Master the mix: 3 tips for perfecting your setting compound

Whether you’re working against a tight schedule or dealing with overly humid conditions, using a setting compound can be an ideal option with many additional benefits.

Setting compounds harden through a hydration process, offering faster drying times and the ability to apply subsequent coats sooner. Most setting compounds allow you to apply two coats in a day so you can complete both the tape and the bed steps, which can save time.

Setting compounds manufactured by ProForm Finishing Products, LLC, an affiliate of National Gypsum Company, are lightweight and ideal for all phases of drywall finishing, including:

• Taping
• Finishing
• Filling
• Patching
• Skimming
• Laminating
• Texturing

ProForm® Quick Set Lite™ Setting Compound comes in a wide range of setting times — 5, 20, 45, 90 and 210 minutes — and provides a consistent spread for the entire time listed on the bag without getting too firm too quickly. The compound is also specially formulated to provide excellent joint strength, even in poor drying conditions.

To ensure every batch of setting compound reaches peak performance, use these tips to achieve the right consistency when mixing the compound with water, along with choosing the right working and setting times.

1. How to prepare setting compound properly

ProForm Quick Set Lite Setting Compound comes in powder form and is mixed with water on the worksite to a desired consistency. To achieve a lump-free consistency, follow these steps — and remember to mix only the amount of compound that can be applied in the designated set time.

1. Use clean, drinkable water only.
2. Place the amount of recommended water (see mixing ratio printed on compound packaging) in a clean mixing container.
3. Add the compound gradually to the water while stirring.
4. Mix the compound until it’s free of lumps with a mechanical mixer or by hand. Allow the mix to “soak” for one minute, and then remix until the consistency is smooth and creamy.
5. If you want a thinner or thicker mix, add more water or powder sparingly.

Pro Tip: Be careful not to overmix the setting compound, which can lead to shortened working times.

2. Understanding estimated working time versus setting time

While achieving perfect consistency is a key to success, selecting the right ProForm Quick Set Lite setting compound is equally important to ensure the working and setting time ranges match the project scope.

What does “working time” mean?

• Working time refers to the period during which the ProForm Quick Set Lite can be applied. At the end of this time, the material begins to stiffen and can no longer be spread easily.

What does “setting time” mean?

• Setting time refers to the time after which the ProForm Quick Set Lite will become adequately hardened so that another layer can be applied.

Work, Set, Repeat

Using the chart above, a drywall finisher who selects ProForm Quick Set Lite 45 would have 35–45 minutes of working time and an additional 45–70 minutes of required setting time before the next layer can be added.

Another benefit of ProForm Quick Set Lite is a feature called “snapset.” Meaning, in the scenario noted, the compound will remain consistent throughout the working time range.

3. Troubleshooting to correct common setting compound mistakes

ProForm Quick Set Lite provides a lightweight, easy-to-sand compound for fast, smooth joint finishing. While it is specially formulated to provide excellent joint strength — even in poor drying conditions — the mixing process creates a lot of variables that can result in the product not performing as desired.

Here are four common questions and troubleshooting recommendations to ensure your setting mix delivers.

Why is the product lumpy after mixing?

• There are two likely reasons for lumping:
  • The water was added to the Quick Set Lite rather than the compound being added to the water
  • The Quick Set Lite was not allowed to soak — for approximately one minute — after the initial mixing and before remixing was initiated

Why is the product setting much faster than the advertised range?

• There can be several factors that result in faster setting times, including:
  • Using dirty mixing water and/or application tools
  • Mixing the compound excessively
  • Adding a foreign material (accidentally or deliberately) to the mixture
    
  • Applying water for mixing that was too hot

Why is the product setting much slower than the advertised range?

Slower setting times are usually related to the water used, including:

• Adding too much water
• Using an impure water source (dissolved organics in the water generally slow the set time)
• Applying water for mixing that was too cold
• Introducing a foreign material (accidentally or deliberately) to the mixture
• Remixing the product after the initial stiffening began
  
  

Why does the product display weak strength?

A weak joint compound mixture is usually the result of:

• Using too much water
• Introducing a foreign material (accidentally or deliberately) to the mixture

What about ready mix compounds?

Factors such as the size of the project and tight timelines can require drywall finishers to choose between ProForm ready mix and ProForm setting compounds. Ready mix joint compound is an ideal choice when project schedules provide time for natural drying, the weather conditions are not extremely humid and daily temperature fluctuations are small.

To help you choose the best solution for your project, download the ProForm Finishing Products Construction Guide. The guide details the entire family of ProForm products, from ready mix and setting joint compounds to joint tape and texture products, along with more installation and troubleshooting tips.

ProForm Ready Mix Joint Compounds

ProForm Ready Mix joint compounds are mold resistant and easy to apply. Explore how to calculate drying times, the impact of weather conditions on both product storage and usage, and other useful tips to help you get the most out of every gallon. Read More