Plastering

[Glenn Clark]

Hi all

Is there anyway of making the going off time for plaster longer. I can't seem to get it on the wall and spread it before it goes off. I have wet the wall first.

Thanks

Glenn

[Andrew Gabriel]

Use fresh plaster (it sets faster the older it is). Don't plaster in warm weather. Don't wisk too much air into it.

You might well be trying to get a good finish as you put it on the wall, in which case you're wasting time. Start by just getting it all on the wall. Only when it's all on do you start working on the finish. Look back on google for plenty of articles on how to plaster.

BTW, drying out is nothing to do with setting (except it mustn't dry out until after it's set).

[The3rd Earl Of Derby]

You must be too much plaster to the water or the plaster is near the use by date?

Is the area your working in warm? this would have an effect of it going off sooner.

The quicker you can get it on the wall the more time you will have to play about with smoothing it out.

Are you sweeping it up the wall in broad stroke?

Yesterday I plastered a wall of 10'x8' in 15 minutes,the plaster was still managable even after having a smoke and a coffee before polishing the plaster.

[Weatherlawyer]

It sounds to me like you are mixing the second bucketful without cleaning the bucket. You have to get the bucket empty and rinsed before you make the second mix. If it takes two or three buckets to make a wall then by the time the third is mixed the second bucket load will be going off.

Was the first part of the wall you started still workable as the second patch set?

Next ime you make a batch mix enough for the job by pouring the first batch onto the spot, cleaning the bucket out with a clean baton and a hose, mixing the next batch and having it waiting.

If you think the wall will require three buckets; use a second spot, or a larger one and have the next mix ready in the bucket.

Of course if someone is mixing for you, then they can be doing that as you use it up and you should keep just slightly in front of them if they are using a 2 gallon bucket.

Better still, save on their wages by investing in a 5 gallon bucket and a good mixer (a slow speed drill and a paddle for it.) With that you should be able to manage two walls at a time. But it might be a bit of a sweat for a beginner to combine their finishing if the plaster is a bit old.

What you do is start one wall with the first mix, go to the next with the second, put the second coat on the first wall with the third mix and the fourth mix goes on the second wall, by which time you should be able to manage a cup of tea before the first wall is ready for its first polish.

IIRC you trowel a wall 6 times: Putting the first coat on, spreading it evenly, the second and spreading it and then polishing it over twice, TISTBC.

A bacon butty and a pint of mild later you will be ready for your second room. If you can manage that you might start thinking about turning pro.

[The3rd Earl Of Derby]

3 Buckets a wall? fcuck how thick is your plaster?

2 buckets is sufficiant to cover an average sized wall,anything left over in the bucket for imperfections.