Tuckpointing Tooling & Safety Essentials
Mortar joint raking is one of the highest silica-emitting tasks in masonry restoration.
Contractor Guides
Published: 2026-05-30
Tuckpointing Mortar Removal: Dust Control, Blade Selection, and Best Practices
Direct Answer: Tuckpointing mortar removal requires specialized wide-segment diamond tuckpoint blades (typically 0.250" or 0.375" segment width) engineered with hard tungsten-carbide bonds to handle abrasive mortar wash. Because tuckpointing generates high volumes of airborne respirable silica dust, OSHA Table 1 mandates using an angle grinder equipped with a dust extraction shroud connected to a HEPA vacuum supplying at least 25 CFM per inch of blade diameter (e.g., 112.5 CFM for 4.5" grinders; 175 CFM for 7" grinders).
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Frequently Asked Questions
What width tuckpoint blade should I use?
Standard mortar joints require 0.250" (1/4 inch) wide segments. Deep joint restoration uses 0.375" (3/8 inch) wide sandwich blades.