"The key is to use a damp sponge—not soaking wet—and keep rinsing it frequently."
Totally agree, learned that the hard way myself... I once went too wet and ended up with gouges everywhere. Now I stick to damp sponges and finish lightly with 220-grit paper—works every time.
Yep, damp sponge is the way to go. I used to rely just on sanding, but the dust was driving me nuts and cleanup took forever. Now I do a quick pass with a lightly damp sponge first, let it dry, then just touch up with fine sandpaper. Less mess, less hassle, and saves money on sanding pads too... win-win.
"Less mess, less hassle, and saves money on sanding pads too... win-win."
Yep, totally agree on the damp sponge method—it's a solid trick. A couple other things I've found helpful:
- Use a good-quality joint compound; the cheap stuff shrinks too much and you'll end up doing extra coats.
- Thin layers are your friend. It's tempting to glob it on and sand later, but trust me, thin and smooth saves headaches later.
- Lighting matters. Set up a bright worklight at an angle; it'll show imperfections you might miss otherwise.
Drywall finishing is never exactly fun, but these little tweaks make it bearable...mostly.
"Lighting matters. Set up a bright worklight at an angle; it'll show imperfections you might miss otherwise."
Couldn't agree more about the lighting—learned that one the hard way. I remember finishing a room late at night, feeling pretty proud of myself...until morning sunlight revealed every little bump and ridge I'd missed. Talk about humbling. Good lighting really is key, and patience too. Drywall finishing tests everyone's sanity eventually, but sounds like you've got a solid approach figured out. Hang in there!
Lighting definitely makes or breaks a drywall job. One trick I've found helpful is to lightly pencil-mark trouble spots as I go along—helps me keep track of areas that need another pass after sanding. Saves some headaches later, especially when that harsh morning sun hits the wall and shows everything you missed the night before.
Lately though, I'm experimenting more with different sanding techniques and tools rather than relying solely on lighting. Switched to a sanding sponge recently and it's been surprisingly effective...less dust, smoother finish. Have you tried any alternative sanding methods or tools that made things easier? Always curious to hear what's working for others.
