Setting time for dap 33

Jan 15, 2010 7 Replies

I have a window that I used dap 33 to set the glass, and it's been sitting in my basement for two weeks. I checked it yesterday, and it was still pretty soft though it had seemed to skin over a bit. My basement is unheated, so it's pretty cool down there.



Question: Should the putty be hard to the touch before I paint it? It is so soft right now that I think the paint brush would damage the surface.


DAP 33 is perhaps the worst window glazing compound I've ever used. It seems to take forever to skin over and get firm -- and cold temperatures make it actually *be* forever instead of just seeming like it.

Firm, at least. Doesn't need to be hard, but it ought to have the consistency of a medium cheese before you paint it: Brie -- definitely too soft Monterey jack -- probably too soft mozzarella -- a bit on the soft side, but probably ok Colby -- just about perfect cheddar -- harder than necessary

That certainly can happen if you don't wait for it to get firm.

Thanks - exactly what I needed to know :)

I know some people like DAP. For those that don't, what do you use, what do you recommend?

I know of no "normal" replacement for DAP33.

And as many have commented....it takes a LONG time to skin / harden to the point where it can be painted. I no longer use the stuff but when I did, exposure to direct sunlight during the day & brought inside at night if cold / wet weather (SoCal cold not real cold)

I now use a linseed oil glazing compound & linseed oil paint (just oil & pigments) ...no need to wait, just glaze & paint.

cheers Bob

The best I've ever used was the house brand from S&T Hardware, but I haven't seen an S&T here in Indiana for more than 20 years. Ace Hardware's house brand is pretty good, though. Ideally, the stuff should be really stiff the moment you open the can -- about like a really hard cheese. You work it around in your hands to warm it and soften it, until the consistency is about like modeling clay (remember playing with that when you were a kid? that's the consistency you want) then roll it between your hands to make a snake (just like you did when you played with clay and wanted to scare your little sister). Press the snake into the window frame and smooth it with a putty knife while it's still warm and pliable. As it cools, it stiffens, and should skin over within a few hours.

snipped-for-privacy@milmac.com (Doug Miller) wrote in news:hir4bc$f27$ snipped-for-privacy@news.eternal-september.org:

I saw a bucket of their stuff when I was in the store last week. From the description on the container, it sounded to me like the same as DAP, including the one or two week drying time.

I have some acrylic stuff that can be painted in a day, but I haven't tried it yet. I'm no expert on this - I've used DAP and know how to work with it. If I botch it with something else I would have to remove it and start over LOL. I have 12 panes to go....

Cant you move the window to where its heated, a few days to weeks is needed, you only need it skinned so the brush doesnt rip it up, and use old fashioned Oil Primer.

Actually, yes, I moved it into the front room where the wood stove is last night so it could get some warmth :)

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