Weatherall Chinking Application Tips

Applying Chinking
Choose an appropriate size nozzle for the width of the chink line. Round nozzles as small as 1/4” diameter and up to about 1” in diameter are commonly used.  For narrower chink lines (less than 1½”), hold the nozzle tip close to the joint surface (within 1/8” to 1/4”) of the backing material and allow the material to flow smoothly as you move the nozzle along the joint. (HINT: If you have not done this before, it would be a good idea to practice in a location where the chinking will not show, such as the interior of a closet or behind cabinets. Move in a smooth steady motion down the line of the log and do not let the material build up in thickness.

In areas where the joint is larger (1½” or more), apply the chinking in a side to side motion, from the top to the bottom of the joint. Blend the overlap lines with a dry trowel, using no release agent, then retrowel as described below.  Start slowly and use caution not to apply too much or too little material. Be sure not to cover too much area at one time, thereby allowing the material to ‘skin’ over before troweling can be completed. Whenever feasible, it is preferable to apply one continuous line of chinking down each log joint from end to end. Stopping in the middle requires more effort to trowel and blend the start-stop lines.

NOTE: With any application motion, the goal is to apply just the right amount of chinking so that the finished troweled thickness will be between 3/16” and 1/4”.

Troweling
When troweling it is important to see that the material is worked carefully into the joints and that edges are firmly tooled to achieve maximum adhesion to the wood and form a weather-tight seal.  To begin troweling the applied material, lightly mist the bottom of the trowel with the release agent (see Tools & Supplies section), then proceed to trowel the material neatly and firmly into the joint and along the edges. Use a trowel stroke of 6”- 12”.  The release agent, when used properly, will allow the trowel to glide smoothly over the chinking without sticking and pulling. Using too much release agent will cause excessive wetting and/or runs, and may prevent the chinking from properly sealing the wood. Although normally you should not spray the release agent directly onto the logs, under some circumstances it may be necessary to lightly spray the applied chinking as you trowel it. Spray only as much release agent as is necessary to give a smooth texture without pulling.  Care should be taken to force out any air bubbles/pockets that may have developed. Air bubbles/pockets can be created during the loading of the material into the equipment or by an overlapping application pattern.  Check your troweled thickness by inserting the tip of a clean trowel into the freshly tooled chinking material. After examining the depth of the material adhering to the trowel, correct the depth if needed and retool the area to reseal. 

NOTE: Finished troweled thickness of the chinking on chink lines 3/4” and wider should be between 3/16” and 1/4”… no more, no less!

Properly prepared and applied applications will result in chinking material that is tightly bonded with the wood at the edges of the joint. After fully curing, substantial force will be required to remove the chinking, tearing out wood that has become embedded within the chinking edges.  Very specific conditions may cause poor bonding of the chinking to the wood; surface contaminants, failure to use a compatible wood finish, failure to firmly trowel the chinking at the edges, failure to apply the chinking at a minimum thickness, application to wet or frozen wood, or use of too much release agent.

Weather Conditions
Apply chinking only to dry wood surfaces. Heavy dew or frost will wet the logs and will adversely affect the adhesion of the chinking. Additionally, chinking should not be applied to surfaces that are too cold. If ambient temperatures or sunlight are not warming the surfaces to above 40°, then mechanical heat sources should be available and utilized. Be sure to keep the chinking in a warm area until immediately before use.
Chinking should not be applied when rain is likely and should not be subjected to freezing weather until it has cured. If rain or heavy moisture occurs after chinking, protect the chinking by placing a heavy sheet of plastic or canvas over the chinked area. Pull the covering out and allow air to circulate. Do not allow covering to contact chinked surfaces.
Note: If it is absolutely necessary to chink during freezing temperatures, please contact Weatherall Technical Support for details. It is possible to chink in subfreezing temperatures, but special equipment and procedures are required.

Cure Time
Chinking will be ‘skinned’ over on the surface in approximately 30 minutes, under average temperatures and humidity conditions. It will be surface dry in 8-10 hours. However, it will be several days before firmly cured. If weather conditions are humid or cold, curing will take longer.

Clean Up
Wipe up all spills, runs, etc. immediately. When chinking is completed for the day, promptly clean up tools and hand guns with warm water. Lubricate all metal parts with a light oil to prevent rust; lubricate gun seals to prevent drying. Follow the commercial pump manufacturer’s instructions for maintenance and clean up.  NEVER allow material to dry in pump, in hoses, or any place it is not wanted. Once cured, it is very difficult to remove. 

NOTE: NEVER APPLY CHINKING WITHOUT A BOND BREAKER!
A bond breaker is a smooth surface or finish on the chink joint to allow the chinking to pull away, only bonding to the wood, once joint movement begins. Elasticity of the joint will be greatly compromised if chinking is applied directly to an adhesive substrate such as rough surface (open cell) backing, logs, blocking, drywall, etc. The chinking should adhere only to the wood at the edges of the joint. A ‘slip-joint’ is necessary for proper joint design and performance.