grits for plaster?

[mavrick1903]

Festool homeowner. first time doing plaster. need to sand soomth before painting. what grit to start? what to stop at?
thanks.

 

[GaryLaroff]

This isn't a grit response since I don't do plaster, but since everyone has been kind and helpful to me on my quest, I beg your patience at some unsolicited advice.

You might not want to use your Festool dust extractor (CTxx) on plaster.  A well-known woodworking teacher around here damaged his Fein dust collector on some plaster or concrete dust on the floor of his new building.

A contractor friend claims to have destroyed his CT-33 after sanding a large room full of sheetrock tape plaster.  I don't know if he used his filters and filter/waste bag.

Another acquainance damaged a Fein dust collector with plaster dust.  I know he does not use the filter/waste bags.

Please be good to yourself and get advice on how to use your CT with plaster before attacking your project.  It would be a shame to destroy a good vacuum.

Gary Laroff

 

[woody]

Hey Mav,  I have used my ets125 for sanding mud and it works great, but i don't use my ct22, i use a shop vac with the drywall bags, and i haven't had any problems.  As far as paper and grit, i use Mirka's abranet using just 320 grit.  I found with the abranet that you get nearly 100% dust extraction and no clogging of the paper, plus with the 320 there is less of a chance that you will cut too far.  Ive done drywall for a while and my first and second coats don't even need to be sanded. (Unless special circumstances occur, but thats beyond the point)  But i don't know if you do a lot of mudding, so try the 320 and if it doesn't cut enough for you then try 240,  don't go any lower though cause there is too much of a risk that you'll cut into the drywall.  Hopefully we are talking about the same thing, as far as "plaster" goes cause diffrent parts of the country refer to "plaster" differently.  By the way, using the abranet with the festool sander and vac, i don't even have to cover anything up in the house,  there is virtually no airborn dust whatsoever.  Hope this helps.

 

[Neill]

Mav -

Instead of using "grits for plaster" might I suggest cream of wheat.  I think it will give you a smoother finish and require less sanding.   

Neill

 

[wotan]

I use my ETS125 with Cristal 120  with a ct22 for my final sanding coat and haven't had any problems.  The Cristal paper is for wood, paint, plastics and filler.  Drywall mud definitely contains silicates, but it's close to bondo car  filler. 

I don't do drywall/plaster everyday, but when I have used my Festool system it works great. Maybe I have'nt done it enough to mess up my CT22 vac.

 

[Tinker]

Mav -

Instead of using "grits for plaster" might I suggest cream of wheat.  I think it will give you a smoother finish and require less sanding.   

Neill

As for me, i prefer oatmeal. 
Tinker

 

[tbellemare]

My honey puts chocolate powder in her oatmeal.

Would that be considered a cocoa stain?

Tom

 

[Neill]

My honey puts chocolate powder in her oatmeal.

Would that be considered a cocoa stain?

Tom

Tom,

Could be...

Check the shorts.

Neill