Help

I've just had a good look at my handywork with a lamp on the floor (which
makes things look their worst).

The walls I've skimmed, whilst generally flat have turned out rather poor in
the surface finish dept.

Specifically, odd small hollows (like 1/2mm deep) with sharp edges and lots
of similar other "edge" effects. Few bits are rather rough.

Nothing a sander won't sort out - and I can live with it as a first attempt
either way...

But what am I doing wrong?

I used the method: first coat down, go cheesy, flatten (mostly as far as
possible), wait until harder (20-30 mins) , second coat dead thin
(virtually scraped over to fill hollows, wait 20-30 mins and polish with
the help of a plant mister.

It seems to be the last step that's giving grief - but that might be as a
result of earlier errors.

Should I put the second coat on:

a) Thicker;

b) Sooner, immediately after flattening first;

c) Less water?

I'm using Thistle MultiFinish BTW.

To be honest, I get a better result using a 3" wet paintbrush to "polish"[1]
(rougher, but no nasty edges which will show though paint).

[1] I tried this on some window edges out of interest, after using same
brush to blend the corners in.

Ta

Tim

In article ,
Tim S writes:
Help

I've just had a good look at my handywork with a lamp on the floor (which
makes things look their worst).

The walls I've skimmed, whilst generally flat have turned out rather poor in
the surface finish dept.

Specifically, odd small hollows (like 1/2mm deep) with sharp edges and lots
of similar other "edge" effects. Few bits are rather rough.

Nothing a sander won't sort out - and I can live with it as a first attempt
either way...

But what am I doing wrong?

I was again going to suggest looking back at some old plastering
articles I wrote, but it seems Google can't find them. Someone
else refers back to them in March 2004 so they're before then, but
Google can't find any that predate that date, so either it's lost
them, or they aren't turning up with obvious searches.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

Andrew Gabriel coughed up some electrons that declared:

In article ,
Tim S writes:
Help

I've just had a good look at my handywork with a lamp on the floor (which
makes things look their worst).

The walls I've skimmed, whilst generally flat have turned out rather poor
in the surface finish dept.

Specifically, odd small hollows (like 1/2mm deep) with sharp edges and
lots of similar other "edge" effects. Few bits are rather rough.

Nothing a sander won't sort out - and I can live with it as a first
attempt either way...

But what am I doing wrong?

I was again going to suggest looking back at some old plastering
articles I wrote, but it seems Google can't find them. Someone
else refers back to them in March 2004 so they're before then, but
Google can't find any that predate that date, so either it's lost
them, or they aren't turning up with obvious searches.


Was it this one?

http://groups.google.co.uk/group/uk.d-i-y/browse_thread/thread/f63f570e292b0240/61393847a2abfdcb?q=author:"Gabriel"+group:uk.d-i-y+plastering#61393847a2abfdcb

In article ,
Tim S writes:
Andrew Gabriel coughed up some electrons that declared:
I was again going to suggest looking back at some old plastering
articles I wrote, but it seems Google can't find them. Someone
else refers back to them in March 2004 so they're before then, but
Google can't find any that predate that date, so either it's lost
them, or they aren't turning up with obvious searches.


Was it this one?

http://groups.google.co.uk/group/uk.d-i-y/browse_thread/thread/f63f570e292b0240/61393847a2abfdcb?q=author:"Gabriel"+group:uk.d-i-y+plastering#61393847a2abfdcb

Well, it is, but it's not one of the one's I was thinking of.

When I've got some time, I could try crawling around wider, e.g.
see if diy-banter or similar still has them. I could rewrite them,
but it actually takes a long time to write something like detailed
plastering instructions, and I don't have that just at the moment.
Also, it's about a year since my last serious quantity of plastering,
and these things turn out better if you write them in the middle/end
of doing a load (which was the case with the earlier articles, when
I'd just finished plastering most of a house).

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

Andrew Gabriel coughed up some electrons that declared:

In article ,
Tim S writes:
Andrew Gabriel coughed up some electrons that declared:
I was again going to suggest looking back at some old plastering
articles I wrote, but it seems Google can't find them. Someone
else refers back to them in March 2004 so they're before then, but
Google can't find any that predate that date, so either it's lost
them, or they aren't turning up with obvious searches.


Was it this one?


http://groups.google.co.uk/group/uk.d-i-y/browse_thread/thread/f63f570e292b0240/61393847a2abfdcb?q=author:"Gabriel"+group:uk.d-i-y+plastering#61393847a2abfdcb

Well, it is, but it's not one of the one's I was thinking of.

Pity. Google seems to be having a fit with some of those older posts...

When I've got some time, I could try crawling around wider, e.g.
see if diy-banter or similar still has them.

I can do that, now that you've mentioned it - ta.

I could rewrite them,
but it actually takes a long time to write something like detailed
plastering instructions, and I don't have that just at the moment.
Also, it's about a year since my last serious quantity of plastering,
and these things turn out better if you write them in the middle/end
of doing a load (which was the case with the earlier articles, when
I'd just finished plastering most of a house).


No worries.

Cheers

Tim

On Wed, 13 May 2009 14:13:52 +0100, Tim S wrote:

Andrew Gabriel coughed up some electrons that declared:

In article , Tim S
writes:

Was it this one?


http://groups.google.co.uk/group/uk....thread/thread/
f63f570e292b0240/61393847a2abfdcb?q=author:"Gabriel"+group:uk.d-i-y
+plastering#61393847a2abfdcb

Well, it is, but it's not one of the one's I was thinking of.

Pity. Google seems to be having a fit with some of those older posts...

When I've got some time, I could try crawling around wider, e.g. see if
diy-banter or similar still has them.

I can do that, now that you've mentioned it - ta.


This post links to some useful looking stuff about 2003/2004 time:

http://groups.google.com/group/uk.d-i-y/browse_thread/
thread/53283946da1303f9?pli=1

(One of which I think is the above link)

Tim S wrote:
Help

I've just had a good look at my handywork with a lamp on the floor
(which makes things look their worst).

The walls I've skimmed, whilst generally flat have turned out rather
poor in the surface finish dept.

Specifically, odd small hollows (like 1/2mm deep) with sharp edges
and lots of similar other "edge" effects. Few bits are rather rough.

Nothing a sander won't sort out - and I can live with it as a first
attempt either way...

But what am I doing wrong?

I used the method: first coat down, go cheesy, flatten (mostly as far
as possible), wait until harder (20-30 mins) , second coat dead thin
(virtually scraped over to fill hollows, wait 20-30 mins and polish
with the help of a plant mister.

It seems to be the last step that's giving grief - but that might be
as a result of earlier errors.

Should I put the second coat on:

a) Thicker;

b) Sooner, immediately after flattening first;

c) Less water?

I'm using Thistle MultiFinish BTW.

To be honest, I get a better result using a 3" wet paintbrush to
"polish"[1] (rougher, but no nasty edges which will show though
paint).

[1] I tried this on some window edges out of interest, after using
same brush to blend the corners in.

Ta

Tim

The first coat doesn't require flattening down - it should still be workable
enough so that the second coat (more or less immediately after the first -
10mins maybe) will flatten any ridges and the new mix will fill any hollows.

Then 15-20 mins later a rub over with a wet trowel (no water on the wall at
this stage).

then 15-20 mins later a light splash and trowel up.

If it's still not playing ball, repeat the last step as many times as it
needs.

A word of warning here; not all plaster sets at the same rate - even bags of
identical plaster bought on the same day at the same shop can differ in
setting times - some go off in minutes and others can take up to an hour to
do the same....the latter is normally observed near going home time


--
Phil L
RSRL Tipster Of The Year 2008

Phil L coughed up some electrons that declared:

Tim S wrote:
Help

I've just had a good look at my handywork with a lamp on the floor
(which makes things look their worst).

The walls I've skimmed, whilst generally flat have turned out rather
poor in the surface finish dept.

Specifically, odd small hollows (like 1/2mm deep) with sharp edges
and lots of similar other "edge" effects. Few bits are rather rough.

Nothing a sander won't sort out - and I can live with it as a first
attempt either way...

But what am I doing wrong?

I used the method: first coat down, go cheesy, flatten (mostly as far
as possible), wait until harder (20-30 mins) , second coat dead thin
(virtually scraped over to fill hollows, wait 20-30 mins and polish
with the help of a plant mister.

It seems to be the last step that's giving grief - but that might be
as a result of earlier errors.

Should I put the second coat on:

a) Thicker;

b) Sooner, immediately after flattening first;

c) Less water?

I'm using Thistle MultiFinish BTW.

To be honest, I get a better result using a 3" wet paintbrush to
"polish"[1] (rougher, but no nasty edges which will show though
paint).

[1] I tried this on some window edges out of interest, after using
same brush to blend the corners in.

Ta

Tim

The first coat doesn't require flattening down - it should still be
workable enough so that the second coat (more or less immediately after
the first - 10mins maybe) will flatten any ridges and the new mix will
fill any hollows.

Right - I see. That means that I am probably putting my 2nd coat on too
late, when the first coat is too hard to take it properly.

Then 15-20 mins later a rub over with a wet trowel (no water on the wall
at this stage).

OK


then 15-20 mins later a light splash and trowel up.

If it's still not playing ball, repeat the last step as many times as it
needs.

A word of warning here; not all plaster sets at the same rate - even bags
of identical plaster bought on the same day at the same shop can differ in
setting times - some go off in minutes and others can take up to an hour
to do the same....the latter is normally observed near going home time



That's certainly a varation - I'm going to try that on my next bit.

Actually - looking at the walls today ,they aren't too bad. Back of chimney
(well, in the alcove) are as rough as a geriactric tarts arse, (doesn't
matter, will have shelves). Chimney breast is best (small, all extrnal
corners). Window reveals are a bit rough, but quite accurate (sandpaper
job). Rest of main walls are approximately flat

Not a total disaster - hopefully next rime will get better!

Cheers Phil

Tim