There's a right way for plaster.:)

Rick how are you making out with the cryogenic perlite.
I'm having a horrible time with the stuff.
It's the dust, all I have to do is open the bag and I can't breath.
I'm not sure if it's just the dust or maybe a reaction I'm having to the stuff.

Even though it is tough to keep in a sand mix, sand goes to the bottom, perlite to the top, I like what it does.:)
It makes strong light tufa.
1 cryogenic perlite
1 sand
1 peat
1 Portland makes much stronger tufa than I was expecting.
And it sets up very quickly.

I'm currently not doing tufa,doesn't give me the smoothness that I'm after.Will be using it on my outside projects in the next few day,though.Yuo're right,the perlite is dusty,but,I have the overhead fan and mask,So don't really notice it.

When you open the perlite container, can you spray water on it to keep the dust down?

On the matter of diamond mesh. Sorry, I'm at a loss.

Hi Mae
It comes in a huge paper bag.
I can't imagine even trying to put it in another container.
If you fill a five gallon pail and put the lid on you can't even tell by weight that the pail isn't empty.
And getting this stuff wet would be hilarious.

Imagine working with a bag full of ash from your fireplace only it's white.:)

We work in a dusty environment.Be safe and and enjoy!