Vacuuming between sanding passes isn’t overkill at all—I do the same thing. Makes a huge difference, especially if you’re working in a small room where the dust just hangs in the air. I’ve tried those “dustless” sanders with the little bags, but honestly, they never seem to catch much. The shop vac is way more effective.
I’m curious—have you ever tried using setting-type joint compound (like the powder stuff you mix yourself) for your first coat? I started using it for repairs and patches because it dries faster and seems to shrink less, but it’s definitely harder to sand if you don’t get it smooth right away. Sometimes I wonder if it’s worth the hassle compared to the pre-mixed stuff, especially for bigger jobs. What’s your take on that?
I hear you on the setting-type compound—I've used it for taping seams and patches, mostly when I need to move fast or avoid those annoying shrinkage cracks. But yeah, if you don't feather it out just right, sanding is a pain. For big jobs, I usually stick with pre-mixed for the later coats since it's easier to sand and gives me more working time. Have you ever tried mixing the two—like hot mud for the first coat, then topping with pre-mixed? Curious if that combo works better for anyone.
Mixing hot mud for the first coat and switching to pre-mixed for the finish is pretty much my go-to, especially in these old houses where nothing’s square and you’re always patching over weird stuff. Hot mud grabs quick and locks down the tape, but I’ve learned the hard way not to try sanding it too much—just knock down the ridges and move on. Pre-mixed is way easier to feather out, so the final result looks smoother, and you don’t have to fight the clock.
I’ve never had any issues with adhesion or cracking when switching between the two, as long as the hot mud’s fully set before topping it. Honestly, it’s saved me a lot of frustration, especially when I hit a patch of old plaster that wants to crack or crumble. Just don’t try to get fancy with the hot mud on your last coat... you’ll regret it when you’re sanding.
I get the appeal of hot mud for that first coat, especially when you’re dealing with old plaster that’s falling apart. But I’ve actually had better luck sticking with setting-type compounds all the way through, just using a slower set time for later coats. Less shrinkage, and I don’t have to worry about weird chemical interactions or off-gassing from pre-mixed stuff—plus, it cuts down on plastic waste from those buckets. The sanding is a pain, yeah, but if you keep your knife clean and don’t overload it, it’s not too bad. Anyone else lean this way?
I’ve flipped a few older houses where the plaster was basically dust, and I get what you mean about sticking with setting-type mud. I usually start with 20-minute for the first coat, then switch to 45 or even 90 for the rest—gives me more time to feather things out. The sanding is still a drag, but if you hit it while it’s just barely set, it’s way easier. I do miss the convenience of pre-mixed sometimes, but those buckets pile up fast... and honestly, the finish seems tighter with hot mud anyway.