Plaster Estimate And Other Contractors

Frankawitz

I when back yesterday and cleaned up the Crown so I can apply the rubber mold today.

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Frankawitz

I applied the rubber mold, so Today I'll be going and removing it from the Crown.

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Plaster Guy

Nice work frank. I wish I had a chance to do more ornamental stuff. What kind of rubber do you use for the mold? Keep the pics commin.

Plaster On

Frankawitz

I use Polytek products, the rubber mold I'm using for this job is polygel 50. I used their polygel 40 on another job but I didn't care for it cause it was thinner then the polygel 50. I like the polytek products I have eight other rubber molds I have made they are made of the polygel 40, the rubber is nice to work with it really brings out the details in the plaster Cornice. I have to go down there today to pull the mold, I didn't make it down there last night. I'll have more pictures that I'll post.

Resta

OK Frankawitz, take a brake and post more pic.

Frankawitz

Man I'm pissed, I finally got back to this job today, and I removed the rubber mold and found there were thin spots, so I had to recoat the Crown with rubber mold. So I put two heavy coats of rubber on and tomorrow I'm gonna put a third coat and also put some burlap in the third coat. So we shall see.

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Resta

Frankawitz, usually first coat of brush-on I lightly press with wet fingers to avoid air bubbles. On second coat I put some chalk pigment as apply everywhere that same thickness. Usually is good each coat have different colour to keep that same thickness. And to keep rubber in desired position I make plaster mother mould with burlap and wood or metal rod armature.
Don't mind this is on the table. I do that same on the ceiling too.

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Frankawitz

Resta what is that I'm looking at? as for what happened to the mold I was rushing to get it done, I know I should have applied a better coat the first time, but when your sitting there on a Saturday watching the rubber setup for 2 hours before you can apply the next coat, it's like watching paint dry, I wouldn't mind so much if I could work during normal working hours 9am to 5 pm Mon thru Fri. But these folks work and do not want anyone in their house while no one is home So this is going to take a month of Sundays to get done at this rate
I get what your saying about the chaulk that's a good idea, the only thing is I am limited on storage space to keep supplys on hand, cause I get these type of jobs once in about every two or three years, I don't do it everyday, if I did then I would be set up better, Now you say you make mother mold out of plaster, this time I bought the plastic mother mold and I was going to use it but I'm not really sure how to apply it to the crown, should this stuff be sprayed on? or can I apply it with a brush? I have never used this. all the casting I've done I made mother mold out of wood, they are more like channels that the mold lays in then I pour my plaster. today when I go back I was planning on putting the third coat of rubber on then press the burlap into the rubber or do you think I should add it to the plastic? You probably wont see this intil later. oh well I guess I will see how it works out.

Resta

We use plasti-paste or brushable liquid plastic for mother moulds only for large heavy pieces or for large footage and c channels for armature. For these small house projects I prefer to use silicon rubber. It's faster and cleaner. For your plastic mother mould material read technical information/bulletin.

Frankawitz

Resta,
I got the third coat on the crown today I was going to go back tomorrow and put the plastic mother mould on, I have the 1511 series plastic, so I will fill you in on how it went.

rogerhattman

The silicones look tempting from their purported performance characteristics, but I have never tried any of them on account of the high price vs urethanes. Is their any particular brand of silicone any of you might recommend?
Thank you,
Roger

JAD

Frank:

I just went through this whole thread in one sitting and enjoyed it immensely. I am amazed you could do the first job for $6,500, but I agree with you on trying to get it by down-scoping. Times are tough, and as long as you're not losing, all's well. In any case, I am a GC and always look for the best subs. I'd have no problem putting you on the job. Unfortunately, we do little real plaster work, and we're in Virginia.

I am bidding a house that calls for thin coat plaster on blue bd. If you've done that kind of work, any tips and cost info you care to share would be appreciated.

Thanks & good luck to you.

Jad

Frankawitz

Jad,
I do all repair work I don't do new construction, I got out of new homes back in 1985, I left new construction then and went into Insurance work I know nothing of cost for blueboard and plastering it. Sorry you might one of the other guys who does new work they maybe able to give you some ideas what the cost is. Good luck and Thanks.

Frankawitz

Boy, it will be Christmas before I get this finished at this rate, I was going to go down there yesterday so I called the customer. well I was told that I couldn't come down this week cause Teacher Parent conferences
all I know when the Holidays start getting closer I hope I don't hear "So how long do you think this is going to take?" I guess if I could work NORMAL Hours like 9am to 5 pm

Frankawitz

Roger or Resta, could I use the chalk that is used for chalk lines, or would this mess up the plastic mother mold? I applied a coat of the plastic today. I have to apply another coat and I have some chalk for my chalk line and I was going to add it to my next batch of plastic mold. let me know if I can use this or not. Thanks

Resta

Yes, I use that same chalk from chalk line. First blue, next red You'll need very small amount of chalk, about 1/4-1/2 tee spoon.

Plaster Guy

Hey Jad,
We do a lot of thin coat plaster (since most people don't want to pay for full coat stuff). I've used most of the products out there, and most of them do a pretty good job if you treat them right. Are you going to be doing the plaster or you just looking for info on the process/materials?

Frankawitz

Resta, Thanks when I go down there this afternoon I'll try that Thanks again.

Frankawitz

Well I went to apply the next coat of plastic mother mold, well I added some chalk (Blue) to the mix, I am not sure what happened cause when I went to apply it this stuff was like working with water I don't know if the chalk did it, but the day before I mixed up the plastic and it was nice and thick, So who knows what the mold is going to be like. I'll find out tonight when I go back down there to remove.

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Resta

Frankawitz, I think you need to have some armature, on mother mould, although you have it from plastic, but you'll have to keep mould straight and stable on the table for casting.