Compositions and methods for reducing lime bucking in plaster products

Methods of treating lime bucking in a plaster slurry are described. The method involves providing a slurry exhibiting lime bucking having a cone penetration of less than 10 mm at a consistency of 60 cc, comprising: water; calcium sulfate hemihydrate; and hydrated lime; and mixing an effective amount of a dispersant comprising a low intensity dispersant into the slurry so that the cone penetration increases and wherein the cone penetration is 10 mm or more at 10 minutes after addition of the dispersant at a consistency of 60 cc; and applying the plaster slurry containing the dispersant to a substrate. Veneer plaster dry component mixtures having reduced lime bucking when made into a slurry containing a low intensity dispersant, or hydrated lime coated with wax or a dibenzoate plasticizer are also described.