The secrets of mixing
March 27, 2009
After a couple of days of plastering, I must admit that it’s a very rewarding job and actually quite fun to do. It’s almost a shame that the end result will be covered by timber and plasterboard…
Icky introduced me to the secrets of making a proper mix. For this specific job I used 5 units soft sand, 4 units of sharp sand, 2 units of lime and 1 unit of cement. Especially the lime is tricky stuff. It’s very light and unless you’ve already put some water into the mixer, it will blow away very quickly, leaving you looking like a Highland Yeti…
The final mix should not be too dry otherwise putting it on the wall is a tough job. If it’s too sloppy it’s no good either. The best results are obtained if you mix it for at least 15 minutes and be careful with the water. I used a watering can which gave good results. Also by prolonged mixing of the mixture gets softer, I guess because there’s more air getting into the mix. The end result is a grey/brown, soft mass…
Weather wise we’re working our way through a huge low pressure area. This means lots and lots of wind. As they come from the north it’s cold as well. We’re definitely ready for some soft spring weather!
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