When USG first started selling joint compound in a box I thought it was a good idea, no more piles of buckets to deal with, or guilt sending them to a landfill. Heck I even had what I thought was a clean and quick way of transferring the mud from the bag to a bucket.
My method is to open the bag and pour a small amount of water along the sides so it works between the mud and the bag. Then grab the bottom of the bag and flip it over into the bucket, so the mud comes out efficiently.
Not that I do a ton of DW work but this method has worked well for me for years, that is until yesterday. Just as I went to grab the bottom of the bag with one hand while holding it off the ground with the other, the bottom split wide open, dumping everything in the customers gravel driveway (#%&*). I’ve had a couple occasions where the bag ripped or pulled apart trying to lift the mud out of the box, but never had a bottom go.
Anybody else ever have an episode with these thin bags? How do you folks get the mud into a bucket?
Replies
buy it that way :)
Do not try this at home!
I am a trained professional!
I have had the occasional bag burst but it was only because I was so excited to start throwing mud up on the walls. :) One method I use is cutting the bottom corner and squeezing the stuff out and pinching off when I have enough for my tray but that looks pretty gross, especially if the client is looking on. HA. Gonna try your pre-wetting method next time I use a whole bag.
Maybe it is better to leave this to professionals!
Never had a problem getting it from bag to bucket. Just open the top of the bag, turn it over and grab the bottom of the bag and it usually plops right out. Sometimes just slit the bag bottom and kinda shake and squeeze it out. I certainly don't worry about a little left in the bag- this stuff is cheap!
Also, I always buy the boxes unless I think I could use a new bucket. I think it's practically a crime to see the drywallers and painters sending piles of buckets to the landfill, esp. on the big/commercial jobs. When I can I take buckets and clean them up, have them for my own use as well as my coworkers. And I do it on my own time.
Doesn't make sense to me to fill my pan right out of the bag/box. For my purposes, I always add water and mix when starting a new batch. One of my peeves is when the other guy leaves you an opened bag to use. Well, many times I just have to throw the damn thing out because its got dried mud and boogers in it, preventing me from doing any finish mudding with it. JMHO.
Ken Hill
we always buy the buckets, if you don't need them someone else on the job would be happy to take them..
Just open the bag and fold it over the edge of the box and turn the box over on top of the bucket. Comes out cleanly.
Cole
Cole Dean
Dean Contracting
Cole, I'm open to new ideas, and after giving yours a try I must say you're a better man than I if you actually get a square peg to fit into a round hole with no mess.
Scott R.
Quit buying the boxes so that they stop selling the awful things. Buy the buckets and just leave them behind. We have to beg the spacklers for them.
carpenter in transition
I can't believe that anyone has trouble gettin rid of empty mud buckets, unless some slob has crapped in them.
Our dry wallers in Maine would sell them to fishermen for bait buckets.
Carpenters use them for tool and fastener storage.
Plasterers use em to haul plaster in.
Home brewers use em to clean empty bottles in.
Painters use to em to sit on while they are fishin when they are spose to paintin on your job!
Duluth trading co. has a list of uses as long as your arm.
I bet you could even build an ice fishing shack out of them!
T
Do not try this at home!
I am a trained professional!
Tim,
"Carpenter in transition"??!!
Transition to what. Carpentry is the Highest rung on the evolutionary Ladder!
Dont step down to some thing less! like contracting! :)
T
Do not try this at home!
I am a trained professional!
ARE YOU OUTTA YOUR MINDDDDDDD!!!!!! The buckets are a necessity and why would you leave em behind?????? Theyre as important as all my tools (that I have em' stored in) My wife threw out ten of my USG buckets from the basement the other day while cleaning up........grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. she'll never do that again. Was more impressed with her cleaning out the basement so I let the ten buckets go..but still.....takes a while to get ten buckets. OK OK so I only have 30 left. No biggie
Be well
Namaste'
Andy
It's not who's right, it's who's left ~ http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Edited 6/4/2002 7:52:56 AM ET by Andy Clifford(Andybuildz)
I cant believe we are doing this one . ok.
Open up box and fold plastic over top of box. Lift box to edge of bucket, and tap lightly . The mud will fall out a little at a time. If you wanted to be really neat , you could put plastic down , then scoop the little bit up, but a clean floor on a new job works fine . I ususally dont charge for that area of floor patch.
Next subject I would like to discuss; My price for a four gallon box is 4.50 at Lowes. Price for a five galon bucket is 8.55. Some of you boys are throwing your money around. I sell my paint buckets , as they are free to me , for a dollar a piece with lid. I also get the fifth gallon free by buying paint in fives over ones. You boys on the top must be getting your mud bought for you , is all I can figgure. I have to show momma a profit.
Tim Mooney
Tim
YOUR PAYING $4.50 A BOX!!!!!! Where do you operate? I'm paying $8.80 for the box and $9.95 for a bucket, that was at HD.
Scott R.
At Lowes in Russellville Arkansas.