[NEPS.US]

Maybe add a bit of chalk used for chalk/line markers? It comes in red, blue, or yellow.

just a little .....should not have bleeding issues

 

[NACE]

We colored spackle for years to facilitate sanding. I thought all contractors did this. You can use UTC's and blend with a Jiffy Mixer, have the paint store tint it and shake it, or purchase some UTC, put them in a squeeze bottle and tint them on the job site. The Aura Gennex Colorant may be a great way to go as well, as it actually dries.

 

[Last Craftsman]

Nace...

Hi thanks for the reply. When you say to use the Aura Gennex Colorant, "as it actually dries". does this mean when using other universial tint colorants, it impedes the dry time of the spackle?

Thanks.

 

[nEighter]

Like the idea, will try :thumbsup:

 

[Damon T]

Shoot for a light blue, we use Thalo Blue. It is easy to cover with the topcoat. darker spackle will be harder to cover, similar to the problems with the red bondo putty (one part auto glazing). Careful, as a little drop of colorant (UTC) goes a long way! If you need larger qty the store can take some spackle out of the can, shoot in colorant, shake, and add the remainder back in to mix up. works great. have fun.

 

[n.894]

We've used yellow tint for years.. the tapers also use it for touch ups after their final sand. A few drops in the mud pan is all you need. You just want to be able to see the patches and not from across the street. My supplier gives me some in a litre can, last me a few years.

Cheers

 

[nEighter]

I am redoing my own house right now. I will try it on my place first. I will be going to SW later, so I will have em add a few drops of blue in. Won't get to use it till sometime next week though. Thanks for the idea!

 

[Joewho]

They make a yellow/orange compound, I don't use it but I've seen it a lot on N/C. It's a topping, a lot easier to see than white on white.

 

[nEighter]

Okay went and picked up 2- 4.5ers of lightweight tonight. I had the the paint station put 5 drops of blue in and had em put it in the shakers. One shook better than the other, but I when I brought em home I hit em with the drill stir till blended. It made a lite blue color.

I have used it now for about an hour and can honestly say I will do this from this day foward. You can tell depth of the mud, you can tell when you missed a spot or when the trowel vibrated.. it shows up very well. It is sooo much better than plain white.

I am skimming my own walls on my top floor. I will test that it doesn't bleed color once I prime the walls/ceiling. Thanks for this thread.. great idea :thumbsup:

 

[MAK-Deco]

As Joewho mentioned USG's "plus 3" is sold tinted a cream color most guys use it for top or final coat so they can see where they have done...

*off topic a little* We just recently use a few buckets of the "plus 3" with dust control and like it seem to sand better and the dust was not as fine as regular "plus 3"

 

[NEPS.US]

Okay went and picked up 2- 4.5ers of lightweight tonight. I had the the paint station put 5 drops of blue in and had em put it in the shakers. One shook better than the other, but I when I brought em home I hit em with the drill stir till blended. It made a lite blue color.

I have used it now for about an hour and can honestly say I will do this from this day foward. You can tell depth of the mud, you can tell when you missed a spot or when the trowel vibrated.. it shows up very well. It is sooo much better than plain white.

I am skimming my own walls on my top floor. I will test that it doesn't bleed color once I prime the walls/ceiling. Thanks for this thread.. great idea :thumbsup:

am I reading that right ...2-4 5ers or lightweight for a full skim coat??????????? Ouch!

 

[nEighter]

my whole place is getting it.. Neps you have no idea. The previous painters job is able to be grabbed by a corner, and peeled off in huge, thick sheets. I bought a fixer-upper.

 

[cande]

I read somewhere to use a little food coloring. I haven't tried it though.

 

[Last Craftsman]

I just meant for spackle, hope it works ok for mud.

I am skimming my own walls on my top floor. I will test that it doesn't bleed color once I prime the walls/ceiling. Thanks for this thread.. great idea :thumbsup:

That's awesome it is working for you. I just plan on using it for spackling. I hope you dont have bleed problems after buying a lot of mud and putting color in it.

I dont know how different the matrix of mud is than spackle, and wether or not pigment will migrate from the mud when you paint.

I imagine the first coat of PVA will trap it if it does.

Congrats on your house.

 

[nEighter]

Hey thanks man Yeah that is what I was thinking also. It dried to a light light light blue'ish color. Still easier to see blemishes than the white. Again, I will let you all know what happens. I don't think there will be a problem.

 

[Joewho]

As Joewho mentioned USG's "plus 3" is sold tinted a cream color most guys use it for top or final coat so they can see where they have done...

*off topic a little* We just recently use a few buckets of the "plus 3" with dust control and like it seem to sand better and the dust was not as fine as regular "plus 3"

Hey Mark, I like plus 3 the best, and don't mind a little extra $$ for it.


But, I was talking about the mud that is definately an orangeish color and really soft. Plus3 sands easily and actually has some strength. The orange mud I'm talking about sands too easily and has almost no real hardness to it. Do you know which one I'm talking about? I did a search and couldn't find it.

 

[MAK-Deco]

Hey Mark, I like plus 3 the best, and don't mind a little extra $$ for it.


But, I was talking about the mud that is definately an orangeish color and really soft. Plus3 sands easily and actually has some strength. The orange mud I'm talking about sands too easily and has almost no real hardness to it. Do you know which one I'm talking about? I did a search and couldn't find it.

It probably a topping of sorts, I have seens plus 3 tinted it comes int he boxes not the 4.5 buckets

 

[nEighter]

auto glaze is an orangish color, and almost no body to it, it cracks VERY easily. I hate the stuff personally, and never really found a good purpose for it.. on autobody that is.

 

[Bender]

Ummm, wouldn't untinted mud or spackle only be an issue on a very few particular whites?

 

[nEighter]

I don't know, but it sure is good on the skimmin I am doing cause white on white... after a while you eyes just cross... at least tinted it gives me a better feel for what the (all my walls are white

) surface is doing that I am working on.