Yeah, wet sanding’s always been a bit of a gamble for me too—sometimes it just gums up or leaves streaks, especially if the mud isn’t fully set. I hear you on the sponges, they’re notorious for softening up those corners you worked so hard to get crisp. I’ve had decent luck with those flexible pads, but I still end up doing a final pass with a fine grit paper by hand. It’s a bit more work, but like you said, the finish just feels better. Honestly, half the battle is patience... and resisting the urge to over-sand.
Honestly, half the battle is patience... and resisting the urge to over-sand.
That’s so true. I keep telling myself to just walk away and let it dry, but sometimes I get impatient and end up making more work for myself. The corners are where I really struggle—one swipe too many with a sponge and suddenly it’s all rounded off. I tried those flexible pads too, but I’m still figuring out how much pressure is too much.
One thing that helped me was switching to a sanding block for the bigger flat areas. It keeps things even and I don’t dig in as much by accident. For the corners, I actually started folding a piece of fine grit paper so it has a crisp edge—seems to help keep those lines sharp without gouging anything.
I’ve also noticed that if I rush the mudding stage, no amount of sanding really fixes it. Like, if there’s a ridge or a dip, it just takes forever to smooth out later. Maybe it’s just me, but spending a bit more time feathering out the mud in the first place saves me from having to sand like crazy.
Wet sanding is still hit or miss for me. Sometimes it works great, other times it just smears everything around. Maybe my timing’s off? Either way, I’m learning to live with a few imperfections here and there. After paint goes on, most people don’t notice anyway... at least that’s what I tell myself when I’m ready to lose my mind over one little bump.
Corners are always a pain, honestly. I’ve found that if I try to get them perfect with sanding, I just end up making a mess. What’s worked for me is using a corner trowel during the mudding stage—gets that crisp line without so much fuss later. Wet sanding’s tricky, too. If the mud isn’t fully set, it just turns into a gummy mess. I usually wait until it’s bone dry, then just barely dampen the sponge. And yeah, after paint, half those little flaws disappear anyway... unless you’re shining a flashlight across the wall, nobody’s gonna notice.
I hear you on the flashlight test—makes everything look like the Grand Canyon. The corner trowel’s a lifesaver, but sometimes I still get that weird ridge if I’m not careful. Ever tried those flexible sanding sponges for corners? I’ve had mixed luck... sometimes they’re great, other times they just round things off too much. Curious if anyone’s got a trick for those inside angles that doesn’t involve redoing the whole corner twice.
Honestly, I’m not sold on those flexible sanding sponges for corners either. They always seem to mess up the crisp line I’m after, and then I end up fussing with it way longer than planned. What’s worked better for me is using a small drywall knife wrapped in fine sandpaper—just enough control to keep the angle sharp without gouging. It’s a bit slower, but at least I don’t have to redo the whole thing. The sponges just feel too soft for tight spots, you know?
