I bought a piece of contiboard about 200 x 60, screwed it to wall, gave
plastering a go. Plaster was too runny. Splashed everywhere and would
not really stay on the trowel. I kept holding the hawk at an angle and
it ran off onto the floor! Waited half hour, came back gave smoothing a
go. Not too bad, until I held a light at a very low angle and a horror
of dents and stratches were visible. When set, I scraped the plaster
off. The plaster flaked of wonderfully and I could examine the
thickness of the plaster "flakes". Generally less than 2mm, i.e. a bit
too thin.
Next time, and next, *still* too runny. Next time I will try it
thicker. Smoothing is not really that hard I have found, but spray
loads of water on. Undulations are more of an issue. When smoothing,
the trowel misses bits. I have since realised that these areas are the
dips, so of course they must be filled in during the smoothing. I have
managed to get some areas looking "perfect", now I just need to extend
this to the whole area! Due to the way I have improved in just 3 goes,
I'm sure I will get there eventually. But of course a whole large wall,
corners, curves, ceilings etc. is another matter.
I have found you need to be able to "imagine" the surface that you are
about to create, and be familier with what a flat wall is like. Go on,
get up and stroke a wall. Seriously. Your nearest will think you have
taken up buddism or something.
I am sure all these tips are what a plastering will gain over time
whether he realises it or not, but it may help to analyse them.
Simon.