floor tile adhesive consistency

[PSOE]

What's the best consistency mix for the above using the cement based powder, e.g. stiff, sloppy, runny?

TIA

Jerry

[Mungo "Two Sheds" Toadfoot]

Like mortar - stiff enough to not slump.

Si

[The Natural Philosopher]

Stiff to slightly sloppy, depending on how fast it sets, and how you are doing the tiling..dot and dab needs it stiffer than a ridged bed, and if you intend tamping down over uneven surfaces a bit sloppier works better as the surplus oozes out and can easily be removed..but beware the dreaded SLUMP..if it takes too long to set and is too wet..tiles that were perfectly even last night look terrible this morning and are covered with oozed up tile cement.

Which is why unless I have a critical application I prefer rapid set stuff. However the better grades of flexible are generally NOT rapid set, and if going over wood, sometimes you have to use slow set.

[PSOE]

I'm tiling porcelain tiles onto a flat cement screed, plan to use a ridged bed and tamp level with a rubber mallet so a slightly sloppy mix to start with until I get the hang of it. I'm using a mix for porcelain I got from Homebase, Evode I think, that is allegedly fairly quick setting. Is is best to do a few tiles at a time?

Jerry