Getting smooth drywall joints without losing your mind

I also swear by lightweight joint compound for the final coat; it's way easier to feather out.

That stuff really is a lifesaver compared to the heavy mud - makes it almost fun, at least until you hit a lumpy old wall and realize your “straight” line has a mind of its own. I’ve had better luck with wider knives (10" or 12") for the last pass. Not exactly a shortcut, but it does hide my rookie mistakes pretty well. Corners? Still my nemesis...

- Corners are where my optimism goes to die. I’ve tried those inside corner tools, but somehow I still end up sanding more than I’d like to admit.
- Lightweight mud is a game changer, but I swear it shrinks a bit more than the regular stuff. I always end up doing a sneaky extra skim coat just to be safe.
- Wider knives are clutch, but I once tried a 14" and nearly took out a chunk of trim... 10" seems like the sweet spot for me.
- For lumpy walls, I’ll sometimes hit the high spots with a drywall rasp before mudding. Not perfect, but it keeps the “waves” down.
- My trick for corners: run one side, let it dry, then do the other. Otherwise, I just smear it around and make a mess.

Still waiting for someone to invent self-feathering mud or a robot that does corners. Until then, it’s just me, my knife, and a playlist long enough to get through all the sanding.

Corners are my nemesis too. I’ve tried those fancy corner trowels, but honestly, I get better results just running a 6” knife on each side like you mentioned - let it dry, flip sides. The sanding is still a pain, but at least it’s not a lumpy mess. Lightweight mud does shrink more, yeah. I always end up with a quick third coat just to fill the little divots that pop up. And 10” knives are my sweet spot too - anything bigger and I’m fighting the wall more than fixing it. The drywall rasp trick is underrated... it saves so much frustration later.

It’s funny, I’ve tried every “miracle” tool for corners and always end up back with the 6” knife - just feels more controlled, even if it takes longer. I’ve found that if I feather out the edge a bit wider on each coat, sanding is way less brutal. The lightweight mud shrinkage drives me nuts too, but it’s so much easier to sand than the all-purpose stuff. Oh, and that drywall rasp? Total game-changer for butt joints. Never thought I’d get excited about a rasp, but here we are...

- Totally get the 6” knife thing - tried those fancy corner trowels and just made a mess.
- I’m with you on lightweight mud being easier to sand, but man, that shrinkage... sometimes feels like I’m chasing my tail with extra coats.
- Drywall rasp for butt joints is underrated. First time I used one, I wondered why I’d been fighting those humps for years.
- Pro tip: if you’re feathering out wide, keep a damp sponge handy for touch-ups between coats. Saves a ton of sanding dust in the air (and in your lungs).
- Still haven’t found a miracle tool for inside corners that doesn’t make me want to throw it across the room...