Man, those inside corner tools are the bane of my existence. I gave up and just use my two knives—one for each side—takes longer but at least I don’t end up with weird ridges. Totally agree on the lightweight mud shrinkage too... I swear it disappears overnight and I’m left wondering if I even put any on. Haven’t tried the sponge trick much, but maybe I should since my garage looks like a dust bowl after sanding.
I totally get what you mean about the inside corner tools—mine just collect dust in the toolbox now. Using two knives is slower, but at least I don’t have to redo corners every time. About the lightweight mud, does anyone else feel like it just vanishes? I keep adding more layers and still end up with dips. Is the sponge trick really that much better for dust control, though? I’m always worried it’ll mess up the finish or leave marks. Has anyone tried just misting the mud before sanding, or is that just asking for trouble?
About the lightweight mud, does anyone else feel like it just vanishes? I keep adding more layers and still end up with dips.
That’s exactly my experience—lightweight mud seems to shrink more than I expect, and I’m always chasing those dips. I’ve tried misting before sanding, but honestly, it just made a gummy mess for me. The sponge trick helps with dust, but I always worry about overdoing it and leaving streaks. Does anyone actually get a perfect finish with a sponge, or is it just a compromise for less cleanup?
I’ve never had a truly flawless finish with just a sponge, if I’m being honest. It’s great for keeping dust down, but you’re right—there’s always that risk of streaks or uneven spots. I usually do a quick sponge pass to knock down the high points and then hit it lightly with fine sandpaper once it’s dry. The dust is annoying, but I’d rather deal with a little cleanup than have to fix streaky patches later. Lightweight mud is definitely trickier—shrinks more than regular stuff and needs more patience (and layers) than they tell you on the label.
I hear you on the lightweight mud—seems like it never quite does what the label promises. I’ve found myself doing more layers than I’d like, just to get things looking right. Your method sounds pretty solid though. Honestly, I’d rather deal with a little dust than have to redo a whole wall because of streaks or weird patches. Ever tried using one of those sanding sponges with a vacuum attachment? Cuts down on cleanup, but it’s not perfect either... Still, you’re definitely not alone in the struggle for smooth joints.
