I am remodeling a kitchen and recently removed ceramic tiles (backsplash) from the sheetrock walls. This created a lot of damage which I am repairing with joint compound (mud). I have the first coat on and it has dried quite rough. I think I need to sand down the worst of the high spots before doing the second coat. I know from experience that dry sanding creates an enormous amount of fine dust which would be a disaster in a working kitchen so would like to wet sand to keep the dust down.
What is the best way to wet sand the rough spots? Should I use paper, sanding screen, or what?
Thanx for any and all advice
poppi.
Replies
I would still dry sand it. Just cover the countertops with plastic, get a sanding sponge, your shop vac, and some headgear and you're off. First outfit your shopvac with a fine filter designed for drywall dust (about $20). Then sand with one hane and hold the shop vac nozzle close with the other. Since it's just the backsplash area, it will go pretty quick. You'll be pleasantly surprised that a giant dust cloud has not overtaken the kitchen.
--Andy
Following AAA's advice, could you considering a drywall sanding vacuum? I know the one thing I dread about drywalling is that aspect of sanding, my sinui, and the problems I have wearing a mask for protection. Because I wear glasses and typically have a moist breadth, wearing masks, regardless of how simple of elaborate, my glasses will fog in seconds--making the effort worthless.
I don't do it for a living, but when I work on my own stuff, I use a random orbital sander connected to a shop vac with a drywall dust filter. With the right touch, it does a great job and produces very little loose dust. Check the filter frequently.
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I would flatten it with a rough, wet sponge, then put on your next coat. Unless you used "hot mud" (quick drying), the wet sponge should soften it enough to wipe the high spots down.
Make sure you use as large a trowel as is practicable for your next application, and always keep in mind when troweling, a low spot is easy to fill with the next coat, a high spot just creates more work down the line.
"he...never charged nothing for his preaching, and it was worth it, too" - Mark Twain
Hi Poppi -- I hate sanding drywall mud so I try to do anything I can to avoid it. I am really particular about the smothness of my second coat. If you have really rough high spots try knocking them down with your taping knife. That is a whole lot quicker and easier than sanding. Once you get the really bad spots off run your knife along the joint to see how rough it really is. For the first coat all you really have to do is get rid of the high spots that might catch your knife. Don't bother trying to get a real smooth surface or to blend in any low spots. If you're real careful with your final (3rd) coat there should be little sanding involved when you are finished. The 3rd coat should be very light and will just fill in any imperfections and smooth out the joint.
If you have to sand, I suggest using sandscreen if you have to remove a lot of dry mud. Finish the joint with a double sided sanding sponge. If you have a shopvac and a helper you can keep the dust down.
I've had lots of luck with a shop vac hooked up to a orbital sander. probably the only difference b/t that a 'drywall sander' is the reach and size of the sanding head.
Makes me groan to think of all the sq. ft. I *have* sanded by hand in hot humid weather, working above my head, etc.
PJ
I am sure these sander / vac combos work, but in a pinch Huck's solution is what I have done and it works.
Yep, wet sanding works pretty good when you need to keep dust down. I've used a variety of rags and sponges and they all work.
The only thing to watch out for is this: any material that gets dissolved must be removed. It's easy to get sloppy and leave some partially dissolved compound on the wall. It will not adhere properly and fall off. It might even fall off after you've painted (That's right, I've seen it happen. In fact, I've seen it happen to me).
I always sand, at least a little, as the final prep. Maybe it's me, but I just can't get that nice invisible feathered edge by wet-sanding.
-Don