Wet sanding definitely helps with the dust, but it’s not a magic fix. Here’s what I’ve found:
- Wet sanding works for final touch-ups, not heavy shaping. It’ll smooth out minor ridges but won’t fix big lumps.
- You need to keep rinsing your sponge or it just smears mud around.
- It takes longer to dry between passes, so if you’re in a hurry, dry sanding (with a good vacuum sander) is faster.
I usually do a rough dry sand first, then finish with wet sanding to keep the dust down. Still ends up with some mess, but way less than just dry sanding everywhere.
Wet sanding works for final touch-ups, not heavy shaping. It’ll smooth out minor ridges but won’t fix big lumps.
Yeah, learned that the hard way—tried to “erase” a chunky seam with a wet sponge and just ended up with a soggy mess. I do like the combo approach though: rough dry sand, then wet sponge for the last pass. Still, I swear drywall dust finds its way into places I didn’t even know existed. If anyone figures out how to keep it out of your socks, let me know.
Man, I swear drywall dust is like glitter—it just multiplies and ends up everywhere, no matter how careful you are. I used to think taping off the room would help, but nope, still found dust in my coffee mug the next day. I’m with you on the combo method. Dry sand for the rough stuff, then a damp sponge to finish. Still haven’t figured out how to keep it out of my shoes though... maybe duct tape around the ankles?
I get the frustration with dust, but honestly, I’ve never been a fan of the dry sanding at all. In these old houses, that stuff just seeps into every nook and cranny—no matter how much you tape or seal. I switched to wet sanding almost exclusively a while back. Takes a bit longer, but it keeps the mess way down, and you don’t end up finding dust in your baseboards months later. As for shoes, I just keep a pair by the door and swap out before I track it through the rest of the place. Duct tape sounds like a recipe for sweaty ankles...
I switched to wet sanding almost exclusively a while back. Takes a bit longer, but it keeps the mess way down, and you don’t end up finding dust in your baseboards months later.
Wet sanding really is a lifesaver in these old places, especially with all the weird corners and trim. I do find it can be tricky to get a perfectly smooth finish, though—sometimes I end up with little ridges if I’m not careful. Have you found any particular sponges or techniques that help with that? I’ve tried a few different brands but haven’t settled on a favorite yet.
