Hate Drywall Sanding? Dig This.

[JC23]

I've noticed pretty much everyone on here HATES sanding drywall. In fact, I don't know of anyone that likes it, including me. A number of years ago, I discovered a handy and relatively cheap tool that removes about 95% of the PIA factor.

I tried to find in on Lowes and Depot as they are everywhere but could not get the right combo of words. I did find it on Cool Tool. I have seen this thing elsewhere and maybe it's cheaper out there, too.

Here's the link: http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/001645.php

Hope it helps. I have a 140 yead old house and use mine every time I do drywall. I did a job inside a candy store and didn't have to shut down or tarp off the work area.

I don't sell these things, I just know it made life easier for me. Your mileage may vary...

 

[Bigpigdave]

Make sure you wear your hearing protection. These things scream until the hose gets half filled with dust. Seemed to cut down about 2/3 of the dust though.
Thanks, Dave

 

[Greg-nwo]

I've started buying Synko Dust Control mud for all the drywalling I do... night and day from the generic stuff. Feathers out beautifully and when you sand it it just falls to the ground.... no dust cloud to contend with.

Video on Youtube

I really hate drywall haha

 

[Bull]

I have a device like that pictured, but there is no bucket of water. It's just a hose connected to a sanding board. It really does work well, and is super-inexpensive to buy on Amazon.

 

[4StarCstms]

As I've got quite a bit of drywall to do coming up...both in my Shop, and a buddy's house, plus mine.. I've GOT to invest in one of those..

 

[pst496]

I'll have to build one of these...I have one that just hooks to a shop vac. works great but will clog the filter pretty quickly. that dust will ruin a filter quick too

 

[1320stang]

I used a sponge and a bucket of water, no dust.

 

[Sparks4184]

If you can afford it the Porter Cable 10 Gal. shop vac has a drywall sander / dust removal attachment that powers up the shop vac when the attachment switch is depressed. The dust goes through a reusable filter and can be cleaned while in place on the vac. The 10 gal hepa type bag inside the vac gets tossed when it's filled and all together, it's a really durable, reliable system. I don't see any reason why the PC attachment wouldn't work with any other shop vac. I think it costs less than $200 bucks.

 

[scott37300]

I've done a fair share of drywall hanging and finishing. The PC sander is alright but it does have it's downsides, expensive sanding discs, can't get into corners well so you still have to hand sand, and it leaves swirl marks so it doesn't finish as nice as sanding screens do. It's mainly made for large scale jobs, not home projects. I am one to buy a new tool if I feel it can help in some way, I wouldn't buy the PC unless had had a huge building to do.

That being said I learned a lot since my first mud job. Sanding should be very minimal. I used to slap mud on and sand it like bondo. But have learned that the first coat just beds the tape, then after that dries just scrape the high spots with a 6" knife. Then second coat and knock down the high spots when dry. Then the final coat and after it dries do a light sanding. You shouldn't need to do much sanding at all.

 

[JC23]

I might add that I always get a new "Sock" filter cover every time I start up a major project like an entire room or something. That saves those filters that seem to always cost more every time I have to buy one. I use a Sears C'man shop vac and the damn filters are like $15. WTF??? Anybody know of a cheaper one?

One more tip: I give the five gallon pail a good cleaning out with bleach after the project is done or it will start to mildew - yuck! Then it's a real joy to clean out that muck.

 

[1320stang]

That being said I learned a lot since my first mud job. Sanding should be very minimal. I used to slap mud on and sand it like bondo. But have learned that the first coat just beds the tape, then after that dries just scrape the high spots with a 6" knife. Then second coat and knock down the high spots when dry. Then the final coat and after it dries do a light sanding. You shouldn't need to do much sanding at all.

That's what I do, a drywall guy showed me the sponge technique and I love it. It's a little harder if you're not texturing a wall as you have to get it perfect, but it fills the air pockets well, you're just rewetting and moving the mud around a little.