Plastering bucket: types of structures and their advantages

Almost all finishing work involves leveling the walls using various types of plaster. It is not always convenient to apply the solution with an ordinary trowel, since it is difficult for it to evenly distribute the composition over the surface. A universal solution here is the use of a plastering bucket.

A plastering bucket is an auxiliary device that is designed to apply a slurry to a wall or floor surface. They are often used when plastering vertical surfaces.

Such a structure consists of several main parts:

• Metal bowl. The volume of the container can vary in different sizes. A bowl is made from a durable sheet of steel, which is given various shapes.
• A pen. Attach it directly to the frame in order to simplify the work. Many simple handles are made from wood, as it is lightweight.

The shape of the bucket should be noted, which may vary depending on the environment of use and the method of application of the solution.

Construction buckets appeared a long time ago, and were simple and practical. After the lapse of time, the products practically did not change: the manufacturers only slightly improved the shape of the bowl.

Depending on the method of application, these products can be divided into 2 main types:

• Manual. These are ordinary homemade bowls with a wooden handle. You can make them yourself from a thin sheet of metal. The tool is used by craftsmen for small volumes of work, where it is not necessary to achieve high accuracy of application.

• Hopper. This is a pneumatic bucket that allows the slurry to be applied at a higher speed. Outwardly, it resembles a bowl with high sides. At the bottom of the container there are holes through which the mixture is discharged outside. There can be several of them, and they are supplemented with special guide tubes.

Designers can change the position of the handle to make it easier to work with. This allows you to work with surfaces located in different planes. Some modifications can be equipped with rotating heads. This allows you to change the direction of work depending on the location of the wall.

This type of pneumatic bucket should be discussed in more detail. Its use allows you to speed up the plastering several times.

The principle of operation of a pneumatic shovel for applying a solution can be described by the following algorithm:

• A certain amount of the prepared mixture is poured into the bowl. It should be noted that the quality of application depends on the consistency of the solution. It should not be too thick or too runny. The density of the mixture is determined visually.
• After filling with the solution, a compressor is connected to the bucket. The control is carried out using a special lever. When the air exits, it enters the solution and pushes it out through the lower opening, after which the mixture sticks to the wall.

Application is carried out successively in thin layers. It is better to carry out several approaches, as this will allow you to get the desired bond of the mixture with the base. Please note that modern automatic buckets are versatile.

In addition to plaster, they can be used to apply the following compounds:

• sand mortars;
• relief-textured paints;
• cork solutions.

One of the technical parameters of the hopper is the angle at which the system can distribute the plaster. This value in most devices varies from 30 to 90 degrees. The smaller the angle, the less area the mixture will cover when exiting.

Plastering buckets are quite common today and are used by many professional builders.

These versatile devices have a number of undeniable advantages:

• Ease of operation. Anyone, even those who have no construction experience, can use a manual or pneumatic bucket.
• Increased productivity. It is achieved due to the possibility of quickly applying the required volume of the mixture to the wall. It should be noted that manual buckets do not provide as much gain as automated systems.
• Even distribution. With the help of such shovels, you can apply a relatively even layer of plaster, which will only need to be trimmed with a rule. But this does not mean that it is impossible to get a flat plane with the help of a bucket.

• Formation of thin layers. This advantage applies to pneumatic buckets. With their help, the solution adheres very well to the surface. This allows you to distribute it more evenly, applying the mixture up to 1 cm thick.
• Low cost. Models are available to almost everyone. But if you plan to use a pneumatic bucket, then you will need to additionally stock up on a compressor of a certain capacity.
• Durability. This is due to the fact that the shovel does not contain moving parts and mechanisms. If you take care of it correctly, you can use it for several years.

The bucket has practically no drawbacks - it copes with the task perfectly. One of the drawbacks can be considered the use of low-quality metal for its manufacture, which will quickly corrode and lose strength.

Buckets are relatively simple in shape to be recreated at home.

The manufacturing technology of this device consists of several sequential operations:

• Initially, you should find a suitable drawing or an approximate drawing with a sketch of the desired shape. If the design involves the use of a compressor, then it is necessary to give it the appearance of a rectangular bowl without a top cover.
• Blanks for the bowl are cut out of two sheets. One part will act as the bottom, and the sides should be formed from the other. To do this, bend the sheet at a right angle or roll it into a cylinder.

• Connection of elements. The simplest way to make a bowl is to weld the resulting blanks. But this option is not always suitable for steel. Therefore, the use of bolted connections is a universal method.
• Cutting holes. Finally, you need to drill two holes that will be used to connect the compressor and the solution outlet. Small guide tubes should be welded to them.

Plastering with a bucket is not a complicated process.

Carrying out this procedure, you should follow a few simple rules:

• Before plastering, the surface of the walls should be carefully prepared. Depending on the mortar used, the base is primed with a specific composition. If the walls are severely curved or have many cracks, they need to be leveled or reinforced.
• The mortar should be applied with a hopper at a distance not exceeding 15 cm from the wall. If you need to control the layer thickness, then this value is reduced to 2-5 cm. Please note that the further the bucket is located, the more bubbles will form in the structure.In order to remove voids, the surface will need to be leveled more carefully.

• If a regular bucket is used, then the mortar must be thrown onto the walls. In this case, you need to try to do so that the movement of the hand resembles a fan. This will distribute the solution more evenly.
• Apply the solution in several layers until it protrudes over the previously installed beacons. Use only high-quality plaster, which, according to experts, adhere well to a certain material.

Plastering buckets are simple fixtures that can make wall decoration much easier and better. Ease of application consists of simple, fluid movements that distribute the mixture evenly over the surface. This greatly simplifies the finishing work and allows you to make repairs yourself.

For a video review of the application of a plastering bucket, see below.