]

In message , Tom writes

Angle grinder!

Seriously. Find one with variable speed control. Big dust problem if these are soft bricks.

regards

[Andy Dingley]

Maikita do one. Few hundred quid to buy, but you can hire them. Looks like a cross between a flapwheel sander and an electric plane.

Sandvik do a big scraper hook with carbide edges. Great thing, particularly for tarry stuff on floors.

[Tabby]

If these are old bricks it sounds a great way to ruin them. Cement can be removed with HCl, and dirt with a long water soak.

NT

[Jim K]

indeed, tis the (more) weatherproof outer surface that is the most important thing about old bricks....

what are you trying to get off?

Jim K

[Tom]

Thanks Tim, Andy, Tabby, Jim,

It's the brickwork sides of an opened-out fireplace in a 200 year old building. It's coated with soot tar and a semi hard, fibrous material which I suspect is built-up layers of some combustion residue turned grey/white. In some places it comes off in slabs, other patches are more recalcitrant and so I'm looking for the scraper or the slow brush powertool. Point taken on brick surface, reminds me of looking after our teeth enamel.

I want to see if the exposed brick can be made cosmetically pleasing. Otherwise I'll panel the sides with Promat fire boards!