I tried to find hot mud today at my builders’ supply (not a big-box, just a regular old-time place). They had no idea what I was talking about. I’m thinking this is chemically-setting drywall joint compound, as opposed to the usual stuff that hardens by evaporation.
I have some larger-than-normal gaps to fill, and I’m hoping that hot mud would not shrink as much as the usual stuff. Is that true?
And is there a brand name that anyone can give me that I might find in New Jersey?
Thanks
Bob Chapman
Replies
Durobond 20, 45, or 90. Home Depot carries it. It says "easy sand", but don't be fooled. Do not overfill your gaps.
DIA
You're mixing up two different compounds made by USG.
Durabond is tough, not very easy to sand (get out the 60/80g) comes in grocery-bag colored bag.
EasySand is as it says... easy to sand. Comes in a white bag. Both flavors come in various "set" times 5/20/45/90, etc.
Home Dumpster carries some of the set times in my area for both flavors (typically 45/90, every once in a while I see the 20).
He's not mixing them up, they're both Durabond products. There's regular Durabond, which I prefer for setting corner bead (expanded metal mesh only, please!), and there's E-Z Sand, which, as it's name implies, can be sanded. Regular, old-fashioned Durabond cannot be sanded, but you'll never regret using it for your first bead coat.Unless, that is, you like callbacks.AitchKay
Regular, old-fashioned Durabond cannot be sanded
Wish someone would have told me that 30 years ago before Easysand wasn't even a dream.
Durabond can be sanded, it just takes some effort, wasn't much of a choice back then.
Hell, even Durham's Rockhard can be sanded.
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Mike
Small wheel turn by the fire and rod, big wheel turn by the grace of god.
Edited 2/12/2009 11:50 pm by ruffmike
Okay, I'm not seeing it. Both are USG "Sheetrock"products, both are setting compounds, but if you go to USG's site... Easy Sand does not appear to be Durabond. Unless it's a regional naming convention difference...
Durabond:
http://www.usg.com/navigate.do?resource=/USG_Marketing_Content/usg.com/web_files/products/prod_details/SHEETROCK_Brand_Durabond_Joint_Compound.htm
EasySand
http://www.usg.com/navigate.do?resource=/USG_Marketing_Content/usg.com/web_files/products/prod_details/SHEETROCK_Brand_Easy_Sand_Lightweight_Setting_Type_Joint_Compound.htm
Rusty,The naming thing is rooted in the history of the products. The old dense Durabond used to be the only product of its type made by USG. When they introduced the lighweight stuff it was called "Durabond Easysand" or something similar, so customers would understand what it was. Over time the Easysand name became well-recognized and so USG dropped the Durabond name from that product...no longer needed.Old-timers still think of it as Durabond, even though the name is now gone from those bags of product. I'll bet Aitchkay remembers GP's SpeedSet product, a Durabond wannabe. Awful stuff, almost impossible to mix without getting lumps. Durabond was so much better it basically slew them in the hot mud wars.Bill
Thanks for the update, Bill.I guess I haven't read the bag in a few years -- I just cut it open, dump it into the appropriate clean, dry bucket labeled EZDB 20, 45, 90, or 210, as the case may be, and throw the bag away!And I guess it's true, I must be an old-timer now. Scary to to think of it that way!But I remember how excited we were when Easysand came out -- it was the hottest thing since sunburn!AitchKay
Now a daze you may need to go to a drywall supplier for the hot mud hard variety otherwise you can get
Easy Sand almost anywhere from your lumber yard to Lowes.
http://www.cliffordrenovations.com
http://www.ramdass.org
It's called hot mud because it actually heats up as the chemicals react that give it it's strength and quick drying.
So instead of asking for hot mud ask for some Durabond.
Start with Dury 90 and only mix a half a pan max to start until you get used to working with it.
If you are in a hurry you can hit it with a heat gun to dry it quicker to get another coat on.
Where are you in NJ?
Huston Lumber in Watchung and Oldwick carry both types of hot mud.
If they sell drywall products they probably had it, but you just didn't know enough names and the person you asked wasn't very knowledgeable. Hot mud, Durbond, setting compound, fast set. etc. Comes in 20 min, 45 min and 90 min etc, although the actual dry times vary a lot by temp and humidity conditions. We use it all the time for small patches, punch work, etc. And, yes it will work better for an area that requires a lot of filling. If for no other reason that it won't take 2 days to dry before you apply another coat.
Thanks, everyone, for your helpBob
I'm late, but I have always ordered it by the set time..." a bag of 5 min mud, 20 min mud", etc.
Don't feel bad. When I went to Lowes to ask for the right stuff (Durabond), the associate responded ... UGH Whats that?
Someone in the Lowes HW dept told me that there was no such thing as sheetrock nails. I didn't say anything, but I'm sure the look on my face told them to go check their info - or maybe not...
Just in case Durabond wasn't available in the area, plaster of paris mixed into regular compound will patch larger cracks, etc. I think I used about one to four (plaster to compound) ratio and it sets up quickly.
There are two main types of "setting"compound that Home Depot carries -- Easy Sand or Durabond "Setting" formula. The Easy Sand comes in a white and blue bag and the Durabond setting is in a grey (or beige?)bag with green lettering.
They both offer different "work times" (approx length of time before it sets and becomes unworkable) of 10 minutes, 20 mins 30, 45, 60, and 90.
As it's name implies the Easy Sand is easier to sand when set AND DRIED. Sanding before it fully dries will just gum up your sander. The Durabond setting mix is a bear to sand when dry. Both can be scraped/sculpted after setting and while still "wet" if high or uneven areas are present ... BUT (and here's the operative phrase) it takes a skilled hand to do so without screwing up the job, so maybe waiting to sand is the better option.
A hint when mixing small amounts: use a handheld electric mixer like your wife's (or husband's) cake mixer. Be sure to clean it off immediately after mixing your compound to a consistency approximately like that of mayonnaise. Another hint: DON'T TELL YOUR PARTNER WHAT YOU USED THE MIXER FOR.
Good luck with your project.
I buy the cake mixers at Goodwill for like 25 cents, get 2 or 3 and you're golden for a long time. Chuck 'em in a drill.
I have used something with a name like "Webroot" floor patch instead of DuraBond and had excellent results on large patches. Comes in the same setting times and dries white.
Edited 2/14/2009 1:03 pm by dovetail97128