Cleaning quarry tiles

[geraldthehamster]

I have about 20 quarry tiles that were lifted to dig a new gulley to a manhole, and that I now want to put back. Some of them have black permanent marker on them (measurement lines I stupidly made when I removed them, when I hadn''t intended to reuse them). They are a sort of tawny red quarry tile of recent manufacture.

I was going to clean the old mortar/adhesive from them by immersing them in brick acid. Does anyone think this will also remove the marker pen? If not, how would you remove it? As the tiles aren't glazed I wondered if I could try to sand it off. Any better ideas appreciated.

Cheers
Richard

 

[ree]

Why bother cleaning and messing with acid? It would probably cheaper to buy 20 quarry tile than the brick acid.

 

[geraldthehamster]

Why bother cleaning and messing with acid? It would probably cheaper to buy 20 quarry tile than the brick acid.

It would but I'm not sure I can match them. And I have the brick acid.

Cheers
Richard

 

[ree]

If matching is the concern then after an acid bath its unlikely that the cleaned up tiles will match the field.
Typically, whole installations are cleaned, especially if the surface has been sealed.

Sometimes, even the most innocent markers are almost impossible to remove without bleaching the tile.

 

[geraldthehamster]

Sigh. I'm sure you're right. I'll see if I can get some that look vaguely similar. It's only to patch up my back porch before I sell the house.

Cheers
Richard

 

[pinenot]

Try meths, on the tiles that is ...pinenot