Totally get what you're saying about wet sanding—it's a bit of a balancing act. I've found that the sponge type does make a difference; the finer-grit sponges seem to leave a smoother finish, at least for me. Technique-wise, keeping the sponge just damp enough (not dripping) and using lighter pressure helps avoid those annoying streaks. But honestly, drywall finishing is part skill, part patience, and part accepting a tiny bit of imperfection...you're probably doing better than you think. Hang in there, it gets easier with practice.
I feel this so much right now. Just finished my first drywall project last weekend, and honestly, I thought I'd lose my mind halfway through. Tried wet sanding at first but ended up switching back to dry sanding because I couldn't get the hang of the sponge dampness thing—either too wet or too dry every time. Maybe it's just practice like you said, but man... drywall finishing really tests your patience. Glad I'm not alone in this struggle, haha.
"Tried wet sanding at first but ended up switching back to dry sanding because I couldn't get the hang of the sponge dampness thing—either too wet or too dry every time."
Honestly, wet sanding can be tricky at first, but once you nail it, you'll never go back to dry sanding. The key is wringing out the sponge until it's barely damp—think "just enough moisture to leave a faint trail." Took me a few tries (and plenty of frustration) before it clicked. Hang in there... drywall finishing is an art form, and you're already halfway there if you've survived your first project.
"The key is wringing out the sponge until it's barely damp—think 'just enough moisture to leave a faint trail.'"
This right here. Took me forever to figure out too, honestly. Another trick that helped me was keeping a bucket of clean water nearby and rinsing the sponge often. If you let the mud build up, you're basically just smearing it around. Wet sanding definitely has a learning curve, but once you get it down, it's way less messy than dry sanding...and your lungs will thank you later.
Yeah, the barely damp sponge trick is spot-on. I learned drywalling the hard way when we restored our old Victorian—talk about uneven walls and endless sanding. One thing I'd add is to use a bright work light held at an angle. It shows every little bump or ridge you might miss otherwise. Saved me from repainting more than once...though it does make you obsess over tiny imperfections.
