plaster dries out by ventilation not heat. turning heat on will just waste money. ventilation is cheaper than humidifiers. you can place a room fan or desk fan to blow air against the wall, this will speed up evaporation like hanging washing on the line of a windy day. ventilation will then take the water vapour away.
A bit of vinegar will slow the setting time. It doesn't take much, just a small amount, like a teaspoonful or so, in an average-size scenery batch of plaster. Add the vinegar to the water before it's blended with the plaster. Salt will accelerate the setting time.
Please do not turn the heating on full blast to try and accelerate the drying process of your plastering. It is also not a good idea to bring in additional heaters or dehumidifiers in an attempt to dry the plaster out quickly.
Yes, you can use a hairdryer or a heat gun to dry the mud on a sheetrock repair faster... When drywall mud (or joint compound) dries it shrinks a little, and if you dry it too fast it can sometimes crack. This is fine and won't hurt anything, but it does mean you will have to fill the crack with more mud.
For best results, keep the optimum temperature for plastering below 41 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celcius). This will help to speed up the drying process, as well as helping to minimise problems with cracking.
However, rushing the plaster drying time is not advised because such interventions could damage the plaster.
Drying Times
We recommend not to put the central heating up too high in the plastered room during the first 48 hours, but let the drying take it's natural time – this will aid in a stronger plaster bond. Fresh plaster is dark brown in colour (sometimes black), and once completely dry it is a pale pink colour.
This can make the room feel damp, so it's best to avoid sleeping in a freshly plastered room for a couple of days.
Plaster casts will dry in time, of course, by simply exposing them to air at room temperature. Most often, however, they are dried in a warm, forced-air oven, at about 150 degrees F. Higher temperatures tend to crack casts and produce spalling. In our experience the times generally required for drying in 150 degree F.
Humidity and Temperature: Humidity and temperature can greatly affect the drying time of plaster. If the air is too humid, the water in the plaster may not evaporate as quickly, causing it to take longer to dry. Similarly, if the temperature is too cold, the plaster may freeze and not dry properly.
There are a lot of different plasters around, but typical setting times are between one and three hours. The curing times for most common plasters found in the home is between four to six days, but some specialist plasters can take up to one month.
Heating without warming the air, infrared heaters are ideal for drying plaster walls and paints as well as outside or dusty areas.
Volden Quick Dry Bonding Plaster, 25Kg, 16L Bag
Good adhesion and solid, white colour, finish.
A minimum of seven days of curing is recommended for plastered surfaces. Grooves: After plastering the outer walls, cut grooves to prevent cracks caused by temperature differences. These grooves function as expansion joints in the wall.
The drying out of the new plaster is enhanced significantly by increasing ventilation to the area. Opening windows and doors, and the introduction of a dehumidifier, will remove moisture in the atmosphere. The introduction of heat must be considered with caution.
If the temperature gets too high, the plaster can dry too quickly and crack – especially the areas around your radiators. Instead, keeping the temperature low, comfortable and consistent will help the plaster to dry evenly.
Hence, when plaster of paris is heated the formation of anhydrous calcium sulphate takes place. Note: It is important to note that the name dead burnt plaster is given to anhydrous calcium sulphate because unlike plaster of paris, it does not set back to its hydrate form when moistened with water.
Use plaster accelerators: Probably the easiest and most efficient way of speeding up the setting time is with plaster accelerators. Some manufacturers offer specifically designed plaster setting accelerators such as Halftime Plaster Accelerator and Halftime 4Bonding Plaster Accelerator (by Eazymix).
If you need to dry your plaster faster, there are a few things you can do. For instance, you could use a hairdryer on a low setting, but this should only be done in small areas.
Here are some of the most common factors that can affect the drying time: Extent Of Dampness: The more water in the plaster, the longer it will take to dry. Plaster that is only slightly damp will dry faster than completely saturated plaster. Type Of Plaster: Different types of plaster have different drying times.
Halftime Plaster Accelerator is a chemical additive for use with finishing plaster. The additive creates a fast set plaster by speeding up the chemical crystal formation that causes plaster to set or harden. Halftime is recommended for shortening the setting time of finishing plaster.
Drying and Curing: Plaster goes through a drying and curing process as it sets. During this time, the plaster loses moisture and can shrink slightly. This shrinkage can lead to cracks forming on the surface. These are typically small, hairline cracks and are generally considered normal.
But you may be able to use the plaster past its expiry date by 1-2 months.