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HOW TO
MIX PLASTER
An accompaniment to the Mastering
Plastering video course
Copyright Mastering Plastering 2008
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DISCLAIMER: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information given in this
manual and DVD or video download, no legal responsibility is accepted for any errors, omissions or
misleading statements. We accept no responsibility for your health and safety when carrying out any DIY or
professional construction work of any kind. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have taken all
appropriate health and safety steps and measures and consulted local building regulations before
attempting any plastering or any other work mentioned in any part of the Mastering Plastering course.
You agree that you will in no way hold Mastering Plastering, Kick Publishing nor any of its owners or
employees or associated companies liable for any loss or damage caused by acting on any advice given
either in this manual, the Video, DVD or any verbal or written correspondence with us. The information
provided in this manual, DVD or video download is purely for entertainment purposes only and should not be
considered as professional DIY or building advice and you should always consult a qualified building
surveyor before carrying out any construction work of any kind.
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MIXING PLASTER
STEP 1.
Plaster and water are mixed on a
roughly 50/50 basis. Therefore, to
make a single bucket of plaster, you
will need half a bucket of clean and
fresh water.
Pour the water into a bucket which is
ore than large enough to take the full
final mix.
STEP 2.
Add some of your plaster (not all of
it). A good rule of thumb is to add
just enough that it begins to heap on
the surface of the water.
Your adding approximately half of
your total amount of plaster in the
first go.
STEP 3.
Immediately plunge in your mixer
and start mixing – if you delay you
will get lumps that you’ll struggle to
mix out.
Use the drill on a very slow speed
(otherwise you’ll be wearing the
plaster) and swirl it around – lifting
the paddle up and down as you go.
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STEP 4.
After you have mixed in the first load
of plaster, quickly add more of the
plaster (about 50% of the total
remaining amount to match the
amount of water we put in).
Again, plunge in the mixer and start
mixing until you have worked out all
of the major lumps.
Be sure this time to get into every
corner of the bucket to dredge out
any dry plaster that is hanging out
there.
STEP 5.
Use a large margin trowel or bucket
trowel and scrape round the bucket
to remove any lumps. Also, test the
plaster by seeing how it sits on your
trowel – you should be able to heap
it in the trowel without it running off.
Most likely, its still running off the
trowel and so we continue…
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STEP 6.
Now we continue to add plaster in
smaller amounts (handfuls), mixing it
in and testing it with our trowel until
we have the right consistency.
However, avoid over-mixing the
plaster as this can cause its own
problems.
The plaster is ready when it is
smooth, creamy and capable of
sitting on the trowel without running
off – unless we want to plaster the
floor!
STEP 7.
Immediately pour out half of the
plaster onto the spot board (the rest
will keep better in the bucket).
The plaster is now ready to use.
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STEP 8.
Wash the equipment immediately
before proceeding.
Do not leave the plaster to even
partly dry on your equipment as it
will be hard to remove and can ruin
your gear.
