I've found vinegar smell fades pretty fast too, especially if you ventilate well. As for dustless compounds, I get what you're saying about the texture—it can feel a bit gummy at first. But honestly, once you get used to working with it, the reduced cleanup hassle is a game changer. I'd say give it another shot, maybe thin it slightly or experiment with your application technique...could make all the difference.
Yeah, I agree, dustless compound is definitely worth the learning curve. Thinning it slightly helps a lot, but I've also found that using a wider blade can make a huge difference in smoothing it out evenly. Took me a couple tries to get the hang of it too—felt weirdly sticky at first—but now I barely even notice it. And man, not having to deal with clouds of dust everywhere after sanding...total win.
I've found the wider blade tip helpful too, though personally, I struggled a bit with control at first. My joints ended up slightly uneven because of the extra width—it was a balancing act between pressure and angle. Eventually got the hang of it by practicing on a scrap piece first. And yeah, thinning the compound definitely improved workability. Honestly, the time and hassle saved from less cleanup afterward more than made up for the initial frustration.
Totally agree about practicing on scrap first—saved me from a lot of headaches. One thing I noticed was that keeping the blade slightly damp (not dripping, just lightly moist) helped glide smoother and reduced drag. Might be worth trying if you're still tweaking your technique...
Interesting point about the damp blade trick, but honestly, I've found that keeping the mud consistency just right—like creamy peanut butter—makes a bigger difference. Too wet, and it's a mess; too dry, and you're fighting it. Might be worth experimenting with that too...
