I really think I'm going to have to accept that I'm no plasterer!

I am however, very good at making a huge mess!!

I keep trying to convince myself that the kitchen is starting to look a bit better than it did but that requires me to take off my glasses and squint somewhat. Never mind, there'll be som many cupboards in there that you'll hardly be able to see the walls anyway.

aye well what do you expect using shonky tools

a good work'sman never blames his tools !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is true James. However, where DIY is concerned I don't profess to be a good workman and Sean, who is a good workman, is blaming my tools and not his......

That said, I still think my "hawk" is a quality bit of work. I mean, what more could/would you expect to come out of Longbridge?

Did you stop production a couple of times for some petty industrial action, tea in the wrong mug, not getting to listen to the radio or just cause the managment spoke to you in a slightly stern way about productivity- that sort of thing?

Perhaps BL would still be here if they'd only had the sense to employ all their worker's wives as managers!

Possibly.

Speaking of which, I'd best get back to work before the foreman catches me wasting time on here!

Spanners.....or is that temporaliy "Hawk" ?

Ive done a fair load of plastering, i got "my eye" in a few years ago. Was taught by a real old school quy and done loads it, several complete houses, ceilings, arches, etc. its a physical, yet amazingly satisfying thing to do. However i remember the guy who taught me saying it needs a thick arm and a thick head....so i realised it was something I might do well at

One of the main things that helped was a really decent trowel ..."pre-worn"....it cost nearly forty quid (Marshall town is about the best, especially the stainless ones. Wickes do a copy, but never tried them on plastering only as chepos on floor screeding), but just kind of curved in both directions (ie slightly dished...just a bit) and didnt...in fact doesnt "dig in". The other thing I learnt was not to rush or try too hard. Get a load on first, sit back for a bit, if you smoke...have a fag, wet it down (big wet brush or spray), give it a smoothing, sit back and wait for it to turn a bit (another fag). There is a magic moment just as it starts to go....then you put some pressure on and a bit more water. You effectively have to work then and "iron" it, if you times it right the background will almost set as you do this. Probably you will get some watermarks until you get better, but timed right you are effectively just polishing the surface now and then leave it alone! The main problem people have is that they "play" with it too much at the early stage and it just drops off....assuming you are using real plaster, i.e. Thistle Multi or top coat/board coat...I cant get a decent finish on anything else to be honest. The general pre-mixed or patching/bodging stuff is only Ok for a .....err... bodge. Thistle is the gear.....and make it fresh and new, old stuff will go off quicker than ....err...a quick thing.

However.....I am saying all this and it also depends on what you are plastering....i.e. background, brick, block (and then you need to make sure what you have is stable, not too porus....the background will suck any moisture out of the top coat if it can....and it will simply crack like a spiders web....and uni bond or PVA any previous plastered/decorated surfaces if you cant hack them off), skiming or on new board.....personally most work I do these days I will often just dry-line it as its quick, cheap, dead easy to get flat and works a treat. if you are clever you can have very few joints and fill them with jointing compound and simply decorate over it all.

Also if you are going to tile areas then "aqua panel" (or its equivelent) or decent ply is an option. But never MDF behind tiles....its will "blow" and the edges will crack away.

I am no 2CV expert at all......but kind of been there and done it in the building and music trade....hope it works for you and wish you well

Thanks Geert and JW, I found 'Clear browsing data' and it seems to have sorted it, it also returned the thumbnails to my 'most visited' page. Which was nice.

Simple remedies that work.

1. Avoid Cutting Yourself When Slicing Vegetables By Getting Someone Else To Hold The Vegetables While You Chop.

2. Avoid Arguments With The Females About Lifting The Toilet Seat By Using The Sink.

3. For High Blood Pressure Sufferers ~ Simply Cut Yourself And Bleed For A Few Minutes, Thus Reducing The Pressure On Your Veins. Remember To Use A Timer.

4. A Mouse Trap Placed On Top Of Your Alarm Clock Will Prevent You From Rolling Over And Going Back To Sleep After You Hit The Snooze Button.

5. If You Have A Bad Cough, Take A Large Dose Of Laxatives. Then You'll Be Afraid To Cough.

6. You Only Need Two Tools In Life - Wd-40 And Duct Tape. If It Doesn't Move And Should, Use The Wd-40. If It Shouldn't Move And Does, Use The Duct Tape.

7. If You Can't Fix It With A Hammer, You've Got An Electrical Problem.