I'm right there with you on the rental being worth it—especially if you're dealing with an older home like mine. Have you ever tried sanding joints in a house that's over a century old? Let's just say, it's an adventure... uneven surfaces, random lumps, and plaster repairs that seem to have a mind of their own. I rented one of those dustless sanders last year when we redid our upstairs hall, and it really saved my sanity. Sure, the finish wasn't necessarily smoother than what I'd gotten before, but not having plaster dust settle into every nook and cranny of antique woodwork was a huge relief.
Did you find the sander heavy or awkward at all? Mine took a bit of getting used to, especially overhead—but maybe that's just me being clumsy. Either way, totally agree it's worth trying at least once if you're on the fence.
I get the appeal of renting one of those dustless sanders, but honestly, I had a totally different experience. Maybe it's because my house is also ancient and seems to actively resist any sort of modernization—seriously, sometimes I think the walls are laughing at me—but that rental sander felt like wrestling an angry octopus overhead. Not exactly heavy, just awkward enough to make me question my life choices after about fifteen minutes.
Instead, I've gone old-school and embraced the mess. I cover everything in sight with plastic sheeting and resign myself to vacuuming plaster dust out of weird places for weeks afterward. It's messy, sure, but at least I feel like I have more control. Plus, there's something oddly satisfying about seeing all that dust pile up—proof that I'm actually making progress (or so I tell myself).
Don't get me wrong, the dustless option sounds great in theory, but in practice... let's just say my ceilings and I have agreed to disagree. Glad it worked out better for you though.
Your experience definitely resonates—I live in a historic home too, and I'm convinced these old walls have personalities of their own. I've found that embracing traditional tools, like sanding blocks and patience, often yields better results than wrestling with modern gadgets. There's a certain rhythm and mindfulness to it that's oddly therapeutic. Have you tried using a damp sponge for smoothing joints? It cuts down on dust dramatically and might be a good middle ground between chaos and control.
Totally get what you mean about the mindfulness aspect—there's something calming about sanding by hand, even if it takes forever. I did try the damp sponge method once, and it really helped cut down on dust, but I felt like I lost a bit of control over the finish. Maybe I was just doing it wrong? Have you found any tricks to keep the sponge from removing too much compound? I'd love to give it another shot without undoing all my careful mudding work...
"Have you found any tricks to keep the sponge from removing too much compound?"
I ran into the same issue when I first tried the sponge method. The key for me turned out to be timing and sponge dampness. You want the mud fully dry, but not rock-hard—usually overnight drying is enough. Then use a sponge that's just barely damp, wrung out really well. Go super light at first, making gentle circles, and check frequently. It takes patience, but once you get the hang of it, you'll keep way more control over your finish.
