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27 replies
23k views
27 replies
Mix self-leveling compound yourself
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If you are going to mix four bags of self-leveling compound yourself (1 person) what is easiest, to mix in four buckets or buy a 65-liter bucket and mix three of the bags in it?
What do you who have some experience with self-leveling think?
What do you who have some experience with self-leveling think?
How were you planning to lift a 65-liter drum with self-leveling compound? It weighs around 120kg...
Pour it in one bucket at a time is my recommendation. Biltema has nice triangular buckets for around 100kr each that are easy to carry and pour from.
Pour it in one bucket at a time is my recommendation. Biltema has nice triangular buckets for around 100kr each that are easy to carry and pour from.
Mixed myself in a mortar trough from Biltema, I think it was 60 liters. Laid out plastic just outside the bathroom, mixed in 2-3 bags and took the filler in regular buckets about a meter into the bathroom. Otherwise, it's an endless run with buckets...
But lay the plastic far beyond where you think it will spill... if you have walls nearby, put plastic/paper there too because it splashes a little when mixing.
But lay the plastic far beyond where you think it will spill... if you have walls nearby, put plastic/paper there too because it splashes a little when mixing.
I am strongDr Fozz said:
No, seriously, I was thinking of placing the tub in the room and then tilting it out. But that can be exhausting too. I've also thought about scooping from it with a 20l bucket as Forbo writes.
I learned the hard way to cover properly the first time I mixed compound...
Mix in a regular mason's bucket. Besides the fact that you can't carry the large bucket:
The first bucket will have a mediocre consistency.
The second bucket will have an okay consistency.
The third and fourth buckets will have perfect consistency...
The first bucket will have a mediocre consistency.
The second bucket will have an okay consistency.
The third and fourth buckets will have perfect consistency...
I would have mixed two bags at a time in a suitably sized bucket/trough. I've done it this way, eight bags in four mixes, and it worked well. Then I positioned myself so I basically just needed to "tip over" the trough when it needed to be emptied.nikstra said:
Feels like a first-world problem.
It's no harder than mixing one bag at a time in a syrup bucket that you've gotten from your local bakery. Mixing and carrying in 6-8 buckets and walking a few meters is not a big deal.
It's no harder than mixing one bag at a time in a syrup bucket that you've gotten from your local bakery. Mixing and carrying in 6-8 buckets and walking a few meters is not a big deal.
Well, it's not exactly the difficulty level I'm after or whether I have to carry a bit. What I'm worried about is that it starts to set/cure in the first bucket before I've mixed the last one. It's probably obvious how to do it if you've done it a few times, but now it's the third time for me and the first time it will be more than two bags to mix.tank77 said:
It's just cheaper to ask here so that I don't fail and have to buy new spackle and redo everything.
Buy 4 mortar buckets of at least 20 liters. 25 liters is definitely more pleasant to work with, as it doesn't come so close to the edge.
Prepare a good and tidy (and possibly protected) place to work on, with machine and whisk and everything prepared. Have a bucket of water ready to place the whisk in afterwards. Fill in the amount of water in each bucket needed for one bag of filler, possibly 2-3 dl less and add a bit after whisking if it feels too thick. Mix one bucket at a time, I'm not really sure about the time, but about 1-2 minutes I would think, but just so it seems well mixed, all lumps should have dissolved. Then whisk each bucket again for 30-60 seconds (in the same order as you poured in the filler), before you pour out the filler. Don't take too long with the step of pouring out the filler, this is where time slips away quickly.
If you have the possibility of having a helper, it feels much better, even though I think you can handle 4 buckets splendidly on your own.
The pros can come in with opinions on the times I mentioned for whisking.
I haven't stood with the stopwatch directly when I've mixed myself. 
Prepare a good and tidy (and possibly protected) place to work on, with machine and whisk and everything prepared. Have a bucket of water ready to place the whisk in afterwards. Fill in the amount of water in each bucket needed for one bag of filler, possibly 2-3 dl less and add a bit after whisking if it feels too thick. Mix one bucket at a time, I'm not really sure about the time, but about 1-2 minutes I would think, but just so it seems well mixed, all lumps should have dissolved. Then whisk each bucket again for 30-60 seconds (in the same order as you poured in the filler), before you pour out the filler. Don't take too long with the step of pouring out the filler, this is where time slips away quickly.
If you have the possibility of having a helper, it feels much better, even though I think you can handle 4 buckets splendidly on your own.
The pros can come in with opinions on the times I mentioned for whisking.
The four times I've done self-leveling/been involved in leveling, we've mixed in several buckets first and then poured it out. It has been between 2 and 5 buckets involved.
You can certainly mix over and over again in the same bucket, there are definitely some advantages to this as well, perhaps primarily economical?
You can certainly mix over and over again in the same bucket, there are definitely some advantages to this as well, perhaps primarily economical?