Replies

1. 
   calvin | Mar 05, 2014 11:35am | #1

   stan

   there's an old wives tale-to extend the drying time of setting compound- P in the bucket.

   Don't know the truth in it..............but, warm/hot water will speed up the setting.  Cold will slow it down.  So will a PAINTED wall.   With no drying behind the compound-it might lengthen "drying time". 

   The key-did it harden in the pan or bucket quickly?  if so, other than the above-thicker patches take longer to COMPLETELY dry.  They set fast-but will still appear damp and semi soft to the touch.

   The real durabond gets harder-and appears more set quicker I think.

   Still, you shouldn't paint right over still damp compound-so waiting is advised.

   Sorry I offered absolutely no help.

1. 
   stantheman987 | Mar 05, 2014 02:20pm | #4

   Calvin,

   That old wives tale rings true. We used cold tap water but that shouldn't have extended the cure time that long. The durabond stuff is great with respect to hardness and resistance to shrinkage but it does not sand well. Since this is what is covered by the finish paint it has to be sanded. It did not harden in the pan either so I'm leaning toward the "bad batch" theory. Either old stock or absorbed moisture long before we got it. Thanks.

1. 
   calvin | Mar 05, 2014 03:47pm | #5

   stan

   if it didn't set up in the pan, you bet it was bad.

   Some 20 is lightning fast to set-others not so much.  But, no matter what-it does set up in the pan if you're not quick enough.  I do have some 5minute for the quick patch jobs and that stuff is mixed in front of the hole.

   I keep bags around in the shop all the time.  Some have for sure been there several months.  I keep in a bucket usually, but seldom with the lid on until transport.  I'm in Ohio where it does get humid.  Never had a bag go bad on the shelf.  Might think they take longer to set-but can't say I've thought it wasn't working pretty close to advertised. 

   Be interested to what you find on the bag.

1. 
   stantheman987 | Mar 05, 2014 04:04pm | #6

   Calvin,

   My previous experience with this stuff is very simiar to yours. I had bags of the stuff for probably close to a year that worked just fine, and this was a brand new bag. I usually keep it in a plastic trash bag to protect it from water and to keep the powder from spilling everywhere. I should be back at the site this weekend and will check the date stamp. If I have time, I'll also mix up a test batch just to see for myself if it was a case of over-watering by the volunteer. He's pretty experienced, so I doubt it. If it still takes overly long to set I'll return it to HomeDepot. USG guy said they would honor the return... Either way, I'll post my findings.

2. 
   spclark | Mar 05, 2014 01:29pm | #2

   This Fresh EasySand?

   I like the stuff myself but have trouble using up a bag & not wanting to throw out sometimes more than half....

   Taken to storing it in gasketed-lid 5 gallon plastic bucket (Dunkin' Donut frosting pail but they're getting hard to find) to keep it workable, otherwise it'll pull water vapor out of the air & that screws up the chemistry, can cause what you're describing.

   70 degrees & ~ 40% relative humidity ought to see it set in 30 minutes as suggested but it'll stay damp to the touch for 4 hours or more.

   I used to make & install wall murals, used ES20 for fairing bad walls before installs. Over sealer / paint it takes longer to set AND dry sufficiently before putting anything over it. Typically I'd fair one day & finish install the next or risk call-backs later on.

1. 
   stantheman987 | Mar 05, 2014 02:13pm | #3

   This was a new bag From HD. I actually called USG to find out how to tell if the stuff is too old. They have a "born on" date code stamped on the bag in the format of MMDDYY+some added digits for time, plant # etc. They said the compound is good for 6-9 months after that date. I haven't gone back to the site yet to check the bag, but I could be a victim of poor stock rotation at the store...

3. 
   stantheman987 | Mar 10, 2014 09:30am | #7

   Looks like it was "user

   Looks like it was "user error" after all. I was back on site this weekend and did some more digging. First, the "born on" date code was 12/21/2013 so the compound was well within it's useful life of 6-9 months. I also mixed a small batch myself and used it to fill a crack and also left the rest to set up in the pan. Both the filled crack and the remaining compound in the pan started setting up in around 20 mins, just as it should. So the only conclusion I can reach is that the volunteer put too much water in the last batch. Surprising, since he's pretty experienced with this stuff - so much so that I figured something else had to be the cause, which prompted the post. Chalk this up to "live and learn" and "don't jump to conclusions"... Anyway, thanks to all that responded.

1. 
   calvin | Mar 10, 2014 12:38pm | #8

   stan

   Thanks for filling in the story.

2. 
   DanH | Mar 10, 2014 06:50pm | #9

   Maybe he was, er, peed at you, and took it out on the mud.

4. 
   stantheman987 | Mar 10, 2014 07:20pm | #10

   There's that old wives tale again. New rule: no beer BEFORE spackling... 

1. 
   calvin | Mar 10, 2014 07:58pm | #11

   Stan

   here's the more modern day tale involving drywallers, bucket and P. (etc.)

   Don't, under any circumstances go fetch a bucket from the basment and don't forget to disinfect the sump crock.

1. 
   AndyEngel | Mar 11, 2014 08:42am | #12

   And if you find a closed joint-compound bucket in the woods, just toss it in the Dumpster. Do not under any circumstances indulge any curiosity you might have about its contents.