Replies

1. 
   calvin | May 14, 2010 10:16pm | #1

   Here..........

   in NW Oh., spackle come in a small container and is used to fill small holes and minor dents..

   Compound (readymix) comes in a bucket (from a gallon to five) and is used to fill small holes AND finish drywall.

   You wouldn't use spackle to finish drywall, but can certainly use compound to fill small holes and minor dents..

2. 
   DanH | May 14, 2010 10:37pm | #2

   I find that good quality, pre-mixed spackle is easier to apply smoothly and sands smoother/easier than drywall mud.  Plus it sets faster and is more water-resistant.

1. 
   thetigger | May 15, 2010 11:51am | #3

   thanks to both of you.

   Tig

3. 
   xxPaulCPxx | May 16, 2010 11:21pm | #4

   Another thing I've found:  You can get a much smoother surface with spackle... so much so that if you cover anything more than an inch long, you will easily see it as it will be glassy smooth compared to everything else around it.

4. 
   JTC1 | May 17, 2010 12:17pm | #5

   Speaking in generalities, I agree with calvin.

   You know the diffence between the two materials.

   I might consider the use of spackle for the final top finishing coat of a drywall patch, but would not consider it for the taping phase.  I am suspect of the adhesive properties of spackle.

   Joint compound dries harder than spackle and I suspect is more durable.

   Hmmm, ......Pensacola.........you might be the victim of local semantics.  When working in New Orleans (Katrina rebuilding), I noticed the local tradesmen refered to joint compound as "spackle".  We were working with 5 gallon buckets (or boxes) of green top, Sheetrock brand, joint compound and calling it "spackle". Kind of like ---- is that a "jack" or a "trimmer" alongside of that window / door opening.

   Had never seen a box of joint compound before -- pre-mixed compound in a plastic bag packed inside of a cardboard box -- I like the buckets better, as I never did figure out how to get the compound out of the plastic bag without getting it all over me, not to mention that one cannot readily scrape the inside of a plastic bag.

   Jim

1. 
   DanH | May 17, 2010 08:50pm | #6

   The boxes have only been around for a decade or two.

1. 
   Piffin | May 18, 2010 07:33am | #7

   nope

   When I started out around 1970, they were using compound from boxes, so that's like four decades at least.

   Compund is for tape and finish work, Spackle is for small repairs on scuffs, dings, and nail holes.

   Ubless you are from an area where they call mud spakle also.

1. 
   JTC1 | May 18, 2010 09:12am | #8

   Da ya think.......

   Nawlins H4H got a holt of some 70's vintage mud .......... I know they're frugal but that's jus redikulus!  :^)

   Jim

1. 
   Matt | May 22, 2010 11:02pm | #11

   Mostly, we see mud boxes here.

   Most of the professional supply houses - dyrwall supply companies - here have been selling the mud boxes for the last year or 2.  The buckets are still available at the big box stores but not many pro drywallers buy their supplies from there.  Me, I kinda liked the free buckets/ladders, lunch stools, trash cans, concrete forms, mixing container, tool bucket, etc/etc/etc.  Did you know that the big boxes sell those buckets for like $5 each.  Talk about redicleous... 

5. 
   JTC1 | May 18, 2010 09:15am | #9

   I must not get out much.

   US Gypsum has a plant at our city's port.  Gypsum arrives in bulk carrier ships; conveyors take it from the ship to a pile on shore; more conveyors into the plant; spits out the other side of the plant as drywall.  It is not uncommon to receive drywall deliveries from our pro supply houses which is date/time stamped within 24 hours of manufacture. BB drywall is "older" since they have to travel through their warehouse chain -- usually a week or so old.

   Needless to say, US Gypsum and Sheetrock brands dominate the market here.

   Both professional drywall supply houses, all of the lumber yards plus HD and Lowes all essentially carry the same product line of finishing compounds.

   Premixed: 5 gallon buckets of Sheetrock green, purple and blue top; 1 gallon buckets of green and blue top only. Green top ("all purpose", heaviest formula) has been around the longest; then blue top ("light weight") appeared , purple ("mid weight") appeared relatively recently (6 or 7 years). Newer variations - "low dust" and mold resistant are the newest comers at just a couple years.  All in buckets. Green top is sold by weight at 61.7 lbs; purple and blue top sold by volume at 4.5 gallons - but the buckets are all the same size. All weights sold by volume in the smaller 1 gallon size bucket. 

   Lafarge Rapid Coat is available only at Lowes in 5 gallon and 2.5L buckets -- tried it, a lttle cheaper, went back to Sheetrock versions - I did not think it dried any faster, seemed softer when dry and I tended to get a slightly bumpy surface which required a little more sanding.  Although those little buckets are really handy around a job site........

   Setting: 18 lb. bags of EasySand 90, 45 & 20 minute formulas.  5 minute formula in 18 lb bags from the pro suppliers only, 3 pound boxes from the BB stores.  Durabond also in bags.

   So before my experience in New Orleans, the only joint compound I had ever seen in a box was the EasySand 5 minute setting compound in the "homeowner" size.

   Maybe USG is trying to support local jobs and it becomes a regional thing........we've got plenty of refineries just up the river for plastic, but no pulpwood or corrugated box board plants nearby.

   Jim

   Edit: That's interesting, I replied to Dan, it goes to Tigger......    

       

1. 
   Piffin | May 18, 2010 11:22pm | #10

   Naw, your reply shows as to dan. it's just this insane forum format of Revzon's that makes it look like what it ain't.