Correct filler for dings, scrapes, etc, in gyprock walls?

[strangerep]

I have a lot of 30-yr-old interior gyprock walls, so of course they've received minor damage in many places. I mean wide shallow dings and scratches where something has banged into the wall. What's the correct way to repair such damage??

The current surface is acrylic low sheen -- which I sanded lightly and cleaned before attempting repairs.

I asked at my local Mitre-10 and the guy sold me a tub of Plaster-Mate jointing cement top coat. But the damn stuff re-emulsifies and comes straight off again when you wipe it with a damp cloth (even though I allowed it to dry thoroughly for a week or so). What a joke.

Also tried Spakfiller Rapid, but it also re-emulsifies and comes off easily when wiped with a damp cloth.

Are there any fillers suitable for this application which will actually adhere to the underlying surface and not re-emulsify from a mere wipe with a damp cloth??

[Master Splinter]

Top coat is supposed to soften in water, so it is displaying it's correct properties.

Cornice cement for dings, as long as you ever so slightly underfill or flush well - it's not an easy sanding compound!!

[Rod Dyson]

Top coat is supposed to soften in water, so it is displaying it's correct properties.

Cornice cement for dings, as long as you ever so slightly underfill or flush well - it's not an easy sanding compound!!

Never underfill!! Always go for flush. Any high spot in cornice adhesive should be scraped flat not sanded. Top coat like MS says should not be wiped with a damp cloth before painting, that is, unless you are doing so to aid sanding of the edges as we do at times.

Cheers Rod

[strangerep]

Top coat is supposed to soften in water, so it is displaying it's correct properties.

[...]Top coat like MS says should not be wiped with a damp cloth before painting,[...]
Umm, so how is one supposed to paint it without the brush, pad, or whatever, leaving marks in the topcoat?

(And why is softening in water a good thing? Why would a home owner want wall surfaces that can soften and wash away so easily?)


Cornice cement for dings, [...] - it's not an easy sanding compound!!
BTW, is cornice cement harder or easier to sand than epoxy resin? :C

[stevoh741]

I always use Spakfiller Rapid and never had a problem. Spatula in, leave 30min, light sand with sponge sander, sealer/primer, paint. Don't know why you need to wet it but I have never had a problem and use it cause it is very quick and easy to sand.

[strangerep]

I always use Spakfiller Rapid and never had a problem. Spatula in, leave 30min, light sand with sponge sander, sealer/primer, paint. Don't know why you need to wet it but I have never had a problem and use it cause it is very quick and easy to sand.
I only wiped a lightly moist cloth over it to remove the last trace of sanding dust. But I've also tried painting it direct. A light pass with the brush took off a little of the surface, leaving the top of the filler slightly below the rest of the surface. In that case it was oil-based primer though. Maybe that makes a difference for spakfiller. (And yes, I gave it the recommended 24 hrs drying time there.)

[stevoh741]

I only wiped a lightly moist cloth over it to remove the last trace of sanding dust. But I've also tried painting it direct. A light pass with the brush took off a little of the surface, leaving the top of the filler slightly below the rest of the surface. In that case it was oil-based primer though. Maybe that makes a difference for spakfiller. (And yes, I gave it the recommended 24 hrs drying time there.)
Wow I'd call Sellys and tell them. I paint over rapid after only half hr and never had a problem. Maybe u got a bad batch? I swear by the stuff.

[Master Splinter]

BTW, is cornice cement harder or easier to sand than epoxy resin? :C

Equivalent; except it's a random orbit sander for the cornice cement vs. a belt sander for the epoxy!

(and as for Rod's advice to not underfill....he has obviously never seen my flush finish attempts!! Loose standards help me get the job done!!!)

[strangerep]

Equivalent; except it's a random orbit sander for the cornice cement vs. a belt sander for the epoxy!
Urk. Won't be doing that then. A belt sander on epoxy is tedious enough. And the ROS just sits there like a polisher. Can't imagine trying to doing either on vertical surface.

Hmmm. Maybe it's time to get creative and try some experiments. I wonder whether oil-based primer, thickened with fine sawdust or talc or whatever would work as filler in this situation. It would need a very long drying time of course. Maybe the rapid dry Dulux oil-based step... Depends on whether it will adhere successfully to the underlying surface.

Anyone ever tried anything like that?

[Blocker]

We have had a lot of success with a Zinsser product called Ready Patch.Its premixed and very fine,making it an ideal skimcoat and general purpose filler for scratches and dings etc.It skins quickly and is easy to sand,with the added bonus of being exterior grade.Becoming very popular with our Tradies over the last couple of years.
Regards,
Blocker

[strangerep]

We have had a lot of success with a Zinsser product called Ready Patch.Its premixed and very fine,making it an ideal skimcoat and general purpose filler for scratches and dings etc.It skins quickly and is easy to sand,with the added bonus of being exterior grade.Becoming very popular with our Tradies over the last couple of years.


Thanks -- I wasn't aware of this product. Is this the one you mean:

www.rustoleum.com.au/downloads/tech_data/ReadyPatch_Info.pdf (http://www.rustoleum.com.au/downloads/tech_data/ReadyPatch_Info.pdf)

It says "not recommended for skimcoating exterior surfaces", so maybe there's another?

Googling a bit more, I noticed some others that sound similar, but require alcohol or ammonia for clean up, whereas the one above seems to be water cleanup. Which one did you mean?

[amiaow]

I've filled more dings than I can count in my house (plaster is 60 years old) and I have used Bostik light filler (before I discovered the giant tubs!), Gyprock all-purpose compound and Gyprock top coat for this application. I always dust it down and then wipe it over before I put on the undercoat. I use a giant chux cloth, wring it out in a bucket and wipe over the walls. Maybe you are putting too much water on your sponge?

[strangerep]

Maybe you are putting too much water on your sponge?
No, I was also using a chux cloth, and wrung it out to make sure it was only lightly damp.
Something else is going wrong. Maybe I'll know more after I try some other products...

[Blocker]

Strangerep,
Ready Patch Professional is the one available in Oz..the reference to skim coat was generally for interior work,but we have found it worked well on pre painted exterior masonry also.
Regards,
Blocker.

[strangerep]

Ready Patch Professional is the one available in Oz..the reference to skim coat was generally for interior work,but we have found it worked well on pre painted exterior masonry also.
OK. Thanks.

Now to try and find someone local who carries it. My local Mitre-10 doesn't. I hope I don't have to travel all the way to Springwood...:C

[Blocker]

Phone Zinsser (Rustoleum) 1300784476 for stockists.
Regards,
Blocker.

[strangerep]

Reactivating this thread...

I finally got around to trying out Zinsser READY PATCH (http://www.rustoleum.com.au/index.php/products/zinsser-products/item/ready-patch) on another task.
It's quite difficult to obtain near me on Sydney's northern beaches, so I ordered some online.

Result: Ready Patch is indeed much better than the other patching and spackling compounds I've tried previously. After curing and sanding, it doesn't re-emulsify when wiped with a damp cloth like the other products do.

Thanks again Blocker.

[rufuslena]

We have had a lot of success with a Zinsser product called Ready Patch.Its premixed and very fine,making it an ideal skimcoat and general purpose filler for scratches and dings etc.It skins quickly and is easy to sand,with the added bonus of being exterior grade.Becoming very popular with our Tradies over the last couple of years.
Regards,
Blocker
Hi - I've rung every place I can think of and can't find anyone who sells this - Zissner Ready Patch Lite. (in inner west Sydney) Does anyone know where to get it? That ph no. for Rustoleum doesn't work, Ive emailed the company