Rant: switched to a 3/8 inch jointing rod on a garden wall in Tulsa, and the mortar joint came out sloppy

David Baker · 2026-10-02T22:45:03.907328+00:00

I usually run a 1/2 inch rod for bed joints, but last weekend on a 40 foot garden wall over in Tulsa I grabbed a 3/8 inch one because the brick was old and a little uneven. Figured a skinnier rod would give me more control, but it actually made the joint wobble more and I had to go back over about 20 feet with a slicker. What I learned is that thinner is not always easier, the rod needs to match the brick. Have any of you had better luck going smaller on rough old brick, or do you just stick with your normal size?

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Rant: switched to a 3/8 inch jointing rod on a garden wall in Tulsa, and the mortar joint came out sloppy | Bricklayers - Chatter Central