Sometimes, I think primer gets more credit than it deserves—like it’s a magic eraser or something.
Couldn’t agree more here. Primer’s great for evening out porosity, but if you’ve got an obvious ridge or a dip, it’s just going to highlight it once the light comes in at the wrong angle. I’ve found even the “high-build” eco primers don’t do much for actual texture issues—they’re more about prepping for paint than hiding sins.
One thing I’d add: if you’re trying to minimize sanding (and dust), using a damp sponge after the mud sets up just enough can help knock down ridges before they harden. It’s not foolproof, but I’ve had fewer dust clouds and less cleanup. Also, if you’re concerned about indoor air quality, steer clear of setting-type compounds that have silica dust—nasty stuff to breathe.
I get the appeal of wide knives, but yeah, sometimes a 6" or even a 4" knife is just better for old, wavy walls. Control over speed any day. And that trick with the raking light? Total game changer. If you haven’t tried it with an LED work light, you’re missing out—it’ll show every last imperfection before you commit to paint.
Totally with you on the raking light—nothing like thinking you’ve nailed it, then that LED shows every little bump you missed. I’ll admit, I still get tempted by those “miracle” primers, but yeah, they’re not hiding anything major. I’ve had better luck just taking my time with the mud and using a smaller knife for those weird old walls. Sometimes I feel like I spend more time fussing with sponges and lights than actually sanding, but hey, less dust in the lungs is worth it.
I’ve had better luck just taking my time with the mud and using a smaller knife for those weird old walls. Sometimes I feel like I spend more time fussing with sponges and lights than actually sa...
I get the appeal of less dust, but I’ve actually found that sometimes all the fussing with sponges makes it harder to spot imperfections until paint goes on. There’s something about a light hand with a sanding pole—especially after a good raking light check—that seems to give a more predictable result for me. I know it’s not great for the lungs, but with a decent mask and some ventilation, it feels more controlled than wet sanding. Maybe it’s just old habits, but I trust what I can see in the dry phase more than what I feel with a sponge.
Dry sanding just feels more honest, if that makes sense. I’ve tried the sponge thing and ended up chasing little bumps I couldn’t even see until after primer—like drywall hide-and-seek. At least with a sanding pole and some good side lighting, you know what you’re dealing with. Yeah, the dust is brutal, but I’ll take a dusty floor over surprise craters any day.
I do keep telling myself I’ll invest in one of those fancy vacuum sanders... then I remember I’d rather spend the money on pizza after the job’s done. Old habits die hard, I guess.
Dry sanding definitely feels more straightforward, even if it’s a pain to clean up after. I totally get what you mean about the “honest” part—at least you can see what you’re working with, and there’s no weird surprises once the primer goes on. I tried the wet sponge thing too, thinking it’d be less mess, but honestly, it just made me second-guess every little bump. Ended up going back over everything with sandpaper anyway.
If it helps, I found that using a cheap work light at a low angle really highlights those sneaky imperfections before you even get to priming. It’s not as fancy as a vacuum sander, but it’s saved me from a few “how did I miss that?” moments. And yeah, pizza after a long day of sanding is way more satisfying than any new tool... at least for now.
