Oh, to spackle. To schmear and swipe, spread and layer. What glories I behold as I move forward in the project.
Now, I approach the very zenith. I’m almost finished taping and spackling over the tape. Now, the dreaded sanding.
I’m athsmatic. Yes, I have a very nice tight-fitting mask with dual filters…but gosh the DUST. Everywhere, difficult to remove.
Here’s the question of of the day: Can I do something like “wet sanding” ?? Can I somehow smooth out the ripples and dimples and dribbles of spackle, using a wet rag or such? Can I do it in a way that’s just as smooth as dry sanding, but traps all of the dust? Help !!!
Get it wet (even a little) and it all may come down on you.
Don’t stand under what you’re sanding. Wear a long sleeve shirt you can immediately remove. Wear a hat or a do-rag. Wear eye shields. Shower immediately afterwards.
I’ve wet sanded.
It comes out just as nice but it takes some getting used to.
Also, you have to rinse the sponge very frequently and be careful not to take all the spackle off either.
Define “spackle” - if you are using the usual DIY products, water will dissolve it (“taping compound”).
Some “spackle” is rated for external use, and MIGHT withstand some moisture - spread some of whatever you’re using on some scrap and try.
NEVER use a rag to “sand” - you will get a very wavy surface with bare spots - use a proper sanding block - and check with your hardware store - there is a plastic “stuff” that looks like window screen - it makes sanding “mud” as pleasant as it can be.
A slightly-moist cloth is used to remove sanding dust from the surface prior to paint/sizing/paper - but never use a truely wet cloth!
Extraneous… you heretic, I will spackle your ass cheeks together if you continue to spew such bedlam. The point is, yes. Wet spackling can be achieved!
Extraneous, it’s got a real simple name: Sanding Screen. and it does cut down on the dust level. I tend to use screens almost exlusively.
But, making it as smooth as possible before sanding is the real key. 'Cause all of us pros agree, SANDING SUCKS!
Zebra, using a power sander would be a bad idea. The tendency is to sand too much anyways. Once you get down to the paper tape, you’ve gone too far and would need to re-mud. Far too easy to oversand with power tools. Whether it be drywall mud or wood. Just fyi.
and get you some paper coveralls to keep the dust off of you less than $5 ea.
homemade dustbuster…attach a shop-vac hose to the handle end of your pole sander (remove the grip first) duct tape it so the hose will suck up the dust through the hollow aluminum tube. If you are using a screen in stead of a block with paper it’ll help. Always stick some box fans in the windows blowing out as well. That ought to do the trick for the most part.
I know you can get random orbital sanders with vacuum bags onboard. If you don’t want to buy an $120 sander for this project, you probably have a tool rental place nearby that will loan one out for $15 or $20/day.
Seal the area you’re sanding. Set up a shop vac outside, with extra long hose. (about 10 feet, depending on how far “outside” is) Put the hose into work area. Re-seal area. the vac draws out much of the dust. You can also put a fan in the area between the work and the vac to help it along.
This works great. We sanded 20,000 coats of paint off a fireplace. We both have asthma, and no one died!
When I ripped out some regular door frames and made archways I used a ton of mud. I had to spackle literally from floor to ceiling. In order to save time I broke several “rules”. To wit:
I used a power sander. Much quicker, but you do have to be very careful and have a light touch. As NCB says, you don’t want to be starting over with the mud. Power sanders will spread the dust much more than hand sanding. Think “dusting white powder for months”.
I wet sanded in spots, especially where air bubbles had been in the mud. Use a damp (not wet, dampit!) sponge, rinse it regularly, and use it lightly. It is a great method for blending the almost smooth mud to a near perfect finish. I wouldn’t recommend it for the initial smoothing.
We sanded the kitchen by hand and it took forever and made a ton of dust.
Then hubby got a power sander that attached to our shop vac. He needed earplugs but this worked very well and left surprisingly little dust behind! He did that in all the other rooms and we were very happy with the results
Two approaches. One is the wet abrasive sponge. Works reasonably well with drywall compound. (You use it damp, not soaking, so it doesn’t dissolve the compound .)
The other approach is the drywall screen sander that attaches to a shop vac via a bucket of water. The water filters out the dust. (e.g. http://www.sandkleen.com/products.htm ) I think I saw the “Jr” set up for 20 dollars or so at Home Dept.
I do have the time. Thank you all for the thoughts insofar. I’ve only now been able to come and read this thread again.
I’m athsmatic, and so dread the dust for real reasons. Not just cleanliness reasons. I bought the screen stuff that goes on the end of the mop handle with padded mount for the screening. I’ve not tried it yet, but I do wish to avoid dust at all costs.
If not a wet cloth, then… a damp smooth sponge? Yes? I used the Sho-Vac Hose duct taped to my wrist for cutting bits of sheetrock above my head, with great success. I will sand if I can trap all dust. I’m inclined to use moisture. Water is my friend.
j66, that is unquestionably the sig line of the month.
Wet Sanding. Oh, joy of joys. A large block of high-density charcoal gray foam rubber. The type used in equipment cases to form pack delicate stuff.
A bucket of very hot water. The foam is cut with nice square edges. I soak it, wring it and slowly “sand” back and forth, smoothing out ridges and problems, and taperning off into nothingness along the edges.
Works great. Zero dust. I cannot wait to prime already !
and it does cut down on the dust level. I tend to use screens almost exlusively.