Vasari

Using Vasari dry mixes

When applying plaster for the first time, make sure to watch the videos and read the text in full.

Using Vasari Dry Mixes is fast, easy and economical. Dry mixes are of course less expensive than our wet mixes, cheaper to ship, lighter to deal with per bucket, keeps forever and can't freeze. When doing larger jobs, dry mix can be a huge cost saver. If you're working on something that requires 20 or more 5 gallons buckets, or at least 2000 square feet of  wall, dry mix can save save you thousands on material cost. If you if you only need a bucket or two and you don't have the proper mixing tools, it's not worth it.  Take a look at our price list to see the difference. Also, when ordering more than 10 buckets of dry mix, give us a call and we can find a more affordable shipping solution.

When using dry mixes, you'll have to tint your own plaster. You can purchase tint from us or you can buy tints from a paint store. They can formulate your custom color, or you can purchase unmixed tints and and do your own experimenting. Check out our Colorants section for more information on coloring your own plasters.

Mixing Vasari Marmorino and Stucco dry mixes is much easier than mixing Veneziano dry mix. The reason for this is that you need the Veneziano super smooth and creamy when you apply. If you have little chunks of undiliuted plaster, the process can be frustrating. We always recommend filtering  your plasters through a regular fiberglass door or window screen. When you mix the plasters, they should be barely thin enough to easily pass through and filter out the bad stuff. Some really small things will get through and you'll have little white specs here and there.  This is why Venezinao dry mix is sometimes a liitle harder to use.

How to mix dry mixes:

SAFETEY FIRST: ALWAYS WEAR EYE PROTECTION, GLOVES AND A RESPIRATOR / DUST MASK WHEN WORKING WITH DRY MIXES.

Dry mixes come in a 5 gallon container. It's recommended that all 5 gallons are mixed at the same time. If you wish to mix smaller batches, mix up the power in first ensuring that it's homogenous, then divide the water / powder mix accordingly.

 Use a 1200 rpm mixer with a long mixing paddle. Loosen the dry mix so it doesn't fall out all at once. In a seperate bucket, prepare about 10 quarts of water. Gently pour the powder into the water until it's full. Immerse you paddle and mix on low speed (if it exists) otherwise give short sporadic turn until the powder is mostly diluted. Immediately add the rest of the powder into the mix. Mix until that's diluted. Then repeat the process until the last of the dry if finished. Take a stir stick or similar and scrape the inside edges of the bucket to get any remaining dry 'clumps' and mix again for at least 5 minutes until there are no clumps left. Have a extra water on in case the mix is too thick. Pour only small amounts at a time. Try mixing as fast as you can. This will prevent undiluted plaster.

The plaster can be mixed thick or thin. If it's mixed thick, you can use it right away. If it's thin, it will settle in a few hours or a few days until it's thick and creamy enough to use. Alsom when mixed thin, it's easy to strain. When straining, you can use a fiberglass door and window screen mesh. Paint strainers are sometimes a little too tight. Plaster will continue to thicken for a few weeks. When you plan to store plaster, always mix more water into the product and make it slightly soupy.

Sometimes if you don't mix it all fast enough,  you'll end up with clumps here and there. If mixing doesn't do it, you can wait a few hours or a day until the clumps soften and you can mix again. Or if you need it right away, pour the plaster in it's slightly thin state through a fiberglass strainer as mentioned above.

When tinting plaster, remember that if you use more than 10 or 20 ounces of tint for a medium to dark tome color, expect your plaster to become thinner. If the case, wait at least a day if not longer to let it thicken.

When mixing dry lime washes, just add about a little less water than the powder. You can stir with a stick. Withing a day, all the powder will dissolve in the water. If you feel you have too much water, let the wash settle for a day and the lime wash will settle to the bottom leaving the water on the top making it easy to our out.