Skim coat of thistle plaster on plaster board.
Q:
how can I slow up the setting time of the plaster mix to give extra working time leveling the plaster.and have less waste with it going off on spot board.?

Neighbour suggested liquid washing up soap in the mix!.

Start Sunday so hopefull of early suggestions.
Many thanks.

Bob, January 2010

Many thanks Peccavi that's about 4-5 questions you've answered for me quite a 'mind of information' well done!.
Bob

bob, January 2010

I acted as a labourer for the plaster I hired to replace my hall ceiling - 3 sheets of plasterboard.

He first applied a basecoat and tried to achieve the best level rather than the best finish. After a few hours he scratched it to obtain a key for the finishing coat. Next day he applied the finish skim coat and went for a smooth finish - when it was nearly dry - after an hour or so as I recall - he slightly wetted it and used his trowel to "polish" the surface and fill any remaining hollows and air-bubble holes.

He only mixed as much as he could use before it went off (actually I did the mixing) - quite a big bucket with perhaps half a bag of plaster at a time.

Where he needed to palster onto brickwork he used a 4:1 mix of Water:Unibond PVA glue as a waterproof membrane - but NOT on the plasterboard only on brick.

This link might be useful...

http://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/plastering21.htm

Good luck...

Peccavi, January 2010