Antix wrote:

Thanks Andy,
so the question now is which resin ! Screwfix do the Fischer Epoxy
which needs a special tool to ensure the two parts are ejected from the
tube simultaneously (buggers!), or there's the non-epoxy
stuff....Vinylester resin which is part cement and doesn't need a
special tool...choices choices !

I wonder if my 3 year old son's arm will fit through the hole....


Ant.

Resin is absolutely the right choice, Andy Hall's right on the mark.
1860 brick houses typically used brick rejects and assorted junk for
inner wall leafs, bonded together with lime mortar. Some of these
bricks will be pretty hopeless strength wise, some good and solid, the
mortar will often be reduced to crumbs by now, the odd bits of wood may
have shrunk or rotten and so on. YMMV of course, but it makes sense to
use something thats known good, ie resin.

Any other fixing type will exert uneven pressure on the brick and is
much more likely to cause the brick to just crumble and let go. Resin,
as well as providing even forces all oevr the join, adds no extra
forces onto the brick due to the fixing itself, so is far more capable
than any mechanical fixing, such as sleeve or masonry bolt.

Epoxy is specified for structural repairs, the cheaper ones are used
where they dont have to survive long term. I'd preferably use epoxy,
though the other types will also work. You need a new nozzle each time
you use the stuff, so good idea to get a few nozzes at least.

Oh, almost forgot. 2 streams get mixed in the nozzle, and often one
stream comes out before the other, so what comes out initially will
never set. Watch the colours so you know when you've got a mix of both
coming out.


NT