How can I avoid having carbon marks on valentino. I keep doing samples of it and I can't figure out how not to have them. My sample made in class is beautiful without any carbon marks. This is really frustrating. Please help.
Thanks.

Your using Calcenova or Stucco Romano. I noticed SR light colors get carbon marks.

I am using calcenova.

Maybe it's a lighter color, your trowel? Is it the school trowel? I have never had carbon issues with calcenova, even a lighter color but the stucco romano gave me carbon issues. I'm sure others can chime in.

At what point are you putting in the carbon marks?

I can already see them when i am applying 2 coat of calcenova. But they really come out after I burnish at the end. I never had any problems with regular calcenova finish.
I think it has something to do with the highs on prontomuro L. My trowel is not new anymore, maybe an angle that i use is to high or to low?

maybe you are being a little too agressive with your burnish? Maybe you are burnishing too late and compacting too hard?

I would try easing up on the pressure, and burnish a little earlier.
good luck with it

Yeah. . . I had to learn to back off the pressure on the Murs & calcenova, too. Even in class. . .James kept saying. . "you can ease up, let the trowel do the work".

Listen to Fritz. . . (I had him & Greg in my head all day today. . .working the calce on the ceiling. Their advice is golden!)

Thank you for the advice. I will try to do that.

Max,
First, don't overwork the pronto, you will have alot of black carbon marks if you are working the pronto too much, or using too much pressure. Second, don't burnish with a trowel, use a cloth...you get alot less pronto read-thru that way. Gives you a softer look. Third, don't leave pieces of pronto from the interest sticking out...because you will get those carbon marks when you go over them again applying the calc with your trowel. Try and smooth some of the rough edges of the pronto interest as you are applying it, or wait til it's dry and knock some off with your putty knife prior to applying the first layer of calc. All 3 things used in conjunction should alleviate the carbon marks.

Thank you Nancy. I will do that.

Good points on the Valentino.
I prefer a softer look and always scrape the pronto and brush off the grains. I like the deeper pits but I like the pronto very level across the surface. light burnish just to compress the calce then buffy.

hey man, since i created this finish, here is what i think, first, if you are doing a light color with calcenova, carbon marks are going to be a problem if you are burnishing for gloss. dont burnish if you are using a light color, instead, polish with a 600-800 grit sanding pad.Dont breathe the dust.Wipe the dust off the surface,(there wont be much)then trowel wax over the suface, allow to dry, buff the wax, voila,no carbon marks.