How to Mix a Small Amount of Thinset 

Dude you are a lifesaver!!! I've been looking for a video that could answer my question I have about the mixing process in small amounts and your video is the BEST ON RU-vid!! Almost all the videos I've watched cater more towards the people that do tile work a lot more than the average guy does. Thanks so much!!

This is the best how to I've found for consistent mixing. He is organized, and instructive. Loved the music, his voice and demeanor.

Thank you so much for posting this video. The info is very clear & precise. There are a few manufacturers that will tell you the proper water to thinset ratio for smaller batches, eg, one quart of water to maybe 16 ounces of thinset, but most mfrs don't bother. Maybe they want you to use the whole bag & then run out & buy more of their product. I searched all over the internet to get this info for smaller batches & finally I struck gold by finding your video. Thanks!!

I've watched so many videos like this, yours was by FAR the best and most helpful. Thank you

Thank you! So very helpful. Just the info I needed. Explained clearly. And thanks for the tip on using a paint stirrer - worked just fine. For other DIY's, I did gave a small scale but didn't have a one quart container, just an OJ bottle that listed liters, I Googled how many lbs does a quart of water weight - about 2 lbs. So my batch was 10lbs of Laticrete LHT mixed with 1 quart (or 2 Lbs of water). Mixture was fine. Thanks again for posting this - could not be more grateful!

Thank you sir this was awesome. I don't know why companies expect noobs to use a whole bag at once.. cheers 👏🏾

I have been mixing smaller amounts of thinset for the last week for a bathroom/shower project, I start mine my power estimated water based on how much work I plan to do for the day or timeftrame. I start pouring in Thinset and mixing till I get the texture of Thinset I desire for the particular type of tiling I am doing. It's easy process which takes me couple minutes to mix for smaller or sectional areas on schedule. When using hot mud that's a whole other beast there. I used 5 minute hotmud this morning for a job this morning, it will eat your lunch and spit you out if you are slow at spreading sheetrock texture. love 5 and 20 minute texture because I can get a job done turn around and its's ready for subsequent applications if needed. I don't have time to be standing-around waiting on sheetrock texture mud to dry before I can continue working!

Excellent. Just the information I was looking for. Thank you

Thanks for getting all of the guessing out Brother.

I’m doing this same kind of wall tile and the floor tile too. I’m facing the same Delia with the small batches of thin set. Now you’ve confirmed my thinking to weigh the thin set And measurements. Thanks for your video.

Awesome video! I have bookmarked this as my go to, for making small batches of mortar. Can't tell you how easy it is with the conversion and works perfectly. Thanks

You've done me a big favor. Thank you!

Thanks for this video. I was just about to do the same and when I went to sort out the porportions... I realized I needed a scale. I tried using a regular scale with me on it holding the material but was not efficient. So I ordered scale. Your video allowed me to see that doing small batches is effective being that I am going SLOW to make as good as possible.

Great job, you take it seriously.

You told me what I needed to know, I’m putting up a Schluter System Kerdi membrane on my shower. I have a 50lb bag and want to make small batches, maybe a quarter of a bag at a time. I will do the math. By the way your level looks like a Bluegrass level that I have, I got it 50 years ago.

Thank you for figuring out how to downsize the amount of mortar to mix at a time. Just one suggestion: I noticed that you had your trowel ridges going horizontal (in the same direction at the length of the tiles). As I understand from other videos, you should set your tiles such that you move them perpendicular to the direction of the trowel lines for the 90% coverage that is needed. Thanks again!

Thanks for producing this video. this information is well liked and appreciated, especially after I looked at the mixing instructions on the bag I purchased for a small project. What a freaking joke, the manufactures think everyone will need 50 lbs. all at once. Kind of like making pancakes, "Mix one box of pancake mix with one dozen eggs, 2 gallons of milk and a half pound of butter." Thanks again, and a well appreciated greetings from the back woods of North Michigan. USA.

installing backslash in the kitchen working with small areas this is just what i needed to know Thanks

This is almost like making bread dough! 😀 Nice video... this is excellent advice.

Thanks so much!!! Exactly the info I needed for a smaller batch!

Thank you

Youre doing a great job

Brilliant! Thanks so much!

Thank you so much for the break down So 1 part to 5 parts is the Ratio.

Awesome video. Thanks for sharing.

Cheers for this ! nicely explained and done

looks great well done

Thank you so much for making this video.

It is a shame that manufacturers do not take the time to scale smaller patches. If the product requires a ratio of x amount of water (quarts) to x amount of product (pounds), then I'll go back to Mrs. Camden's algebra class to solve the problem. I'm using Schluter's all-set in this example. The product ratio is 7.5 to 8.5 water to a 50-pound bag. Based on those ratios, I would calculate the following formula to create a 5lb patch. Let x be the unknown variable that we are searching for. X represents the amount of water needed for a 5-pound mix. Step 1: x/7.5 = 5/50 Step 2: x = 1/10 x 7.5 Step 3: x = 1/10/10 x 7.5/10 (we divided both sides by 10). The 1/10 gets crossed out, and you are left with 1, and 7.5/10 becomes .75 Final Answer = x =.75 (multiply 1 *.75). If you don't like the .75 measurement you can convert it to ounces by using a quarts to ounces calculator. In this problem,. 75 quarts is equal to 24 ounces. In this example, for every 5 lbs of product I use, I need to add 24 ounces of water. You can also use a 1lb ratio which comes out to 4.8 ounces of water for every 1lb of product. I hope this helps you!

Awesome!! I’m in the same dilemma, gonna do this buddy!! Happy New Year 🎆

Very good video

Nice job and advice. I’m about to do all this the same way.

Nice job, Dude!

Thank you, and great work too!

Very helpful. About to help my son do his and it's great seeing videos like yours showing how to mix a small batch & how long you worked with it..👍👍

Nice work. Thanks for sharing.

Freaken subscribed

I believe your drill is rotating too fast. Most mortars should be mixed with a slow rotating rate. Check bag for specifics.

Good job answered my questions

That's exactly what I was doing. I'm not a pro I'm just slow.. but nice video

Awesome. Thank you

Thank you.

Thanks dad!!!

thanks, man. Very helpful.

Thanks so much for a great video that will save me lots of time!

Thank you so much for this!

Same here bro. Slow, but done right.

Comes naturally after 15 years...no measuring here . Good luck guys ☺️

Great info👍🏻

I am wanting to use this method for my project. The issue that you do not address here is that the thinset may not be dry mixed in the bag at the time of filling. I read someplace that this is the reason they tell you to mix the whole bag. I am planning to put the whole bag of dry thinset into a 5 gallon bucket and seal it with a lid and then roll or tumble the bucket to be sure that all the ingredients of the thinset are dry mixed before mixing small batches with water.

Good video

There's like 100 videos on this topic; why don't the manufacturers thing of selling smaller bags?

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You should have tared your scale. Since you chose the low end of the recommended water it kind of works out for you. If you hadn't, you would have made it too wet by having too little thinset. Also some pros use distilled water because tap water can be very dirty (municipal water included). I have a 4-stage filtration system for the entire house and I will still be using distilled water.

Great video!

did you have any issues with using a modified thinset over redgard. some people say that it does not cure properly since it can not off gas due to the redgard acting as a vapour seal, they also say that if you use modified you shoul let it cure for 4 wks before grouting. whats your take on this?

The best freaking thing ever think you!

You might consider a lower speed for thinset. The higher speed puts more air than you need. I had this advice early in my tiling life. Otherwise well done.

When you're adding latex to thinset do you do your water the same or do you still use water at all I havent been able to get a clear answer from anyone

How do you store the rest of the thin set powder? Do you need to transfer to airtight container?

Does one need a mixing drill?

what do without a scale?

Would u say that cup is the same size as those generic red cups that u see all the time? Thx

Why's that's area red

Hi there, I mixed my thinset the same way you described here, but after 48 hours some of the tiles were coming off and the thinset was still a bit moist. Do you think I should have given it more time to cure considering it was in the basement room where the temperatures are around 67 degrees? Thanks!

You aren’t supposed to mix it by weight but by volume.

Not to rag on you, I appreciate the video and found it helpful but I'm surprised so few people take precaution for their own safety. Use a mask! : o that dust aint good for your lungs or your eyes.

I think you are leaving the mixing time out of the formula. If you need 5-10 minutes to mix 50 pounds, why would you need 5-10 minutes to mix 5 pounds? You don't need that amount of energy.

grout needs some work

A scale bahahahahahaha