Getting smooth drywall joints without losing your mind

I've run into that unevenness too - you're definitely not alone. What helped me was lightly feathering the edges with a wider drywall knife before the sponge dries completely...it smooths things out nicely without extra skim coats. Takes some practice, but you'll get the hang of it.

That's solid advice, feathering definitely helps. I'd add that keeping your knife clean between passes makes a big difference too - less buildup means fewer ridges. Drywall finishing is one of those skills that just clicks after a while...hang in there, you're doing fine.

Good points here. I'd also say that lighting can really make or break your drywall job. I learned the hard way - thought everything looked smooth until I shined a work light at an angle and saw every bump and dip glaring back at me. Now I always check with angled lighting before sanding. Saves a lot of frustration later...and fewer late-night meltdowns over imperfections. Keep at it, patience pays off.

Lighting is definitely the drywall truth-teller. I once had a client who insisted everything looked perfect in daylight, but come evening with lamps on...every seam and bump jumped out. You're right - angled lighting saves sanity and reputations. Hang in there, it gets easier.

"angled lighting saves sanity and reputations"

That's a fair point, but I'd argue that relying too heavily on angled lighting might mask issues rather than truly resolving them. Have you considered experimenting with different joint compounds or sanding techniques? I've found that using a lightweight compound and sanding in multiple directions can significantly reduce imperfections, even under harsh lighting conditions. It takes some extra patience, sure...but the results might surprise you. Curious if anyone else has tried alternative methods with success.