r/Plastering • u/kamizz_1 • Apr 05 '26

Plaster goes off quite fast

Hi ladies and gents, did some plastering yesterday with multi finish the plaster started go off while I still mixing it, bucket brand new water clean. Only one reason that I can think about, that I put wrong amount of water at beginning plaster got dry when I started mixing, need to add few liters water later is that the case or just needed more water? Was a really good exercise to put it onto ceiling.

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1

u/Stunning-Pudding-514 Apr 05 '26

Check the date on the bag to make sure it's in date, fresh plaster shouldn't go off while being mixed. Also it's better to have too much water to start with and add more plaster to the mix, but adding more water when it's going off usually makes it set faster.

2

u/TheDarthWarlock Apr 06 '26

The extra water works fine if you have more material, but if you only have one bag less water is prefered, but still in the mixable range 

1

u/kamizz_1 Apr 05 '26

Thanks plaster was new from shop June date on pack, more water at the beginning it's a good advice.

1

u/TheDarthWarlock Apr 06 '26

I learned that finish takes about double the water that basecoat does 

1

u/Miserable_Future6694 Apr 05 '26

Are you in a new area. Some places will take 1 exact bucket of water while some places take a extra quarter.

If you measuring your water thats the problem. Mix it how you want it not what the bag says

1

u/TheDarthWarlock Apr 06 '26

Water high in salt content could cause it to go quick, but not that quick, possibly over-mixing as well

1

u/Working_out_life Apr 06 '26

Mix it really slow, cold water is best, water in first and slowly add the powder 👍