How do you get rid of this stuff?

[Patty K]

Hello, and thank you for the welcome!
Found another question for this very knowledgable group...after removing old tile, I have thick and hardened mastic on the plaster walls. How do I remove this stuff? It took a hammer and chisel just to get the old tiles off! Is there a way to grind it off? Chemicals? I want to use thinset for the new tiles...thanks in advance for your help
Patty K

[Lazarus]

Patty~

There is no chemical that I know of that will remove it. If it is indeed mastic, you might try water from a spray bottle....several times to see if it might loosen it a tad. From there, try a stiff, 2 or 3 inch putty knife and a hammer. Get the knife as close to flat to the wall as you can and start tapping. No guarantee that the plaster might tend to come off as well...but you gotta start somewhere.