Replies

1. 
   John_Viola | Feb 28, 2002 01:32am | #1

   *
   Hello folks,

   Can anyone tell me how long thinset is good for after it's mixed? I've heard 15 minutes to a few hours from my several know-it-all associates.

   Thanks.

2. 
   leaninlouey | Feb 12, 2003 04:16am | #2

   Seems to me that i remember to mix up enough to cover an area equal to the number of tiles you can apply in 20 minutes....

   Redo-it

3. 
   Piffin | Feb 12, 2003 04:36am | #3

   Read the label.

   I've been doing it this week. Some brands remain workable for only two hours. The stuff I have now claims up to four hours but it gets a little gummy after three. Other variables are temperature and whether you are using a modifier.

   The fifteen or twenty minite thing is how much you spread out at one time. It will begin to skin over in about fifteen minutes so you have to renew it by runing the notched trowel again but the mixed in the bucket or hod will keep workable for two to four hours.

   Grout is another animal. It will kick a little quicker but still you want to go back and clean you surface down after fifteen minutes or face a fight.

   .

   Excellence is its own reward!

4. 
   FrankB89 | Feb 12, 2003 04:43am | #4

   I've been able to go the better part of an hour, but giving it a few stirs with a margin trowel occasionally will prolong its workability.  And of course, the temperature you're working in can affect it, the amount of, say, acrylic additive.

   Best way to find out is just mix up a smaller batch and play with it, or if you've mixed up more than you need to do a layout, experiment with the leftovers a bit. As long as you can do a reasonable job spreading it with the  notched trowel, you should be OK.

   Jules Quaver for President   2004