In article .com,
tonyjeffs writes:
My brickwork is passable but only just.... I have some basic questions
I'm using a 3:1 mix.

That's quite strong, but should be OK for engineering bricks.

The engineering bricks I'm using have 3 large holes straight through.
Should I be filling these with cement as I go along?

No. Mortar will ooze in when you tap the brick down, which is fine.
They don't need to be filled.

Should I lay excess cement on each course so there is enough sticking
out to point up? If I do this it tends to dribble.

It needs to ooze out a bit, to ensure full coverage. You slice that
off flush with an upward action of the trowel edge. You might have
too much water in your mortar, particularly with low absorbancy
engingeering bricks. There shouldn't be anough for it to run down
the wall -- if a lot comes out, it will fall away, but cut it off
before this happens so you get a flush cut.

Or should I point afterwards with a dry mix. I can do it better this
way, but I can't get smooth flowing lines to my pointing because it's
too dry. If i make it wetter, it'll stain the brick surfaces.

Wet the tool, and use it to create a compressed surface on the
mortar. If you cut the mortar off flush as above, pointing up
is easy. Wait for at least ½hour after laying the bricks so
you are less likely to move them and damage the mortar bond.
(If you are doing the top course, you might need to hold them
in place whilst doing it too, to prevent any possible movement.)
Point up the perps (verticals) first, and then point up the
beds (horizontal runs). As you run the tool along, the excess
mortar will crumble out as it's started setting now. Use a
bucket to keep wetting the tool and rinsing any mortor off it.

So my problem is one way or the other, how to get a nice finish to my
pointing without staining the outer brick surfaces.

If you do end up with staining, you can wash it off with an
acid (brick acid is intended for this, kettle descaler works
too) and a soft brush (don't use a metal brush as you'll mark
the brick faces). Wait at least 24 hours before doing this or
you will damage the pointing. Wear goggles.

--
Andrew Gabriel
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