Why might spackle holes be pink long after spackle dried

Question

When we moved into our house there were areas that had obviously been spackled, but it had a pinkish tint to it. To me the spots that had been fixed were very obvious.

I sanded the areas down so I could make the wall look decent, and the stuff sanded off really easily.

What could they have used to spackle those holes that would be pink even after it dried?

Answer 1

slight oxidation of the screws or nails used to apply the sheet rock a harmless chemical reaction between the old plaster and the new spackle.

Answer 2

What probably caused the Spackle to be pink is something painters do to make white Spackle visible on white or light colored walls. The Spackle is intentionally tinted/mixed with colored powdered chalk, like the kind you find in a carpenters chalk line. The chalk can be blue,red,or neon in color. The painter is then able to sand it without missing any spots.

Answer 3

It could have been a light duty spackle, it could have gotten wet, or insulation may have even mixed with it.  I don't think it's anything to worry about...you are probably going to paint over it anyway right?

Answer 4

a lot of spackle comes in a "wet" color that dries white.  if the hole is really big it could possibly be that the spackle isnt completely set yet.  give it a few more days time and it should dry out.  

and spackle is soft, it will always be soft,   thats just the way it is

Answer 5

I've never seen Spackle in any color than white. I wonder if this will work? Try a little (one drop) of food coloring to a small batch of spackle and see if that works. The problem is everytime you wash the walls, the spackle (without being painted) will get soft again and wash out. The best way is to get a quart of matched paint and touch up the exsisting spackled holes.