While I agree with what was said about craftsmanship in brick repointing;
The biggest challange with limemortar on very tight joints  is tedious
application (with instant water clean up) to combat smear that is
enevitable.However there is still haze on the work as a whole after each pass
of mortar for the pointing.

With deep joints its
 2or 3 passes over 3 days ( depending on depth of joint ) with enevitable
smear
then wait while you perform
;continous wetting for curing (more haze) and striking the joint on the 3
dayor even 4 day (  as  lime is  still mallable)
Now Then clean it all up in one go  on the 4 or even 5 day;
instead continous clean up.
 ...for historic buildings both  results is great beyond compare
..how to bid it God only knows;

There is a clear choice for clean up..which in envitable....clean water for
hours on end as Nat Parks recomends ;or lime solvent, or vanatrol ( 8-1 with
water) which  is applied with spritzer yes it etches the joint but(  unlike
portland) is recoverable as lime is still malable.....The result of both
cleanups  is  the same; however  the production rate is very different;
.....you choose
Best Michael

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