Had issues with this product last time I used it, not used it since. Until yesterday, now I put exactly 5.75lt of water into bucket, poored and mixed until smooth, tipped bucket smoothed out and it had a nice flow to it. Got to the bottom of bucket and left only residual amount, poured another 5.75ltr water into it and finished spreading. Started to mix second bag same as the first, finished mixing and thought that looks a bit thick, so went to pour out and it looked like it was setting already only got halfway through the bucket before it had gone rock hard in it. This is the same reason why I came away from it last time. Opinions please. Matt: Batch numbers are the same and stored the same, next to each other off the floor.
Are you using a paddle whisk? I've had exactly the same happen to me with 700 and another fitter reckons it was the paddle I was using. I use the Ardex whisk now and not ever had it again? Had that with 900 too but I'm sure that was the product
whisk can make a difference. Some can create heat while mixing. They are more designed for low power mixers. A powerfull mixer can turn a larger whisk at a lower speed but still mix as fast. Creates less heat in the compound from friction. I think your problem is the left over compound in the bucket is setting which makes a thicker mix and then the heat off this is making the fresh compound set. Basically you need a slower setting compound. Problem is every one fast set stuff now so its the way things are going. Personally i cant see the point as i always leave a full 24hrs as a minimum. Compounds setting in 2 hours etc ready for floorcoverings are not really that good as not many products can be installed on them still. Even the ones that claim they hold the moister back , people seem to forget there is still a lot of moister in the air so installing wood flooring for example its taking in this moister. Another issue- even tho same batch the one bag may of come out the center of a pallet and the other bag could of been from the edge of pallet that was left next to the open doors of the warehouse while all the rain was coming down. There are so many things that can cause a issue. Would anyone like to go round Mapei factory to see quality control? reason i ask is after you see the quality control that is involved its hard to believe you can get substandard stock! (not saying you do get substandard from Mapei or Fball or any other)
I hit on this as a contributing factor some time ago and now I always try and use fresh clean and dry buckets for each mix. Obviously not plausible on bigger jobs but I never seem to suffer the problem since I stuck to this method.
As probably said before, it's probably what happens to it between the manufacturer and the end user... Good job it's not coming from China. I'll try a fresh bucket next time and see what happens
Gutted, I had 2 pallets of ultra level it from instarmac that did that. You could see it was going to go wrong before you even put it on the floor, then once it hit the floor things went from bad to worse
No mate, the only difference would have been the second mix had a very small amount of the first mix in it, but I did pour the water straight into it so it didn't have time to set being a small amount. Now, the last time I used this I used 3 mixes and it was the second mix that went off really quick the 3rd mix was similar to the first
This is the correct way. As with all water mixes it is a chemical reaction between the elements inside the bag which become active once mixed with water. Another factor is once mixed the heavier elements will want to sink to the bottom of the bucket this will happen unless you can keep it moving or keep it mixing. We know this because there is always a element of sludge left at the bottom after each pour an the bigger the mix the more sludge. When mixing I have my big bucket for mixing then a smaller one for the sludge an after each pour the lad scoopes out the left over sludge into the smaller bucket.
I did 30 bags of it a 2 days ago just me mixing and laying, using the same bucket i always use no problem at all, never have any problem with 300 great stuff. Steve.
it's only my second mix that goes off really quick, I can use the same bucket after the second one is empty and it's fine. Why only the second mix..
Just a thought, what you measuring water with? i ask as i brought a load of B&Q buckets and i had issues. Turned out the measurements in the buckets was out. One mix had to much water and another had not enough. Since then i only use uzin / mapei buckets for measuring water. Could this be the issue?
if you mix 3 buckets exactly the same and only the middle bucket goes off ?? second time around just needed 2 buckets and the second went off??
Procedure: fill uzin measure bucket to 5.75 being anal but used a measuring jug, empty into uzin mixing bucket then fill measure bucket same as before, so it's sitting ther waiting for the second mix. Mix first load, empty contents until bucket is empty/empty, put second water in fill up measure bucket again, mix second mix but this is quite thick and hard to spread then pour until empty/empty, mix third bucket and it's mixing like the first one nice and smooth.......
if im not using balls measuring buckets that have the units on the side then i measure out exactly once, use a shapie as a guide then you dont need to faff about everytiime measuring each subsequent bucket. job done
