whats the big fascination with the sponge float?????

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Quinny08

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i've been in the plastering game for 7 years now fully qualified and time served.
At college my tutor never showed us or told us how to go about using a sponge float. But since being known to other plasterers around my area they are all talking about using the sponge float and how great it is.
I personally don't see the big fascination with it. I have one, used it, but don't see how using 1 can benefit as much as your normal 2 coat finish.
Also could you let me know how YOU use them so i know different methods of using 1.
thanks for your time guys.
 
sponge floats are used with knauf plaster mate. Plasterers are always looking to save time and jump from one thing to next thinking this will save me time.
All you need is a TROWEL full stop.
 
Aye multi I reckon you could only do it on board, you don't have to sponge it, you can see the sponge lines but can't feel them I wouldn't bother if I was 2 coating, you never seem to get tiger stripes if you use a sponge too
 
spunky said:
Aye multi I reckon you could only do it on board, you don't have to sponge it, you can see the sponge lines but can't feel them I wouldn't bother if I was 2 coating, you never seem to get tiger stripes if you use a sponge too
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cheers spunky
 
No worries if you want to try it fill any tapered edges/beads then lay a coat on a bit thicker I just do 3 sweeps instead of 2 let it pick up flatten it wet it all down sponge it and trowel it
 
spunky said:
Hello mate I put a coat on flatten it soak it sponge it and trowel it up
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What it means is that Spunky is a ruff c**t but the prices he has to work for on site this is what you have to do to make any money and you will get away with it cos no one gives a fcuk.
 
it will have to look alright or else you would nt get paid.i think its great that you can do it and get paid prices there paying.problem is there are some dicks out there who check work out big time
 
2 coats always makes for a better job,leave a quality job take pride in your work
unless your on a site getting one pound sixty seven .2 pence measured through then its less than one coat.
and i aint ever used a sponge float either and it aint done me any harm
 
Yeah suppose so just keep them clean don't go at them with a stiff washing out brush scrape them on the side of a bucket and keep dunking it in water and soak them over night, you can get them from half decent tool shops or refina it's the first sponge on the list mate
 
you one coating all the time now mate , does save alot of time ! just as good as two coat if done properly too
 
spunky said:
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Do you sponge mate or thinking of having a go?
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Nah always two coated mate, but needs must sometimes i guess. just curious more than anything, would be handy to have in the van.
The moneys not so much the issue with me cos i don't do site work, would just be nice to have the option of pulling a day or so back without busting me balls.
 
merlin said:
you one coating all the time now mate , does save alot of time ! just as good as two coat if done properly too
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I hate 2 coating mate it's a nice relief getting it on and that's it, trying too as much as I can
The way I see it I can 2 coat and it can look s**t anyway lol
 
You don't have to sponge it airborne but itseems to sort it out don't know why it makes it look even and you will never trowel up anything creamier lol
 
Fair one mate. Like said never done it but get the general idea. Im thinking along the lines of cranking all the pissy jobs like patching / small ceilings etc on the way home rather than wk ends, seem to be doing every one else's house up apart from me own at the minute.
 
if you catch it wrong it's fat grand you won't bring any up till the second trowel, airborne haven't tried it on Reskims mate I'd still 2 coat
 
how much time does it save and spunk if you get tiger stripes keep your trowel flatter when trowelling
 
We done a 4 bag set in 2 hours nearly 50 m as soon as it hits the wall it'll take hour half 2 hours tops till it's finished love it just want to get on a meaty skimming job when no f**k**s around so you dont feel like a t**t lol
 
Hi Spunky,

Can i just ask you fella how many trowels do you normaly give your walls before spongeing?

I tried yesterday on 3 of my 4 walls that had been ruffd out day before on hardwall that were sucking in like a guden!

I x2 coated my walls as normal then gave the wall its first pass then sorted my edges out and gave my walls another pass. I then gave each wall a sponged down then troweled once i did it basicaly in place of a wet trowel to be honest i was quite impressesed i think it gave a better result than if id have just wet troweled.

Should get the opportunity later in week to have a gander when dry purposely only did 3 of 4 so i could compare when dried. Will post an update!

Admitedly it didnt save me anytime on this particular occasion but i do believe it improved the finish. Can definetly see how used properly would be able to blast it out on board work on just 1 coat once beads and joints have been dubbed out!

Any additional tips greatly appreciated genuinly going to experiment a bit more with this im fu***d if im not going to try new things that can put a few quid in the pocket or finish work a couple of hours early on the prices at the moment!

Dont give a hoot what all the knockers say if the end result is decent! Im damned if im going to carry on killing myself just to make a below national average wage!

Cheers Zombie:RpS_thumbup:
 
I've never tried it like you have mate tbh ive done it over plasterboard and just gave it one trowel before sponging if you get on it too early or too late you'll leave sponge lines in, nice to trowel up innit it's like butter
 
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