Storing Drying Compound

wopachop

hey whats up guys im new here!!! ive learned so much from reading the past couple weeks my drywall skills have really improved.

question is:
how long can i keep an opened big bucket of green lid drying compound that is about half filled. i read about putting plastic wrap inside, think someone else recommended just adding water and pouring it out later.

wont be using it for about a month just wondered if it will still be good?

oh yeah after one day the mud stuck to the inside of the lid partially dried and fell into the bucket, that really sucked i had to throw out a bunch. could i have just mixed with water to dissolve those dried pieces, or does the drying process change the mud and it wont be the same. thanks for the help

BUTCHERMAN

A month should be good. Just don't let it freeze or go through many temp changes. How long is tough to answer. You never know how long it sat at the supply house. Welcome aboard. Look forward to hearing from you.

kgphoto

Always clean the lid and sides when you open the bucket. Keep the sides clean as you work and you will avoid the dreaded smoogies.

For storage, I put a layer of CLEAN water over the mud and then the lid. Stores great for many months, but we have very little temperature fluctuation here, just from the 100's to the 40's most times. Rarely, do we reach freezing, but if I was in an area that did, I would store it inside a conditioned space, like a pantry or storage closet inside a home.

wopachop

yeah i was wondering about that. bought the big bucket of green lid at blowes...its always empty in there i dont think they sell much of anything.

when i first opened the bucket the (latex maybe??) had separated to the top of the bucket.

is this normal or did i buy some old mud?

can those 'smoogies' be dissolved in water or does it undergo a chemical reaction that cannot be reversed? talking about drying compound. later guys thanks for the responses

Celtic

You do know what these are for:


All Wall

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A W Smith

i can remember doing a repair for a client of mine 20 years ago. i had done drywall work for him in the past. I told him I would have to stop and pick up some mud on the way over. he said don't bother he had some. So i didn't . when I get there he shows me the pail I had left there years before. It was in a tin bucket!! Holy cow i had forgotten those. Needless to say I had to run back out for fresh mud.

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Al Smith
http://www.awsmith.com

BUTCHERMAN

WOW i saw one of them once. A contractor had nails in them.

A W Smith

yes the problem with the tins was if you dented the can anywhere it was a bi**h to wipe down the sides and keep the mud clean. These are the same tins you see roofing cement in today. Only they were silver with blue lettering.

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Al Smith
http://www.awsmith.com

BUTCHERMAN

And i thought spackle in a box was a dumb idea. Remember that?

A W Smith

I bought compound in a box once. what a PITA. I think they still sell it. I think that was part of a finishing "kit' they used to sell which came with tape.

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Al Smith
http://www.awsmith.com

BUTCHERMAN

Wow you got screwed.

wopachop

wow they sell those!!! note to self save money for drill and mixer...drill first cause my wrist are getting tired from turning screws by hand.

come on man if youre gonna rip on me atleast answer the question: is it normal to buy green lid buckets that have separated?

ive never seen that before i mostly use setting compound for small repairs

C&S REMODELING

Well All The Guys On Here Are Right All You Do Is Soak Your Sponge With Water And Wash The Side Wall Of The Bucket Down Add A Little Water To Cover Mud Add Plastic Over The Top AND YOUR DONE

Celtic

You should try and use that thing attached to the top of your neck for more than a place to put a hat on.

Think about it...why do they sell mixers

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Brockster

The suspense is killing us here so give us a clue!!!

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Tim0282

Those drill thingys and mixer thingys are too expensive. I just use my six inch knife. Much slower when working by the hour. Makes the job last longer. Get paid more, and ,more...
Usually when the mud is separated, it has been frozen. Just throw that slimy stuff on the floor. Who needs that in the mud anyway??

A W Smith

Is that a three handed drill?

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Al Smith
http://www.awsmith.com

Tim0282

But I don't have three hands. Ummm... problem... Just take two hands on the mixer and spin back and forth real fast.

Celtic

After driving on some roads in NJ, you don't even to mix at all

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Tim0282

That would be the case in Iowa, too. They are bad!