Perched atop a 30′ ladder is not my idea of fun when it comes to chinking but you do what you have to do. I’m not afraid of heights its an awkward place to work.
A section of chinking was found to be loose way atop the north face. The 100 year old chinking had begun to give way and needed to be replaced. Had it been at eye level that would be fine but this was a foot below the roof line along the chimney. Oh well.
Using my chinking recipe I make just enough to repair the area. The mixture is a bit drier than usual as I’m working mostly on a vertical area. When I’m working a horizontal area I make the chinking dry or stiff enough that if I pack it into a ball it retains its shape.
I have cleaned out the spot in question and placed a few new nails in. I have also prepped the area with Penetreat as I have each time I do chinking.
There is one thing though that I’m doing that I have not discussed on here before and that is for filling any gaps that I find I use a pastry bag billed with a very wet and loose mixture of chinking to fill the gap. I find using a pastry bag with a medium tip is an excellent tool for getting loose chinking mixture into small areas. Its very easy to handle and as easy as decorating a cake. Yeah, I can decorate a cake too.
If you ever want to try using a pastry bag for this type of chinking application make sure that the pastry bag has a coated interior – or use one made of a thick plastic. Pure fabric bags will let too much of the moisture escape the chinking and it will be almost impossible to get flow.
Once you have good flow you can produce a nice bead line of chinking. 
Its a perfect tool for getting in tight areas.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
i have a log room that was made from oak that was obviously a little green.. i now have then gaps between the logs and the mortar. I have tried to fill them in with a trowel but the area is very thin. do you suggest i try the pastry bag ??? thanks randy jackson
Hey Randy – Thanks for visiting the site. Sure — this is exactly the kind of gap where the pastry bag method can be the solution. Make sure that you have a loose mixture – you may have to experiment. When using a pastry bag I tend to make the mortar mix with a consistency of a thick house paint. You will have to experiment with different sizes of tips but its easy to work.
By the way — very cool website you have. I’ll have to check out your book Coon Dog Chronicles.
Let me know how this works for you.