From: "Bill T." 
To: atm{at}shore.net
Reply-To: "Bill T." 


Preparation is all it takes to successfully use fast setting plasters.

Have the plaster and water pre measured.  There's no time for measuring
once the mix is wet.

Have a strong stick with a square cross section within easy reach.  The
square corners are useful for scraping powder stuck to the sides of the
mixing vessel back into the mix.

Use an electric drill with a mixing attachment for most of the mixing.  The
tool can be a 2" bent washer bolted onto the end of the some
all-thread. For ~$15 you can buy a good professional plaster mixing tool
from a ceramics supplier.  Mix at about 1000 RPM until the mixture is very
creamy, which takes about 3 minutes.  It's very difficult to get a really
good mix by hand, especially when dealing with more than about a quart. 
The quality of the mix has a lot to do with tool longevity.

Have a clock with a second hand in view.  It's not difficult to go from dry
mix to pouring in 4 minutes - but only if mixing is all you have to do! 
Use the clock to give yourself the maximum possible mixing time, without
going overtime or cutting it needlessly short.

Also, have a few wet and dry paper towels in easy reach.

But once you've started, if you have to go looking for something, or
measuring something, or clearing space for something, or reading something,
etc. it's all over.

Bill T.






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