Replies

1. 
   FastEddie | Nov 03, 2005 04:42am | #1

   Welcome to the forum Paul.

   See if you can do a search for D-mix.

    

    

   "When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it."  T. Roosevelt

1. 
   blue_eyed_devil | Nov 03, 2005 05:45am | #2

   D-mix?

   Dont forget the coffee!

   hahahahaha

   blue 

1. 
   dinothecarpenter | Nov 03, 2005 06:10am | #3

   hahahahaha

    

   Thanks Blue.

   That was just... what the doctor order. Do you try it yet?

   YCf

2. 
   peteduffy | Nov 03, 2005 04:01pm | #4

   I don't see it in your post, and it may be a given, but just to make sure, you'll need to add some lime putty to you plaster (in addition to the water).

   The lime acts as a plasticizer, so you can trowel it out smooth.

   Also, a setting retarder (as well as an accelerator) are available at your plaster supply store.

   My suggestion is start in small areas, and don't bite off more than you can chew.  It does give your shoulder and arm muscles a good workout if it's not something you do everyday.

   Good luck!

   Pete Duffy, Handyman

1. 
   paulalias | Nov 03, 2005 08:38pm | #5

   I don't know that I have access to lime putty. What would happen if I used joint compund instead?Paul

1. 
   DirkWright | Nov 03, 2005 10:02pm | #6

   Do not use joint compound, it is very soft when dry. I would recommend that you find a local distributor for veneer plaster products and use that instead. USG and others make it. Plaster is not abraded like dry wall products. It is toweled smooth instead, or textured with a float. There are good books on plaster if you are interested.

3. 
   Frankie | Nov 03, 2005 11:03pm | #7

   Plaster is intended to be used as a thin veneer and should not be used to fill in valleys resulting from the existing wall condition.

   a) First prime the surfaces to be plastered with an alkyd (oil) primer. It works better than Plasterweld, in regards to the plaster application, since PW has a tendancy to liquify during plaster application, creating a slippage while trowelling.

   b) You should plaster using a 2 layer system. The first layer is referred to as a brown-coat. This fills in the valleys and creates a perfect substrate for the finish plaster layer. USG manufactures a version called Imperial Browncoat Plaster.

   c) After the browncaot has set - but not dried - apply the finish coat of veneer plaster. My recommendation is to use USG's Diamond Coat. It does NOT require lime.

   http://usg.com:80/navigate.do?resource=/USG_Marketing_Content/usg.com/web_files/products/prod_details/USG_DIAMOND_Brand_Veneer_Basecoat_Plaster.htm

   Both the browncoat and diamond coat are to be mixed using a drill at 400rpms. Mixing too fast will decrease working time. Mixing by hand is futile as the plaster will not disperse enough in the water.

   You cannot/ should not sand plaster. It is a 2 person job. It requires a trowel ratther than a knife, and you must strike/ smooth it before it gets too hard. Splashing it with water while polishing or smoothing is done using a wide brush.

   Hope this helps.

   Frankie

   There he goes—one of God's own prototypes—a high powered mutant of some kind never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live and too rare to die.

   —Hunter S. Thompson
   from Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas

4. 
   dinothecarpenter | Nov 05, 2005 05:10am | #8

   	I am skim-coating over a painted swirl plaster texture. The texture is very difficult to scrape off. I want to apply plasterweld and then finish coat plaster directly over that with a trowel and hawk. Some times the plaster weld makes the paint soft and you can have a big problem... The wall is pretty sound, little cracking. Does this seem like and adequate plan? Do I need to add anything to the plaster other than water? Can/should I add compound to retard the setting? What plaster? and what compound? I want a hard surface that does not require much sanding. I would like to apply with a trowel rather than a knife. What you like and what you can is two different things. I can tell by your post that you never use plaster before.  Are there any other specific solutions you might reccomend?   A. The D- Mix B. Skim coat with Joint compound. C. 1/4" drywall D. Hire a pro. Good luck. YCF Dino