Spunky, are you trying to acheive rubbed up s&c look? If so maite aint the gear, however it does cover well with 1.5mm bucket coat, I mean the base coat only needs to be tidy and flat, cut the top off any trowel marks when you can and it covers nice. Polymer renders dry from the outside in, place it and leave it to toughen up then scrape it flat when you think it feels ok.