Mortar applicator

[seasickstevie]

Doing a load of pointing with sand and cement. Tried using the applicator gun but it kept blocking up.

It's the type that looks like a big mastic gun.

I've been told I should use silver sand.

Is this the same as washed sand?
And is it good for pointing?

Thanks

 

[kjacko]

I have no experience with a mortar applicator, but my builder friend said my pointing needed doing and that he'd lend me his.
He then went on to say that he actually seives his sand out to avoid the very problem your experiencing (using an ordinaly cooking type seive).

Might be worth a shot?

 

[^woody^]

Don't use silver sand.

What you need to do is use normal building sand , and add fairy liquid so that when it is mixed it is really creamy and smooth and the water is retained in the mix. Then don't disturb it too much in the bucket or barrow, so that the water does not rise.

Same for when you load the gun - do it gently, and then don't bounce the gun up and down.

Some guns are useless though, so it never comes out properly and blocks frequently.

I use the Pointmaster. I commented on it in the tools section last summer sometime, and it works well

 

[gregers]

not flaming you woody,but i was always told never to add fairy liquid to mortar but to add a plasticiser.

 

[^woody^]

Yes thats the text book answer.

But I still see walls which I built 20 years ago, and they are still up and the joints solid, and no efflorescence.

Seriously, I've not seen any evidence that washing up liguid, used correctly (ie not excessively) does any harm. It does the same as 'proper' plastiser

 

[mikric]

Yes thats the text book answer.

But I still see walls which I built 20 years ago, and they are still up and the joints solid, and no efflorescence.

You are not alone Woody