Loading…
21
Got schooled on a job in Boise about mixing mud for different temps
I was working on a big house job in Boise last winter, and it was freezing in the garage where we were mixing. My usual bucket of all-purpose was setting up way too fast, like in maybe 15 minutes, and I was getting frustrated with the waste. The lead guy, who's been doing this for 30 years, saw me and just said, 'You're using the wrong water.' He had me use warm water from the sink inside the house, not the cold hose water, and it changed the whole game. The compound stayed workable for almost twice as long, which saved a ton of time and mess. He explained that the cold just makes the chemicals in the mud act weird and set up quicker when it's chilly out. It seems so simple now, but I never even thought about the water temp before that day. Has anyone else run into this and do you adjust your mix for really hot days too?
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
rubyschmidt6mo ago
Yeah, warm water saved me too, even though @mark361 says cold slows it.
6
finleyf886mo ago
Wait, have you ever tried cold water on a fresh stain? It's not just about slowing it down, it can totally stop the color from getting in deep. Like with red wine on cotton, cold keeps it from setting into a permanent pink. Warm water can actually cook the stain into the fabric. I've ruined a couple shirts that way, thinking heat would help.
6