Hi all.

Anyone ever used Bal variset XP adhesive before?

I used it recently on an area that i needed to walk on quickly after fixing.

You can control setting times by simply adding a liquid with the mixed adhesive. Brilliant.

Only used it on a small area of the job as it was set in 10 minutes.

It so happened that my assessor for my NVQ was visiting me at the time i was using the variset XP. It was a product he was familiar with through Bal training update.

Third and final site visit all complete.

Just waiting for certificate to arrive

Very expensive though..

Yes, always have a bag in my van.
Rarely use with liquid.
Yes relatively expensive, but the time saving aspect gets you your money back.

Without liquid I would use for....

Kitchen tiling : washing machine & fridge freezer in way, quick small mix,wait 10 mins then stick back in place.
Bathrooms, ie under sink or toilet, same as !!
Above window reveals
Steps
Quick repair jobs or high traffic areas ( commercial especially )
Saturday job, small porch or bathroom floor, dry lay, stick tiles,go for cuppa & fag,grout 10 mins after, get paid then home. No more waiting around for adhesive to set.
Brilliant !!

Only mix as much as you can spread in about 6 mins.
Liquid comes in handy for larger areas, as you can give yourself a bit more open time,but still control set time.

I must be honest, I can't remember too many jobs that I needed the adhesive to set quicker than the 20 mins or so a good rapid sets goes off at anyway.

I couldn't see it saving me time at all. The time between 6mins and 20 doesn't warrant the huge price increase. Especially from Topps.

Boil the kettle mix adhesive into hot water.. bingo extra fast setting..

I have never seen boil the kettle and mix on any manufacturers instructions, and yet you always state to follow said instructions.


weird eh.


my merchants are doing variset for £18 a bag so not that dear if you just need a to patch a wall or fix a few tiles.


Keep up the good work.................

[QUOTE=Gazebo;392855]I have never seen boil the kettle and mix on any manufacturers instructions, and yet you always state to follow said instructions.


weird eh.


my merchants are doing variset for £18 a bag so not that dear if you just need a to patch a wall or fix a few tiles.


Keep up the good work.................

Was only my reply to a guy asking about a product that I have used and like.
Find it strange that some would dismiss a product although they have never actually tried it.

Once you've been in the trade many years though, you get a feel for what you need for a job, that's all.

We still no the costs, the meterage, the texture we can guess, the setting times can be varied, we know that, what else do you need to know to know if a product is worth it or not?

If you can get it for £18 a bag, I could see very small floors or something it could be handy on. But to be honest, if I had some rapid set in the van, I'd just wait another 10-15 mins and let that set at like £8 per bag.

would also like to add...
Did a cellar steps job a month or so ago. 12 steps, started from bottom. Did my cuts for 2 steps at a time. Used vari set. Job in total took 5 hours, finished and grouted.
One bag Variset used, no additive,small mixes at a time. Steps could be walked on in around 12 mins.
Did not have a kettle handy at the time !

the 5 hours was from arriving, to leaving,including moving all my tools to cellar and back, lunch and clearing up. Also cutting lengths of schluter step trim.

Fair play. Those are the bitty jobs though where you do need to mix small amounts, of any adhesive. And with the right planning, you'd have been able to walk on one side while you tiled the other, and visa versa, and still be done in 5 hours. I think.

Fair play for making an innovative product, but at the end of the day it's sand and cement and beyond rapid set, unless it's going to tile it for me, I couldn't warrant the price.

[quote=Yorkshire Tiling Services;392860]

Originally Posted by Gazebo

I have never seen boil the kettle and mix on any manufacturers instructions, and yet you always state to follow said instructions.


weird eh.


my merchants are doing variset for £18 a bag so not that dear if you just need a to patch a wall or fix a few tiles.


Keep up the good work.................

Was only my reply to a guy asking about a product that I have used and like.
Find it strange that some would dismiss a product although they have never actually tried it.

Err,, I have tried it..

still won't buy it.. when i can get rapid setting adhesive for around £8 a bag 25kg..

£18 is a joke..

Originally Posted by Gazebo

I have never seen boil the kettle and mix on any manufacturers instructions, and yet you always state to follow said instructions.

Tricks of the trade.. some know them and some don't..

Still won't buy gimmicks..

I shudder to think what my tiling would look like if I only had 6 mins to lay.,,

Originally Posted by russ

I shudder to think what my tiling would look like if I only had 6 mins to lay.,,

You can buy some liquid to slow it down... it's only 20 odd quid a bottle...

Fair comments by all
Just goes to show we all use different products according to our preference.
Personal choice at the end of the day.

I use Variset on all repairs. sets superquick and the customer pays for the addy anyway. Great for under appliances when doing small kitchens. pull out machine,tile, drink tea,grout and put machine back then tile floor.

Originally Posted by Dave

You can buy some liquid to slow it down... it's only 20 odd quid a bottle...

Never mind, have got 15 bottles at home,rescued from a site skip when they over ordered.

Rapid set addy is fast enough for me

All good posts and comments on this product but at the end of the day i'm sure Bal researched the need for a product like this before embarking on manufacturing it.......

I will not be using it reguarly as with the liquid it is expensive ( i can't buy rapid set polymer modified adhesive for £8 a bag anywhere so please tell me where I can.?? or is that a trick of the trade aswell)

I will try boiling a kettle when I next need to get left over addy from my van to go off quickly or when I next need a cuppa.

And as you rightly point out those of us with less experience in the trade do not know about these things. That is why we are here on your forum.................

Originally Posted by Gazebo

All good posts and comments on this product but at the end of the day i'm sure Bal researched the need for a product like this before embarking on manufacturing it.......

I will not be using it reguarly as with the liquid it is expensive ( i can't buy rapid set polymer modified adhesive for £8 a bag anywhere so please tell me where I can.?? or is that a trick of the trade aswell)

I will try boiling a kettle when I next need to get left over addy from my van to go off quickly or when I next need a cuppa.

And as you rightly point out those of us with less experience in the trade do not know about these things. That is why we are here on your forum.................

Have never seen Rapid Set polymer modified,flexible S1 adhesive for £8.00 a bag anywhere !

Originally Posted by Yorkshire Tiling Services

Have never seen Rapid Set polymer modified,flexible S1 adhesive for £8.00 a bag anywhere !

Weber do one.. check your local weber supplier.

S1 Biscem rapidset sells for about £8 a bag too.

Biscem dries a bit quicker than some other adhesives as well, so with a bit of warm water you could save yourself a tenner a pop.

I'm not too sure warm water is the answer. Cement cures by hydration and needs the water to be in the mix for the time it needs to set, this then cures the adhesive. If you allow the moisture to evaporate, you risk using a mix that hasn't had the right curing requirements.

That said, never tried it myself so perhaps there is something in it.

It cures by chemical hydration Dan.. water is the activator.... and warmer water can speed it up .. just like hot weather can..

Fair play mate! Learn something every day!

we do that..

I did do dat..

and yes it works cheers.

Originally Posted by Gazebo

I did do dat..

and yes it works cheers.

wot..? u tried warmer water..?..

yes and it works. or maybe it was the hot weather, or possibly the hot bucket who knows.....

rapid set and a fan heater also works

dry a floor in 10 mins closer the heater quicker it sets.

could say it 'varisets' the adhesive without the expense