Putting Soap In Mud

Chazbe

I have read on here the tip about adding some dish washing soap to your mud to help in the application. I am just finishing hanging and mudding a kitchen so after I beded the tape and did the first coat with AP i switched to lightweight for the final 2 coats(as normal). I thinned out the LT WT as normal, about 5oz of water into 3 gal of mud and and decided to try the soap trick. I put in about a shot glass of soap, mixed it in, and went to town. I was shocked
That mud flowed as smooth as a babys butt. Feathered great. It also seemed to sand a little bit easier. I am now a convert.
FYI, I am hand taping, no boxes.
Thanks to whomever first figured that out, whether they post on here or not.
Chuck

Tom R

Glad to hear it worked for ya'.

Al Gore says he invented that way, way back in his college days at 'Plaster of Paris'

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DeanV

Any chance that having soap in the mud could interfere with paint adhesion? It seems like it could.

Drywalller

Ive used soap in mud for years, I used joy.
No adhesion problems and definitely smoother to work with.

silvertree

This sounds great, can't wait to try it.

randomkiller

And it's a good way to get your workers near some soap on a daily basis.

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Tom R

And just remember not to re-open them buckets once they've been re-sealed . . .

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Chazbe

Oh, I forgot to mention.......

The lemony smell was just terrific

Chuck

Al Taper

The problem i have with soap in the mud is when you sand it it bubbles up.
And it makes the work smell good.

mcdelio

Is there a set formula or amount that should be used ? or is it measured to preference

Brockster

I use the three second squirt rule unless it is friday then it's 5 seconds for speed mud.

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Nigel S. Shorts

This thread makes me shudder. There should be no Joy in Mudville

Seriously, are you sure there are no problems with adhesion after doing this? The old "if it looks good, it is good" adage doesn't always hold water.

Brockster

Seriously, I'm sure.

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mrp

Why don't the manufacterers include it in the mud or market their own brand of dishso, er, I mean "mud conditioner"?

I haven't found any reputable studies on this practice (or even articles) in Walls and Ceilings or similar trade rags. Anyone know of one?

I've asked USG about dishsoap, and their response comes down to "don't add anything but water, and we won't warrant the product if you do." Not very enlightening.

thom

Stucco guys did this in the past. The detergent would destroy the asphalt in the paper leaving no protection for the building. BUT, the stucco went on real smooth.

Obviously there's no asphalt in drywall, but, will the detergent damage the gypsum or paper over time? Someone needs to ask a manufacturer.

mrp

There is asphalt in moisture resistant drywall (aka greenboard), but that's another can of worms.

dryrocker27

A sales rep from National Gypsum visited with us in the summer of 06'. He saw one of our guys adding soap to a couple buckets of mud and was very curious as to why we did this. We told him that it helped the mud to flow better and made it easier to sand. He wanted a bucket of it to take back to "The Office".

He came back two months later and told us that the soap seemed to break down some of the components within the compound and that National Gypsum would not stand behind any claims involving altered compounds.

He suggested a mid-weight compound, known as "Machine Grade". In their research, the mid-weight compound was close to the mud with the soap added. He brought us 6 buckets to try. We have enjoyed this compound and our supplier now stocks it for us.

This Compound requires less water and no soap. If soap is added, very little water is needed.

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Robert

oldrivers

A sales rep from National Gypsum visited with us in the summer of 06'. He saw one of our guys adding soap to a couple buckets of mud and was very curious as to why we did this. We told him that it helped the mud to flow better and made it easier to sand. He wanted a bucket of it to take back to "The Office".

He came back two months later and told us that the soap seemed to break down some of the components within the compound and that National Gypsum would not stand behind any claims involving altered compounds.


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well i dont know how you can make a comparisom between the two , usually tapers put the bucket of mud with soap on in one day then it dries the next , the sales rep took a bucket with soap in it and let it sit for two months ???? if you take a plane ole bucket of mud and open it then close it back up it will start to mold and smell in a few months also. I'd rely on years of personal expierience before i'd rely on a sales rep. if you've been using mud with soap with no problems then keep doing it as far as im concerned.

SelfContract

I need to know the color of that bucket at HD so I can buy (middle weight = Purple color)?

Rich Turley

I have heard that soap in the mud will decrease bubbles when skimming over painted drywall. Don't know the ratio though.

Rich