First off, my son and i are not dry well experts - have only small DIY experience, we're doing repairs in dry wall and mixing our mud in small amounts (not bucktes). However we are getting a lot of lumps, also tried a small mixer with an electric drill, smaller lumps but still some lumps.  Needless to say, when we put it on the areas we are working, the lumps put i, perfections in the surface.  What are we doing wrong?  Any suggestions would be appreciated.

You're not adding enough water for the amount you're mixing.

Mix in a small pail, 1 gallon size is a good size. Two working pans (about 1 pan full) at a time is a good amount for a novice to mix.

Always add the powder to the liquid, not the liquid to the powder.

If you need to add water hold a wet sponge over the mix and gently squeeze, this allows you to add small amounts of water at a time.

Use a beater from a hand mixer or a propeller type mixer in a cordless drill.

Mix time is about 2 minutes.

You should have no lumps. Consistency should be that of chilled mayonnaise.

Once you get it, it is easy.

Tom  

First off, my son and i are not dry well experts - have only small DIY experience, we're doing repairs in dry wall and mixing our mud in small amounts (not bucktes). However we are getting a lot of lumps, also tried a small mixer with an electric drill, smaller lumps but still some lumps.  Needless to say, when we put it on the areas we are working, the lumps put i, perfections in the surface.  What are we doing wrong?  Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Presumably, you're using hot mud.   For hot mud...

Because I'm an expert (i.e. I made LOTS of mistakes), I recommend a good mud pan (http://www.all-wall.com/Categories/Mud-Pans/Sheetrock-Classic-Mud-Pan.html) and a 3/4" joint knife (http://www.all-wall.com/Categories/Joint-Knives/Hyde-Plastic-Handle-Knife.html) to mix the mud.   

Add a small amount of dry mix to the pan, add a bit of water to the mix, and stoke the knife gently back and forth in the pan to mix.  If you see a lump, smush it with the knife.   If all the mud is not wet, add a bit more water, and mix again gently.    When it's at the consistency you want, mix gently a few more times and then STOP!  Do not over mix.

As Paul mentioned, try to get at least 90 minute mud to start of with.  I've used 90, 45, and 20 minute mud.   20 minute mud is for quick patches.   

Also, not all brands of mud are created equal.  Try getting another brand.  Go to a drywall supplier if necessary.  They will typically carry more brands than the big box stored.

Regards,

Dan.

P.s. if you are using drying type mud, I recommend that you use premix mud.   

thanks everyone for your comments, been using the fast set 20. so we will go with somthing longer and will try adding the powder to the water technique

Quote from: truck90278 on April 25, 2014, 03:16 PM

thanks everyone for your comments, been using the fast set 20. so we will go with somthing longer and will try adding the powder to the water technique

Just curious...  Why not use premix, drying type mud?   It's much easier to use.

Regards,

Dan.

Speaking for myself, I like hot mud for most jobs due to low shrink and seems to be a harder product when dry. Also can apply it much thicker when needed and won't crack when curing/drying. My experience is limited to the stuff I get at home depot, other products may perform differently. I'll go with premix when the project is so large that I'll waste too much time mixing hot mud. YMMV

A Shurform (cheese grater) is great for shaping hot mud.

Paul G, I enjoy baking also.

Tom

Ditto, water then powder. If I am mixing a pan at a time I put about 1/2" of water in the bottom of the pan, then fill with powder, then add a bit of water on top. Then I let it sit for 60 seconds or so, then mix with a square trowel and add water as needed. It helps with the lumps and dry spots at the bottom of the pan. Most of the time I use 45min also with the fibrafuse tape. Also it is usually only when the project is time sensitive and I need to get another coat on that day.

By the way, less is more with the hot set. I try to never sand the stuff because it just doesn't sand all that well, thin coat and scrape with a knife before the next coat. And always finish with a coat of lightweight premix for easy sanding.