How to mix Quick Set Drywall Mud small batches Hot mud

[@penguins9645]

For complete newbies like me, I can't recommend the 90 minute stuff enough. Gives you lots of working time to figure stuff out, and at the end of the day, unlike the pros an extra hour isn't a big deal - my projects are measured in DAYS, not hours for even the tiniest projects LOL. I also mix much smaller batches and use a old soup ladle to scoop out the powder. I'm a bit slower than you are.

[@karengreene1999]

Same here but not just days sometimes weeks lol

[@AndrewCislak]

Same, but months lol

[@MarleneD1216]

I'm doing a refresher course for a bathroom project I'm finishing now that I'm retired. It was started 17 years ago... yeah... no rush on how long it takes to dry! LOL

[@ScottB0107]

Thank you! I was planning on getting 45. Glad I saw this.

[@dmutant2635]

@@joseph7105 Paper tape is fine. It's recommended you don't use mesh tape with regular mud/joint compound.

[@ballgms308]

I literally started a drywall repair “specialized” company after learning how to finish drywall from this guy. I had an insane boss/contractor sub me out the job and he got lucky I cared enough to research and hit up KZbin. By the time I finished I enjoyed taping/finishing. The The way Ben talks in his videos make it easy to relate to, super honest. I can’t even tell most of my customers that I learned from KZbin. Funny thing is I’m quicker with better quality than people I have tried to hire with decades of experience.

[@chaselight]

Great idea. Good luck to you.

[@maxgilbert18]

Yup I've experienced the same thing. 20 years experience doing it wrong, no idea what a building code is, never pulls permits. Yeah. We don't do that here. 😂

[@mostlikelywedoitservices6926]

Yes I agree with your statement. But slinging mud is very easy when you have spent time practicing. I remember one day I blew through the job. Mud was not all over the place and had little sanding. That was the day I said to myself man I got this beast whipped. Then years later a contractor was talking crap and I said take you pencil and draw a circle on the sheet rock. I took my 6" dipped some mud and slinged it at the circle. 75% landed in the circle. Then handed loaded blade to contractor and said now your turn. He nailed the window instead while trying to hit the circle. I just smiled and said you got a mess to clean as I went over to the circle and ran the blade and removed the mud.

[@glennlavalle9807]

Sure you are. 😂🤣😂👍

[@toonybrain]

Ignorant people belittle the knowledge pool and first-rate craftsmen on KZbin. If you find the right “mentors” and you take pride in excellence, you will be the best just as they are.

[@RunDMS]

Bro the fact that you tell us that even with experience it can still set funky makes me feel so much better. I’ll keep giving it my best. Thanks VC!

[@3leggedgenes]

It looks like lots of beginners commenting so I just thought I'd add a few lessons learned to this good and accurate video. It can seem intimidating to use setting compound at first but I much prefer it now that I've made all the mistakes with it that are humanly possible lol. 1. Less water = more open time. It seems counter intuitive, but water is the catalyst causing the hardening here, not evaporation like premix. I shoot for the least amount of water possible to make my mix workable. 2. I don't do this every day, so mixing in the pan just takes too long for me. Also the more actual mixing/motion, the less open time. I mix in a 2 gallon bucket, the kind that is just a mini 5 gallon not the cheap flimsy type for mopping or whatever, and use a potato masher with a rounded front edge from the dollar store, and I can have a full pan way faster with perfect consistency with minimal mixing and mess. 3. Reiterating the point about cool and clean water. Using warm or hot water is like jump starting the setting process. Also, USG accelerator is Aluminum Sulfate, and that's supposedly used in water treatment processes so if you're having issues with mud going off too fast it may be the site water, you can try adding retarder. 4. If you're like me just doing repairs mostly and a big bag can last you a long time, you might be better off keeping it in a bucket w/ a lid so you can shake it up. The contents will settle differently in the bag over time and without mixing it all up, can also make setting times go all over the map. 5. There's def inconsistency in set time between bags of the same thing. 6. This stuff is so cheap, don't stress about how much to mix or about getting it all up if it starts going off. In the long run it will be faster to dump it and get another batch going. Eventually you'll get better at judging amounts and timing.

[@markypolo55]

Great "tips", Thank You!

[@jackiecrowe-talma2169]

Your less water tip really came in handy today.It mixed very smooth and didn't harden before I could use it all

[@erichsh58]

Thanks for the tips! Since I'm just starting out, I bought a bag of 90 minute Quick Set Light joint compound thinking I would need all the time I can get to figure out how to use it. But now that I've used it a few times I wish it would set up faster. Can I buy just the accelerator and throw some into a batch I'm making? Sometimes it takes all night to dry! Also I'll try shaking the bag like you suggested. I've had that same bag for months.

[@3leggedgenes]

@@erichsh58 The easiest thing you can try is using warm or hot water to speed it up. Tbh though the stuff is so cheap I'd probably just buy another bag of quicker set time.

[@jeffgarris1209]

@@erichsh58 With the bag of 90, it can be sped up with a small amount of plaster of Paris. Get a container and add to your mix in small amounts. In time you'll perfect your skills. 😎

[@frangiew9076]

You don’t realize sometimes how helpful you are, I am having difficulty with plaster getting hard to quickly and you helped with this video…your yapping:) is helping us.

[@peep39]

This was incredibly useful, BTW. I've been spending 10 minutes mixing my hot mud until it's creamy, those darn bubbles. Now I know better. Thank you

[@charleswright4541]

Ben is a great instructor and I've learned a lot from him when I mix my hot mud I use a metal bowl with a spatula and it makes very quickly and you can get it done real fast

[@cocogarcia1454]

Thank you, Ben! I come back to this video (and others of yours) every time I have another (inevitable) drywall project in my 100+ house. I’m a transplant to Memphis where the humidity can fluctuate wildly depending upon the time of year, how close the wall repair is to the exterior of the house, even the time of day seems to make a difference. Aside from simply getting better at the basics, your advice about using quick set has been the most useful for turning intimidating multi-day projects into manageable, (dare I say fun) and relatively quicker ones. Confidently reaching for the bag of 20-minute or even 5-minute has transformed my work flow and hopefully the value of this olde house o’ mine. Thank you again. Side note… much of the work I do on this house is matching new sheet rock of varying thickness (sometimes in layers) to olde plaster work. I have found that it is often better to forgo tape entirely. I’m still experimenting to figure out what to use when but 5-minute and 20-minute layers are key to matching the hardness of those complicated plaster layers! Once again, thank you, Ben.

[@mrtopcat2]

This is just the kind of elementary video that I was seeking. While I have seen older videos of you about mixing, it never hurts to see more. Also I have really appreciated your honest final conclusion about the "nature of drywall".

[@Sindee_gradmom]

Yup! Mud is def a "tempermental beast", I've learned the hard way and now I don't mess with 5 or 20 min quickset anymore....always 45. Makes me feel a certain kind of way knowing that this also happens to the pros. I'm not alone. Thanks for sharing Ben! Aloha :)

[@pound6599]

Yeah, I know. I would only use 5-minute mud for a very small job, but I go for the 45-minute mud. And that's pushing it for me.

[@stevehar883]

I ground a 4 inch blade down to fit the bottom of the pan. I use it for mixing. it gets the chunks and stuff.

[@stevehar883]

Also you can buy skateboard grip tape and apply to bottom of pans. It holds up for a while.

[@skiball83]

Buddy thank you so much for your videos. My girlfriend lives with her elderly parents to help manage..well manage lol..the 3 flat. I did my first patch job today. Former tenants punched a hole in the wall then patched it with 12X12 wire mesh stick on patch, then tried. I sanded it down and I used 20 min hot mud 3 coats. It didn't set in 20, looked like 45. I feathered those edges and she said it looked like her paint job without me sanding. To be surprised it really looked good. We will see what it looks like tomorrow. Im a hawk and trowel guy. Used to finish concrete. Thanks again. Edit, she asked how many times I did this cause I was working so smooth. I said never, I just watch Vancouver carpenter all the time.

[@Semperfries]

Crazy you taught me to kickflip and drywall... Bro u dah man ...a good teacher u r bro

[@salzy1864]

Using wooden painters sticks for mixing is a game changer. If you have a large quantity, use the stick they make for the 5 gallon bucket so it doesn't break. Way faster, neater, easier, and the sticks are free! Thanks for the awesome video!

[@patsypryor9850]

for us ladies that are new to this when you said "taping " I thought you meant "taping off" as in protecting things around the project which I do at the beginning if needed . this is great !!hope I can build the skill.

[@CentennialRenovation]

Love your content bro! I've learned so much from you. Here is my quick tip, I like doing small patches with the 5 minute hot mud. But, I mix it in Dixie cups with a plastic spoon. The mixing goes super fast and then I just throw away anything that gets hard in the cup and make another batch. Virtually no cleanup!

[@Scorpio77902]

Very helpful, Thanks man!! I've been finishing drywall for 38 years and never used the quickset believe it or not, so this was helpful. I do know that we can NEVER use hot or even warm water, if you do, you have like maybe 5 minutes even with a 45 minute bag. Learned that when I was mixing up some grout for a tile job about 30 years ago. Just a tip. But this was helpful, again Thanks!

[@Joetime90]

Those brushes are sold at Lowe's as "gong brushes". They're useful for cleaning your drywall knives, pans trowels, and hawks, and as you see, adding water to your pan. In case anyone was Amazon shopping.

[@dmutant2635]

A good rule of thumb: 5 minute smooth set hot mud sets up in three minutes. Unless you're anxious to apply a second coat. Then it sets up in 10-15 minutes. :-)

[@ryane6719]

Truth... and then there’s the “20” that’s about 7 minute when you need it to be 20 😂

[@andrewcarr2431]

@@ryane6719 And there seems to be a time period between "mix good" and "mix set". Normally in the time it takes me to adjust the ladders....

[@thefack149]

That sounds about right

[@ulrichkessler9328]

I don’t get it, my Durabond 90 sets in 30 minutes (working time) on my hawk. How can people get 60-90 minutes working time?? This shit sets quick….I can manage 30 minutes the problem is I have to work with small portions…a lot of extra work and time to clean the tools and mix it again. I already use filtered good quality super cold water…Any tricks I’m missing to achieve 60-90 minutes for Durabond 90?

[@dmutant2635]

@@ulrichkessler9328 Maybe try testing the PH of the water you're using? Maybe you're over-mixing it? Not sure if over-mixing is possible....I've never had that problem unless the product or water was contaminated. Our crew has used muddy water to intentionally quicken the the set up time...good luck.

[@skodengaming2477]

That is why I mix 90 minutes mud in a bucket with a power drill and paddle. It gives you way more time to work with it and it gives you plenty of time to work with it, in corners and joints (I use mold resistant mesh tape). By the time I'm finishing up the last area I can go back and pre scrape any areas needed before it gets all the way hard. Second coat is topping lite and it is ready for paint

[@paulwoodman5131]

I liked the pre cut tape sections. Probably covered this in another video but I've seen just a few of them.

[@TheHouser21]

Honestly, it was really good to see someone like you with so much experience, see some hardship with this stuff because I just finished a garage and it was sooooo much mixing of mud and it’s too hard and so on. Haha. Good content.

[@MsMVH]

We need to see these situations so we know what to do if it happens to us (home DIYers). Love your videos and am watching even if I'll never do some things. Oddly, they're really relaxing plus I love an expert sharing his knowledge, skills and experience so thanks so much! 🔨🚪👏

[@sawdustadikt979]

I’ve found using a 2 inch margin trowel is the best for hand mixing in the trod and the bucket. It’s offset really let’s you fold the material quickly like a paddle mixer does without getting your knuckles caked up. It also lets you get into the corners easily. This is a quintessential skill, thanks for walking us through it you always deliver knowledge/experience nuggets!

[@leahcotton5315]

Thank you! And thanks for sharing that even pros run into issues. I’m new to home remodel and it helps to know it doesn’t have to be perfect every time.

[@thunder3470]

Thank you for going over the basics, many people in cluding me forget to teach the basics. Thank you

[@elindred]

As a home owner doing this on a project I found it helpful to use two identical ~1L plastic takeout containers, one to scoop powder out of the bag and one to roughly measure out water. After a few pans I was able to determine the ratio I wanted and from then on mixing was fast and repeatable. I also had a margin trowel which I found made mixing much easier.

[@elindred]

@@CharlesStaggs it's been a while, but I seem to remember doing 2 parts of 45 minute quick set for 1 part water, maybe more.

[@nailbanger2]

As always, use what works for you. I finish professionally and I would be at a loss using g a 6 to mix with. I use my 2" knife because it fits right into the flat bottom, and I would be willing to race those folks that use a cake mixer. Especially if we count clean up time ;)

[@numbuh_uno]

dude im getting ready to tackle the job of skimming my entire garage and your videos are super helpful!!

[@cantdriveamotosaka]

I enjoyed the video very much but would just like to say, I quit mixing quick-set with a taping knife years ago after somebody showed me how much faster it is with a stiff putty knife. I also discovered that ice water can actually cause a faster (not slower) set one day when a cold fountain was my only source for water.

[@ladysbellayala1203]

You said that this video (how to mix quick set drywall mud small batches) might have been too simple BUT… I have to correct you… It was exactly what I was looking for. I am a first time “muddier”. I am Mudding my garage walls which were put up about 40 years ago then taped and left alone. The walls are stained and with holes here and there with electrical boxes everywhere, piping, fluorescent lights, and cords running through the ceiling and walls. Very complex beginning for me (61 y.o female). After having “research KZbin for the last 3 months on plastering, I decided to take a shot at it. My first batch I made was a full sack of 20-30 min Plaster of Paris and I did it all on an empty 5 gallon bucket. Now I have a nice hard as a rock plaster 5 gallon bucket. Never thought of doing it by batches. Then I tried the 90 min sack and prepared about 2 gallons soupy mud and had a million “bird droppings” everywhere. Then I tried using the last part of my mixed that had started to hardened and I have created the “Sierra Nevada Mountains” which I have had to tame down by scrapping off the excess. It looks so easy when You see it but it is quite another when You attempt it. I will say that by stopping and watching you again and working and getting hands on experience, then trying again, and watching so more… I have to sat thank you to you and other people like you that can explain even the simplest things… like saying… “don’t worry about the lumps… they will go away when you flatten them out on the walls.” So… keep on Keeping on and may the Lord richly bless you! Ladysbell

[@bigpapaadam1]

lol 20 minute mud requires sprinting in my experience lol it’s dries so so quick 😅😅😅 I find myself coming back to your videos on drywall constantly for reminders on how to do a job more efficiently! Your channel is always very much appreciated when I am working with drywall!!!! Thank you 😊

[@markjordan1765]

That's the same mud pans I use i love them in the winter. Wow perfect mix. Can add water but never add more hot mud.

[@andrewcarr2431]

You can also add good old table salt or plaster of paris if you want to speed up the drying time, if you need 15 minute mud and you only have 90 handy for those DIY patches. That works well on the ready mix joint compound to make "quick set compound"

[@OriginalHuchang]

Hello sir, I wanted to let you know that I really appreciate all the content you’ve released to help guys like me to improve out skills. You’ve really helped me more than you could ever imagine. Wish I could work along side you to absorb all the knowledge first hand.

[@scottrogers2831]

Well said and I concur!

[@dansievers8128]

I bought a small mixer from Menards that is designed to fit right in the mud pan. Just put it in the drill. It’s made of plastic so it doesn’t scratch. Works well but you still need to scrape the sides with the knife a couple times

[@israelrodriguez6986]

Man, just knowing that you still struggle here and there, gives the rest of us hope. Sometimes you see the incredible work guys like you do and it feels so far out of reach. So to see that even you make some mistakes or don’t get it right all the time gives us some optimism.

[@davidgrisco1939]

DIY here...I prefer 45min quick set, I use a scoop for the dry, and another scoop with water mixed with a small amount of adhesive. I mix on plastic sheets on the floor which allows me pick up the edge of the sheet to blend, like kneading bread, then I use my knife to transfer to the pan. When I'm done with the quickset, I immediately use a plastic razor blade scraper on the pan and knife before it hardens.

[@Stevesbe]

Depends how much you have do 20 is what i just most of the time

[@THETIMINATORTHETOOLMAN]

I use a old agitator from a hand kitchen mixer. I got the idea from the kilted guy’s videos. I had to do some repairs at a tenants house the other day and needed to mix several batches of 20 min mud. The mixer trick really speeds up the mixing time.

[@ryandylanfunfamilytrips4220]

I've used one gallon paint mixer attached with drill. It's working well for me. Please try it out as I'm sure you may already have one gallon paint mixer around.

[@Malungeon18436571]

I sometimes use a paddle from a kitchen mixer

[@mikeutube7888]

Layman here. There isn’t a process I find more satisfying than laying down mud to cover holes on the wall

[@drewski5730]

Do you also enjoy punching yourself in the face?

[@zacharymaneja1207]

I'm happy you also were honest about the setting time being varied.

[@harrymuhammad9835]

Better to make a mistake than to fake perfection. I enjoy the way/spirit in which you teach. PEACE!

[@john.french]

Excellent video, agree with your honesty at 7:19 that would be tough to film and work with hot mud in 20 mins

[@jsaenzMusic]

Thank you! Just bought a bag of joint compound to mix custom batches for small home dry wall repairs instead of the little buckets I used to buy and only use like an 8th of and the rest go to waste. This is gone help a bunch!

[@zackfishle1009]

I like the 3 or 10 minute "5 minute mud." Sometimes the set time varies it seems based on batches.

[@hectorespudo5565]

When mixing in your pan like that it's best to mash it up against the sides of your pan. Gets those lumps out faster so you aren't working them out on the wall later

[@MultiMaverix]

So a bit soupy for applying tape and pancake consistency for feathering?

[@hectorespudo5565]

I dont think soupy is ever good when taping with a pan and knife. Or else you just make a mess everywhere you go. Pancake/sour cream consistency will provide the best resault everytime. Soupy can be good for skimming walls at the very end if the wall will have no texture and for spraying texture but thats about it.

[@christophertiredofbs8514]

Thank you so much for uploading this, once in a great while I was getting cracks, I never prefilled the joints, thank you so much for your time.

[@andrewcarr2431]

I find that the amount of product in the bag does make a difference. I can mix up half a bag and get the allotted time. Mix up a small batch from the remainder in the bag and it sets up differently. Could be how the ingredients of the mix settles in the bag? Although it *should* be even from the factory in each bag. Same as potato crisps (chips for the North American folks), you get the salt/seasoning left in the bottom of the bag at the end.

[@GoNaD5757]

I had a job where I noticed the 20 and 45 were behaving opposite. I thought maybe it was the water, but i used the same bags on another job and it did the same thing. Started thinking the bags were wrong from the factory! LOL I don't remember if the jobs were city or well water, but I think it was city!

[@yugenyama-0808]

Always appreciate the quick clear tutorials. Thanks amigo!

[@zachshaver3449]

In a pan like this I like to mix 1 cup water to 2.5 cups of powder then adjust with more water if needed. If you get too much in the pan it's kind of hard to mix it up good, as shown in this video always add the water first as said in the video, it helps to avoid clumps

[@greggfridline4260]

this is exactly what I was looking for. I never thought you could mix it that way. Saved me a ton of time having to clean all the mixing stuff over and over.

[@LouisFrancois]

I tried a new trick recently that worked super well : electric mixer paddle attached to my drill... It mixed really quick and the consistency was perfect

[@VC-Toronto]

If you have access to a mig welder or a friend has one, grab some stainless steel wire (about 1/8 inch diameter) and make 3 loops, welded onto a 1/4 inch stainless steel coupling nut (long nut). Thread a stainless bolt into it, and cut off the head. You now have a stainless mixer head that won't rust, chip, or flake off the chrome coating the way a kitchen mixer paddle can do. It took me 2 tries to get mine "right". When I need to mix up a small batch, I have a plastic mixing bowl (I think from IKEA) that I use to do the mixing in with a cordless drill. If I only need a small amount, I skip the attachment and have a hand whisk that I use. Yes, it looks like I'm making pancakes, but it's fast and doesn't tend to leave any bits as there are no corners to hide in. A rubber spatula gets pretty much 100% of the mixed product out of the bowl and into the pan.

[@ballgms308]

If you ever get a chance seeing you finish a closet would be like gold. Which joints to tape first and using what type of hot mud

[@kevinstone9825]

warm waiter makes it set faster also, and I love my drill and gallon paint mixer, perfect for a pan

[@loidor8013]

I really love how often you get out videos!

[@brianhamilton4635]

Hi Ben you didn't say it but I feathered the like button, hi from Northern Ireland

[@markypolo55]

Ok, I like the way you "pre-cut" your tape to save time!

[@HotspotsSoutheast]

I want to thank you for your videos. I suck at this but after watching many of your videos I at least know “how” to do it. I am finishing a room that was once two bedrooms that are now joined together. Two angled doors were replaced with a single door square with the walls. The guy who did the construction and hung the drywall was drunk when he did it. The walls are crooked as heck and don’t line up. The tape and mud he did good. But that left me with all the screw ups to fix. The corners I just spread the mud over the tape and smoothed as best I could. Then sanded them down and filled the remaining small gaps with that soft drywall patch that starts pink and turns white when dried. It’s very soft and easy to work with. The corners look very nice now. The gap that was filled where the wall was removed has had a couple of coats to try to level it and it’s pretty close. One more coat and sand should do. The worst part in the hallway where the old wall and new are close to an inch off I have filled and tapered in several coats and it’s almost not noticeable how off the wall was. Another coat and sanding and I think it will be acceptable. Then just finish the ceiling patches where the wall was removed and I’m done with mud. Again. Thank you for all your videos. They were very instructive. And almost entertaining. As entertaining as mud can be :)

[@Henderson52501]

I use a plastic cup from the convenience store, 32oz and 42 oz to mix the mud in with a cake mixer paddle chucked in a drill. Mixes fast. Cut the sides of the cup and dumping the hawk. Less cleaning that way unless you need more Mudd than that at a time.

[@ramachandran8666]

Super useful tips and actual teach by doing on these subtle aspects of doing the job right. You have helped me be a bit more confident in taking on a DIY I would not have attempted without help from your many excellent videos relating to drywall whether new or repair work. Thanks and greetings from US

[@ChrisTietjen_00]

I've found that a lot of the variability of using quick set can be eliminated if you accurately measure both your powder and water. If you do this through several batches in a row you can hone in on a ratio that gives pretty consistent results. Then all you have to do is keep a record of the quantities and use slightly less water than you might require so you can fine tune up to a regularly repeatable mix. Your brush method of adding water is killing your open time. You should know how much water to use given a certain weight (or volume) of powder within a couple of ounces. Great videos!

[@sundog8772]

What would you suggest for measuring purposes?

[@ChrisTietjen_00]

@@sundog8772 I use one quart transparent plastic cups that soup is often sold in. I mark them with a Sharpie as necessary. I mix in a small plastic bucket with a margin trowel and then transfer to a hawk or tray as required. If I'm going to do a number of consecutive batches I'll use a battery drill with a small painters stirring paddle to speed up the mixing process. I spin the paddle in a bucket of water set up just for cleaning to keep it free of setting mud. The key thing is to always keep track of exactly how much water and powder you're mixing into each batch. It doesn't take long to hone in on a reliable mixing process.

[@sundog8772]

@@ChrisTietjen_00 Excellent thanks for replying so thoroughly!

[@scottdibble8609]

I use 4/5 of a 20oz water bottle per full pan and mix with my 2" Purdy knife. Same mix every time

[@BigFarm_ah365]

3:1

[@jessharper8215]

I started folding it cause I think whipping it to fast like I used to do trying to get all the lumps out was incorporating too much air causing faster setting times. Maybe I’m wrong but I’ve used 20 minute too many times to count and it just seems I have a little longer working time when I fold it. Thanks for that tip

[@camiloardila2399]

Get a small silicone paint Mixer. Use power drill. If needed finish with knives but not much left. Can be done in seconds !

[@-supremebeing-]

I do this often when repairing electrical outlets. But just recently switched to using a drill and the ox mud pan whip. So much faster. You should do a video on that Ben.

[@mazzg1966]

Ya a few years ago i bought a Ox mixer and I use it all the time when mixing small batches in my pan...the shape really gets in the corners and works amazingly well...i carry it always and use frequently! Definitely should do a video Ben!

[@Danny87R]

Do you find that affects setting times? I have a bag of 20 minute that says don't use mechanical stirers, I tried it once in a rush and it set up in under 10 minutes!

[@mazzg1966]

Yes for sure if you mix too long it can speed up the set time a little... But not too much

[@andrewcarr2431]

I purchased a cheap ($10) electric hand mixer from the kitchen aisle at the local big box store, mixes up quickset in the pan in seconds and a quick dunk in the water bucket even means you don't need to clean off the blades too well....

[@edover50]

Really love these real world problem videos as it makes me feel less the cause of some of my drywall issues ....or at least I understand them better. Thanks Ben!

[@tyroneclarke1666]

Thank you for sharing your valuable knowledge. I’ve learnt so much from you Ben. Regards from Perth WA.

[@dbeaulieu9730]

What I do is get myself a small bucket, drill and paddle and mix my mud in the bucket. It comes out well mixed and its faster. When I apply tape using hot mud I wet the tape first. It seems to keep the mud from drying too fast and I never get any bubbles.

[@deedub429]

Much love from TX. Learned a lot from you Ben!

[@deankay4434]

First time watching. Like floor linoleum, I always swear I will never do drywall again, but then it happens. If fixed vehicles and 3 boys give a surprise when you come home real late. We are paid by what we get done! My question is paper tape & sticky-back mesh! I am not buying a "Banjo" so I use sticky-back open mesh. I have alway seemed to have small repairs, but you are young. As boys grow up, they can turn into that uncle who shows up on a Holliday and falls putting 4 foot X 6 foot holes in the walls. I screw backer wood (Pallet Wood if straight, works great as prices skyrocket April 2023) Home improvement stores sell half sheets if received damage and this works & not hard to place in the truck of many vehicles, back seats down and a $6.00 moving blanket at Harbor Freight or Canada, "Princess Auto?) I will say dry will be my choice! I don't use this everyday so placing the paper sack in a plastic contractors bag and seal to keep moisture out. Tip: I have a large 60 gallon compressor and air hammer. Old worn bits have value. I took a 4" X 6" X 3/8" metal plate, rounded the edges on a grinder, welded it to the bit and made a smasher! Plastic folded on concrete floor allows chunky bits of drywall (Concrete) but turn into power." Hey, I am frugal and hate throwing good stuff away. Works! Thanks for the video! As wet drywall waits for no one. DK, ASE Master Tech since 78, retired.

[@marcemarc6516]

Buy a paint mixer bit for the drill. Really helps with quick set so you don’t end up having to work it in on the walls

[@johnkruton9708]

Thanks for the tutorial. I’m finishing up one wall of my garage and I need to quick set my joints with tape. Your tips and information will help immensely. I have to keep reminding myself it’s my garage not my living room as far as the finishing work. I do want it to look good though....I have used your videos to better learn how to mud and tape. Thanks!!!

[@nombreapellido9568]

Hey I was wondering what tape I would use with my mud. I’m currently in a situation where handyman’s are charging me so much for small jobs and other ones don’t even want to do it because I guess it’s too small of a job. So I think I’m going to give it my best shot. Do you know what type of tape I can use with this type of mud?

[@johnkruton9708]

@@nombreapellido9568 well I’ve used both the paper and fiberglass in doing my own work. It depends on how much mismatch (if any) you have to cover and how much time and materials and work you are willing to put into it. My front doorway into my house (inside) took me several coats of mud after taping and feathering out the corners and the seams as it was only about 3 1/2 ft from door to wall but 8 1/2 feet up to the window above it. I ended up laying a skim coat and smoothing it out and making sure not air bubbles were in it. Was a real pain but since I see it every day several times a day (going up and down the stairwell to basement) I”m glad I put the effort and time in. Now about my garage wall I had to keep saying (its just a garage wall that will have 2 freezers against it and I’ll never see it. So I just covered up the seams with a decent thick coat of mud, imbedded the tape and then rough smoothed it out. After it dried I added another mud layer and feathered that out about 24inches from the seam. I had some decent gaps due to the framing and warped studs. I did add some shimming behind the drywall in spots as I didn’t want it to break when I screwed it down. The last coat was much easier and I did have some very small pin holes but I just forgave myself and got to finishing up the important part which is sanding it, primering, painting and getting the appliances and other stuff moved against it. 15 ft of wall and I really only see about 2 feet of it. So which tape depends on how mismatched your seams are. If they are money paper will be fine. If you have a butt joint against a tapered or 2 butt joints then fiberglass helps hold the mud to the drywall a bit better. Don’t skimp on the mud and attempt to just have a lil bit of mud over the tape. That’s what cheap handyman and cheap builders do. It doesn’t take much to add a little more mud and feather it out to look good.

[@maxc7680]

Putty knife! & not too much fluffing or you’ll get bubbles! Love the vids man!

[@vinnart]

Thanks so much for taking the time to make these vids. Very helpful!

[@mattbradford6731]

Awesome video, SUPER helpful and easy to understand, with no extra bull. Got me muddin in no time.

[@aaron74]

Drywallery is a temperamental practice! I've been doing it the past few days and yes, it really seems quickset is either immediate-set or never-set. Ha ha ha

[@GoNaD5757]

I had a job where I noticed the 20 and 45 were behaving opposite. I thought maybe it was the water, but i used the same bags on another job and it did the same thing. Started thinking the bags were wrong from the factory! LOL I don't remember if the jobs were city or well water, but I think it was city!

[@Reecefpv]

Iv had the problem with dumping out extra water and the quick set wouldn't set up as fast. It took way longer. I believe it let's the hardener run out. And on that same point. The more disolved mud in the water, the fastest it sets up. There is more hardener in the water with what's already in the mud.

[@brandonbdl]

7:33 100% true with painting and drywall.

[@im_a-man]

Try using a egg beater chucked into a drill for mixing hot mud

[@evictioncarpentry2628]

If you get a 1 inch knife its 100x easier to mix a batch of this in the pan and when it's getting close to mixed you can go up to a 4 inch to get the rest of the lumps out. No more spilling over the sides

[@DanaDangelo88]

Can you mix a higher number with a lower number to extend working time?Could you combine 5 min and 20 min?

[@self2self9]

I've seen experienced drywallers make all sorts of mud combos for various purposes but overall I would advise against it for number of reasons. For one, this wouldn't really extend the open time in any way. It wouldn't really even average out the working time to create a 10-15min mix, you would just have parts of the mud setting in 5 minutes and other parts setting in 20 minutes. And, depending on how evenly the two compounds are mixed, this may fool you in to thinking the mud has fully set and ready for sanding, another coat, or whatever you next step may be, when in reality it has not, resulting in a final product that ends up worse than if you just waited for the mud to finish setting. If you want to extend the working time for the 20 set your best option would probably be to just use a 40 or 45 min setting compound, those seem to be the most popular with all but the experienced pros. There are other trade secrets about adding different substances for certain effects but, unless you get lots of opportunities to experiment with different 'recipes' and techniques, I think your safest bet on getting the best results would be to follow the manufacturers' recommendations.

[@jackdolphy8965]

I’ve tried using an “egg beater” on a drill to (gently) mix batches of this stuff. Yes I’m a pretty green diy mud guy. Other than cutting the set time on 45’ maybe in half, what are the downsides of doing it like that? Tkx!

[@gabrieljohnson8989]

I like to use a cake batter mixer paddle from a old mixer usually find a old mixer blade at thrift store fits the pan perfectly

[@sescher4487]

Use a cake batter kitchen mixer, bowl and spatula. Works like a charm

[@motocross03087]

Thank you for your videos! I like that you take your time and try to simplify complex topics

[@kds471]

When mixing by hand I notice more water is needed vs chucking a pan beater in the drill.

[@curtisbme]

You skipped the most important thing newbies need to be concerned about when mixing hot mud: Clean-up. They might assume they can just put any mixer or other tool into a bucket of water like they can with standard mud and clean it up after they are all done, not understanding that it is going to harden in the bucket. Also how that as soon as they start to notice that the mix has started to harden they need to dump the excess and clean it out asap, especially if they are using full weight durabond or similar good, hard hot mud. Cleaning any mixing tools before you start mudding and not pushing once the mud starts to to solidify is critical or you will be spending a ton of time chiseling the mud out of the pan and off the tools. I usually set a timer when working with hot mud, especially for the longer 45 & 90min mud, to help me know when I'm coming up on the rated time so I'm not cursing myself for pushing it and spending the next 30+mins chipping mud out off things.

[@andrewcarr2431]

Great tip, I have a "Slop" bucket for such a task. Normally one i've used for multiple mixes of various products during my DIY work. And have a couple of clean (new) buckets handy, nothing worse than fighting with a mix in a dirty bucket. I tend to use a more non-technical method with a scoop of quickset on a scrap of drywall, when it starts to go off I know my current mix is end of life and should be disposed of as it will make a mess if I continue to use it. Goes for mixing buckets, etc too.

[@CoachDIY]

I use a electric kitchen mixer with the two beaters it's the same with as the bottom of pan butter smooth every time fast .

[@brucegezon]

I switched to using a small paint mixing paddle with a drill (or single egg beater) and a plastic bucket. So much faster.

[@samuelbankston2108]

I use a normal mixer works ok. But only do that if I need more than one pan.

[@brucegezon]

I'm referring to small 1 pan batches.

[@andrewcarr2431]

I got one of those cheap electric mixers from the kitchen aisle at the department store, works great for mixing up a pan of mud for small jobs.

[@samuelbankston2108]

@@brucegezon I did it today lol.

[@samuelbankston2108]

@@brucegezon definitely way better. Have to admit

[@TEAMPHY6]

Makes me better that I'm not the only one who has rushed to finish some hot mud

[@paulowens8972]

Try a cake mixer in a cordless drill. Works great!

[@peep39]

I started my first ever mudding with easy sand 45. I thought that was plenty of time. Let's just say my second bag was easy sand 90

[@JonnyDIY]

Ill stick to 45 mud and above 😆💕👍

[@devil262786]

Nice video I use easy sand 45 and a 2 in knife to mix it is so much easier with a 2 in knife

[@ynotbloom]

Say, Ben: you talking about getting that mud worked while it was setting got me wondering. With the quick-muds (I’ve only tried the 5 minute stuff so far) - at what kind of consistency, or when during its setting, would you recommend no longer using your batch? I’ve been experimenting with a present project. I think I can use it quite a ways into its setting. It looks like it’s working (now) but only time down the road may tell? Recommendations? Thanks!

[@jacobmartin4088]

Can you put a link for your brush? Haven’t been able to find one like it.

[@darylthomas4522]

Try storing unused mix in a bucket if not using immediately,it will suck moisture out of the air affecting set time and could be useless after as little as 2 weeks

[@mpxz999]

I just tried to do my first ever taping job with a small batch quick set... I had just used it for pre-fill like 2 hours prior, and it worked out fine! Predictable! I liked it! Then I mixed it the same way for mesh taping.... and... MANNNN! IT WENT SO BADLY And when I thought I could go fix , I made it 10x much worse It just suddenly started hardening so fast after like 20 minutes and each time I'd go to feather an edge that got messed up from feathering an edge perpendicular to it, I'd just start pulling partially dried mud from the other place! I felt like I was a on a hidden camera show where the hosts dumped a load of instant cement into my mud :( Durabond 90 is a scumbag quickset. It's a villian I tell you. I just dont get it. I cleaned everything in advance but... oh well When we fall down, we get back up! Time to see how much luck I have sanding it and cleaning it up with good ol' All-Purpose!

[@zacharymaneja1207]

Thank you! I was wondering why my mud dries so fast! I was using hot water.

[@stephaniecooper6963]

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