I too embarked on my first plastering project this week using the wickes
guide.
Definitely practices, on plasterboard first! A couple of sheets both sides.

Having spoken to a few people and done a few test runs, I found doing it in
two finishing coats with the later in a more diluted mixture (so you can
only just make peaks in the mix) applied about 30-45 mins after the first
gave me the best finish.
Also, I ditched the Wickes universal finishing plaster for standard
finishing plaster. I find it easier to smooth out after the initial
application.

Make sure you get a good level/flat surface to apply it too using bonding
plaster first.

And some form of electric mixer is well worth while. Mixing be hand can get
very tiresome and frustrasting when you still have lumps in there. The
attachments you can get for a drill work well but prepare for the mess! In
fact prepare for mess full stop. I'm still getting plaster dust on
everything I touch a week later!

But I'm still wondering how a hawk should be used - I gave up with it...

"Mark" wrote in message
...
Ric typed:


snip
Any tips/help/advice muchly appreciated but I fear that in the end it
will come down to weather or not I am any good at it! We will find
out in good time I am sure!

Thanks,
Ric.

A few practical bits........
2Lt water makes about 4Lt by volume of plaster, which is sufficient to
skim
coat, an 8x4-sheet plasterboard so if your chimney has a fire surround,
thats about the same size.
Mixing more then 4Lt by hand is hard work trying to get the lumps out, I
sometimes use an elec kitchen whisk on *SLOW* speed for small jobs.
Get a straightedge and concentrate on getting it level, surface
imperfections
can sorted once the plaster has set, waviness cant.
Make sure you put covering down on the floors were you are working and
don't
reuse any plaster that ends up there.(as it will).... :-)

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mark