[MARTINSR]

The video is self explanatory but I'll explain. I believe in having super clean, tools that are in good shape for speading filler. Just because it is a "necessary evil" to use these tools to spread filler that will then be sanded doesn't mean that your tools should be held to any less standard than any other tool. Yes, they will be covered with filler and all goopy, so what, so is your paint gun all covered with paint, buy you clean it. If you don't clean it you will end up with a poor spraying gun, and it will be spitting crud from previous paint jobs on the one you are currently doing. What makes a spreader and mixing board any different?

The smoother you get the filler on, the less sanding needed, right? The nicer the tool the nicer the filler will be spread. The nicer the filler is spread, the less sandign needed. I don't know about you, but I am all about less work if I can help it.

So I treat my mixing board (at least right where the filler is mixed, the rest looks a little funky) like any other tool, I keep them clean, and with precise edges to mixing as well as spreading is easier.

The video shows how I keep the edges of the tools nice.

Brian

[techron]

thanks brian, i would never have guessed rubbing a spreader aginst cardboard whould have worked. thanks for great tip...

[MARTINSR]

It blew me away I'll tell you that! I thought I was slick with a piece of sandpaper stuck to a metal beam near my box. But the sand paper woudl put little burrs that you would have to peel off. The cardboard works like magic! It leaves the edge smmmmmooooooothhhhh.

Brian

[baddbob]

Hey Brian, how bout giving some credit where credit's due?? LOL
http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15851

[cboy]

Thanks Brian,

I've been using sandpaper...but will be trying out the carboard trick today.

This might be straying away from you video...but have you ever seen a spreader that prevented "end lines"? No matter how clean I keep my spreader, I still can't prevent creating lines as I pull the spreader through the filler and it flows out and off each end of the spreader or the spreader digs into the freshly laid filler right next to it. This is a particular challenge when trying to lay down a nice final skim coat.

[NEW INTERIORS]

Originally Posted by cboy

Thanks Brian,
This might be straying away from you video...but have you ever seen a spreader that prevented "end lines"? No matter how clean I keep my spreader, I still can't prevent creating lines as I pull the spreader through the filler and it flows out and off each end of the spreader or the spreader digs into the freshly laid filler right next to it. This is a particular challenge when trying to lay down a nice final skim coat.

If your spreader is wider then the area,it won't do it....

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by baddbob

Hey Brian, how bout giving some credit where credit's due?? LOL
http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15851

LOLOLOLOL, believe me if I remembered what I had for lunch yesterday I would be doing good! I'm sorry Bob, and to tell you the truth I don't know if you telling me that is when I tried it. Knowing me, I didn't even give it a try and then months later a co-worker showed me and I gave him the credit! I'm sorry.

Brian

[timothale]

It's like tapeing and "mudding" sheetrock or doing plaster work. some of my Bondo tools are rounded on the corners,, and sometimes I use a small putty knife to but a daub in the center of the bondo tool so when you start spreading it it won't squish out the ends.

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by cboy

Thanks Brian,

I've been using sandpaper...but will be trying out the carboard trick today.

This might be straying away from you video...but have you ever seen a spreader that prevented "end lines"? No matter how clean I keep my spreader, I still can't prevent creating lines as I pull the spreader through the filler and it flows out and off each end of the spreader or the spreader digs into the freshly laid filler right next to it. This is a particular challenge when trying to lay down a nice final skim coat.

To eliminate the lines you have to keep the filler in the center of the spreader, not possible all the time but you can slow it down a bit.

If the spreader has a SLIGHT concave shape, I hold the spreader with my thumb up in the center "tuning" the shape as I go. I can keep the ends up slightly which helps. Also, the rounding of the edges as shown helps.

Brian

[chas350]

To remove the lines I use a trick I learned after drywall taping for years.
I will lay down my filler for even coverage/shape. Then I will make some final pass swipes, if you hold the spreader in a manner to lift the trailing edge slightly as you are making overlapping swipes you can make your way across an area with out any edge lines. I usually only do this when I am using a skim coat with Icing/putty etc not with reg filler as this is usually cut down rapidly with 36 or cheese grater. Takes some practice to learn the right pressure/motion.
Hope this makes sense, hard to describe.
chas

[cboy]

Originally Posted by chas350

...Hope this makes sense, hard to describe...

Yes, I'm having trouble picturing this. I'm sure once you've done it and seen it, it makes perfect sence. Maybe a little hand drawing or demo picture would help.

[Bee4Me]

cboy,basically enough pressure to knock down the ridge,not enough to respread what you already laid down.Problem is usually the glaze or filler is starting to harden and then it's a waste of time or a chunk comes loose and screws it up even worse.
And yeah, Bob was the first person to clue me in on the cardboard trick and that was several years back.
With "bondo" fillers,I wipe off as much as possiable and then use lacquer thinner and a rag to clean the rest off.
With glaze's,I let it cure and then you can bow the spreader some and most will just pop off and then use the lacquer thinner to finish cleaning it off.

[jcclark]

The trick to useing sandpaper is useing a fine grit,
I use 1000 grit by hand to just smooth the edges after cleaning.

[chas350]

cboy, basically you are lifting one side of the spreader as you go to keep a ridge from forming. You start by applying your putty, then starting on the right making vertical swipes with the right edge lifted slightly leaving a ridge free pass, the left side will leave a ridge/line, but your next pass will smooth this as you make your way across the section you are working on. You will have to move fast because once it starts to drag.....
This is easier to do with joint compound, that is how I learned to do this.
Oh, I also prefer the metal applicators for most of the putty work I do. Maybe because of my drywall taping experience?

Brian, Im going to try that cardboard trick, I hate them fuzzy's

chas

[cboy]

Originally Posted by chas350

cboy, basically you are lifting one side of the spreader as you go to keep a ridge from forming.

OK, that makes it clear what you are doing. I'll give it a try.