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Polyfilla vs plaster

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Lieutenant Scott

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Nov 12, 2011, 4:36:25 PM11/12/11
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Is there any point in polyfilla? Isn't plaster better?

--
http://petersparrots.com
http://petersphotos.com

The cost of living hasn't affected its popularity.

Roger Mills

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Nov 12, 2011, 6:46:11 PM11/12/11
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On 12/11/2011 21:36, Lieutenant Scott wrote:
> Is there any point in polyfilla? Isn't plaster better?
>

Horses for courses!
--
Cheers,
Roger
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Weatherlawyer

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Nov 12, 2011, 6:53:09 PM11/12/11
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On Nov 12, 9:36 pm, "Lieutenant Scott" <n...@spam.com> wrote:
> Is there any point in polyfilla?  Isn't plaster better?
>
> --http://petersparrots.comhttp://petersphotos.com
>
> The cost of living hasn't affected its popularity.

For small patches it is easier to sand down polyfilla. Ideal for
painters who need to get on with it.
Plaster is cheaper but requires a lot of fettling and you never geta
flush finish as it takes days to shrink. After wich it goes hard as
stone.

F Murtz

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Nov 12, 2011, 7:36:43 PM11/12/11
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Lieutenant Scott wrote:
> Is there any point in polyfilla? Isn't plaster better?
>

Polyfilla is flexible, plaster is rigid and cracks easier

Lieutenant Scott

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Nov 12, 2011, 11:07:47 PM11/12/11
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Depends on the polyfilla. I used some which requires the use of a belt sander to get anywhere at all. And I've gone through many sheets of sandpaper. It would be easier to sand rock. I suggest the "lightweight" polyfilla!
A group of cowboys were branding some cattle.
While they were out the cook saw a sheep tied to a post. Thinking it was for that nights dinner he cooked it.
That night after dinner the cowboys were all sulking and ignoring the cook. He pulled one aside and asked, "Did I screw up the cooking?"
"No", the cowboy replied, "You cooked up the screwing."

harry

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Nov 13, 2011, 3:21:37 AM11/13/11
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On Nov 12, 9:36 pm, "Lieutenant Scott" <n...@spam.com> wrote:
> Is there any point in polyfilla?  Isn't plaster better?
>
> --http://petersparrots.comhttp://petersphotos.com
>
> The cost of living hasn't affected its popularity.

Thick layers of plaster will shrink and crack. Ployfilla doesn't.
Plaster goes off very quick.
Plaster is harder to work with and get a good finish
Plaster is about a tenth of the price.

Lieutenant Scott

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Nov 13, 2011, 3:43:05 AM11/13/11
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I see. Thanks.
Whats the fastest thing in Wales?
A virgin sheep.

D.M.Chapman

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Nov 13, 2011, 4:30:27 AM11/13/11
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Eh? Pretty sure normal pollyfilla isn't flexible...

Darren

Lieutenant Scott

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Nov 13, 2011, 5:06:04 AM11/13/11
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Relative to plaster I can believe it is.
Never raise your hands to your kids.
It leaves your groin unprotected.

Dave Liquorice

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Nov 13, 2011, 4:58:35 AM11/13/11
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On Sun, 13 Nov 2011 00:21:37 -0800 (PST), harry wrote:

>> Is there any point in polyfilla?  Isn't plaster better?
>
> Thick layers of plaster will shrink and crack. Ployfilla doesn't.

Polyfilla will crack if applied too thick and too wet. Cracking of
plaster is partly down to being too thick (though browning or bonding
is fairly tolerant) finish coat much less so. Drying too fast is the
other factor, either by suction into the substrate or by being in a
heated room.

> Plaster goes off very quick.

Particulary when "old", ie a few months after manufacture and still
sealed. Mind you that can be an advantage to the amateur, whack it
on, smooth it, polish, it sets. You can't then keep on fettling it,
you are forced to work quickly.

> Plaster is harder to work with and get a good finish

I don't find that. The wetting down and polishing when the plaster is
in it's "plastic" phase needs to be carefully timed. But nothing that
can't be learnt.

> Plaster is about a tenth of the price.

But only easily available in 25kg sacks and "goes off".

--
Cheers
Dave.



D.M.Chapman

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Nov 13, 2011, 5:39:23 AM11/13/11
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In article <nyyfbegfubjuvyypb...@srv1.howhill.co.uk>,
I've used easi-fill as a compromise before. It's like plaster in someways,
but much easier to work with (even I can skim with this stuff :-)) and
is sandable (well, much more than proper plaster) for the times it doesn't
quite go so well :)

Not sure what the max depth is though.

http://www.british-gypsum.com/products/plasterboard___accessories/gyproc_accessories/gyproc_easi-fill.aspx

Darren

Andrew Gabriel

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Nov 13, 2011, 6:34:28 AM11/13/11
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In article <op.v4urmztmytk5n5@i7-940>,
"Lieutenant Scott" <n...@spam.com> writes:
> Is there any point in polyfilla? Isn't plaster better?

In addition to the other points, finishing plaster has very little
bonding capability, so you will need to use a bonding agent to
make it stick.

Plaster isn't much good for tiny repairs (dries before it sets,
doesn't bond to substrate, etc), where polyfilla works much better.

Plaster needs pressure to make a smooth surface, which isn't easy
when you're doing a small repair flush with existing surface.
Polyfilla just needs a wetted flat edge to make a smooth surface
as it sets, without the pressure, so you can do it flush to existing.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

Charles

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Nov 13, 2011, 6:42:57 AM11/13/11
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On 12/11/2011 21:36, Lieutenant Scott wrote:
> Is there any point in polyfilla? Isn't plaster better?
>

And toupret is probably better than polyfilla. The question really is
what do you want to do with either of them?

:-)
Charles

Martin Brown

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Nov 13, 2011, 12:30:57 PM11/13/11
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In a similar related vein what is the difference between
the stuff sold as joint filler (for plasterboard joints) and classic
polyfilla? The former smells to me like there is some active lime in it
how does this help and are the two usable interchangeably?

I have some joint filler left over (and no polyfilla to hand).

Also what is the stuff that they used in Victorian/Edwardian houses that
to all intents and purposes sets into a high density limestone almost a
marble finish? The appearance is inbetween the two rocks.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

Weatherlawyer

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Nov 13, 2011, 5:49:46 PM11/13/11
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On Nov 13, 4:07 am, "Lieutenant Scott" <n...@spam.com> wrote:
> On Sat, 12 Nov 2011 23:53:09 -0000, Weatherlawyer <weatherlaw...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > On Nov 12, 9:36 pm, "Lieutenant Scott" <n...@spam.com> wrote:
> >> Is there any point in polyfilla?  Isn't plaster better?
>
> >> --http://petersparrots.comhttp://petersphotos.com
>
> >> The cost of living hasn't affected its popularity.
>
> > For small patches it is easier to sand down polyfilla. Ideal for
> > painters who need to get on with it.
> > Plaster is cheaper but requires a lot of fettling and you never geta
> > flush finish as it takes days to shrink. After wich it goes hard as
> > stone.
>
> Depends on the polyfilla.  I used some which requires the use of a belt sander to get anywhere at all.  And I've gone through many sheets of sandpaper.  It would be easier to sand rock.  I suggest the "lightweight" polyfilla!
>
> --http://petersparrots.comhttp://petersphotos.com
>
> A group of cowboys were branding some cattle.
> While they were out the cook saw a sheep tied to a post.  Thinking it was for that nights dinner he cooked it.
> That night after dinner the cowboys were all sulking and ignoring the cook. He pulled one aside and asked, "Did I screw up the cooking?"
> "No", the cowboy replied, "You cooked up the screwing."

TROLL.

harry

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Nov 14, 2011, 3:26:00 AM11/14/11
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Martin Brown

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Nov 14, 2011, 4:44:00 AM11/14/11
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Aren't they all basically some variant of plaster of Paris with suitable
additives, fillers and fibres to provide resilience, flexibility and
slower curing times?

I am interested to know how interchangeable the dry wall joint filler
stuff is with polyfilla. I suspect it should be OK but would be grateful
for any explanation of how it is different from Polyfilla.

I suspect the old stuff I am looking at is a lime plaster. It really
does look semitranslucent crystalline like a slab of marble rather than
opaque white or pink that I associate with normal plaster. A steel file
will barely scratch it and sanding it rapidly wears out the paper!

There is some of every era of plasterwork in the room from 1890 onwards!

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

Lieutenant Scott

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Nov 17, 2011, 5:48:46 PM11/17/11
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On Sun, 13 Nov 2011 22:49:46 -0000, Weatherlawyer <weathe...@gmail.com> wrote:

> On Nov 13, 4:07 am, "Lieutenant Scott" <n...@spam.com> wrote:
>> On Sat, 12 Nov 2011 23:53:09 -0000, Weatherlawyer <weatherlaw...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> > On Nov 12, 9:36 pm, "Lieutenant Scott" <n...@spam.com> wrote:
>> >> Is there any point in polyfilla? Isn't plaster better?
>>
>> >> --http://petersparrots.comhttp://petersphotos.com
>>
>> >> The cost of living hasn't affected its popularity.
>>
>> > For small patches it is easier to sand down polyfilla. Ideal for
>> > painters who need to get on with it.
>> > Plaster is cheaper but requires a lot of fettling and you never geta
>> > flush finish as it takes days to shrink. After wich it goes hard as
>> > stone.
>>
>> Depends on the polyfilla. I used some which requires the use of a belt sander to get anywhere at all. And I've gone through many sheets of sandpaper. It would be easier to sand rock. I suggest the "lightweight" polyfilla!
>
> TROLL.

For making a sensible suggestion about polyfilla? What the fuck is wrong with you?
President Bush is rehearsing his speech for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
He begins with "Ooo! Ooo! Ooo! Ooo! Ooo!"
Immediately his speech writer rushes over to the lectern and whispers in the President's ear:
"Mr. President, those are the Olympic rings. Your speech is underneath."
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