Any sheetrock finishers in the house?

[Homerr]

I'm at the unforgiving stage of sanding the sheetrock in my living room remodel project.<br /><br />Is there a faster way to sand the rock? Is there a power sander or something I can get to make life just a little easier?<br /><br />I've seen some on EBay, but I don't really want to spend that kind of money.<br /><br />What about an orbital, or even belt sander?<br /><br />H.

 

[12Footer]

Re: Any sheetrock finishers in the house?

Are you refinishing existing texture-coated walls to make them smooth?<br />Otherwise, it shouldn't require a fancy tool to sand it, Homerr. The pros use foam-filled sanding blocks for the most part. They are available at most home repair stores that sell sheetrock and sheetrock tools.<br /><br />I take it you are going after a smooth surface, but even if it is a large room, it is just joints only. <br />The rest of the board will take a smooth coat of paint like a car body.<br />BTW, i am not a pro.I just slept at a Holiday Inn once.

 

[CalicoKid]

Re: Any sheetrock finishers in the house?

The abrasive mesh (I can't remember what it's called) sands joint compount fast, it doesn't clog. For blending in repairs a damp, wrung out sponge works nicely.

 

[Homerr]

Re: Any sheetrock finishers in the house?

It's all new rock. <br /><br />It's about a 20' x 12' room and a hallway. I tore out the old wood paneling and put up sheet rock.<br /><br />I want a smooth joint and then spray an orange-peel type of texture, or possibly a knock-down.<br /><br />I'm a big fan of power tools (what guy isn't?)... and I just thought there might be something out there that I've missed.<br />I also use the screen mesh. It's the only type I have used when hand-sanding.. <br /><br />The rock sands fast with it, but if there is an easier way other than bribing your kids... I'm all for it!<br /><br /><br />H.

 

[dtherrien]

Re: Any sheetrock finishers in the house?

Porter cable makes the only drywall sander that i know of.It would not be worth the money unless you plan on using it alot...i think it is over $500. Your best bet are....sanding pole with mesh sanding screen and those abrasive sanding blocks for inside coners and hard to get at places.You should also make sure that all of your joints are feathered out.Normal procedures are three coats of compound and then maybe a touch up coat. The idea is to have very little sanding.

 

[Homerr]

Re: Any sheetrock finishers in the house?

LOL.. very little sanding... Not from my back-yard techniques!<br /><br />That's the sander I seen on EBay. You can get it for around $200-$300 on there. It's still too rich to do just one room and a hallway.<br /><br />Actually... I did a lot better this round of mud.<br />I started at one end of the house and worked my way around over the years. I've been getting better at mudding.<br /><br />There is a definite art to it that I have yet to master!<br /><br />Thanks for the help guys.<br /><br />H.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Any sheetrock finishers in the house?

I haven't sanded any in a long time, prefer wet sponge method to minimize the dust mess in your house and lungs, and you can see what you are doing.<br /><br />Mudding with narrow 4" knife first, just over the seam. Let dry.<br />Then mud with a 8"knife, a 4-6 inch swath. Let dry.<br />Then use a 12 inch knife, a 6-9 inch swath. Let dry.<br />Never let the mud get wider than the knife, or you get ridges that must be removed.<br /><br />Wet sponge: Soak sponge or sponge/3m pad in water.<br />Saturate the mud, use circular motion to smooth the mud.<br />3m scrubby side to get small chunks using no pressure.<br /><br />Don't get too crazy on the first day, it wears down fast after the water soaks in. Come back the next day and look for high or low spots, remud spots that are low, re-sponge high spots.<br /><br />It may take a few days to get it done, but the walls will be smooth, and no dust.<br /><br />Done a few rooms and many patches this way.

 

[ZooMbr]

Re: Any sheetrock finishers in the house?

roscoe defines the best mudding technique. <br /><br />I would add; after years of sanding in my youth (for my father after school and summers when in college - old shrink mud required lots of sanding -- be thankful for the new stuff): a good palm sander will knock the stuff down. Does create dust, just easier on the arms.<br /><br />If you are going to put a knockdown finish or even a rolled on finish it will hide some imperfections.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Any sheetrock finishers in the house?

I vowed that the next time I needed to tape and mud I would pay to have it done. That's what I did. The professionals are real arteeeeeests.

 

[one more cast]

Re: Any sheetrock finishers in the house?

I wasn't getting a room done fast enough for my ex so she decided to do it herself while I was at work and put WAY to much mud on. I took my belt sander to it and it worked pretty well but made an awful mess.

 

[Kalian]

Re: Any sheetrock finishers in the house?

Not to detract from what others have said, but I paid around 30 bucks at wallmart for a cheap vibrating sander that worked pretty well. However, it has a warning that it's not made for sheetrocking. The dust will eventualy kill it. I did 2 rooms and a hallway with it and it still works.<br />Just a thought!

 

[steamboatwilly]

Re: Any sheetrock finishers in the house?

If youll Trowell it four or five coats you wont need to sand.Put a coat on,just fill the low places,put another coat on,fill the low places,etc,etc,etc.Dont get humps.If you get a bad place,trowel it.Dont put too much at once.Easy.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Any sheetrock finishers in the house?

Originally posted by Boomyal:<br /> I vowed that the next time I needed to tape and mud I would pay to have it done. That's what I did. The professionals are real arteeeeeests.

Me too. Being covered in fine dust like that drives me COMPLETELY insane.

 

[deputydawg]

Re: Any sheetrock finishers in the house?

Menards, Home Depot and others sell a sponge that works wonders. Not too much water, just dampen it and rinse it often. The sponge will do about 1 large room before it falls apart. <br /><br />The one made for sheetrock is pourous on one side and a rough scratcher on the other. No pressure needed, just the weight of the sponge. Fairly fast and clean.<br /><br />Vibrating sanders will work well with fine paper, but blow them out often to keep the dust out. <br /><br />In auto body work we use a long thin air vibrating sander. Can't remember what it was called, but we used it to feather in dent repairs and paint. These work decent too, but still very dirty.

 

[all thumbs]

Re: Any sheetrock finishers in the house?

I do it similar to roscoe and williams, little or no sanding. Different size trowels ending up with 12 in. The last finishing coats I will water down to almost paint thickness. I never have a seam show no matter what paint is used, gloss ,flat , light or dark colors.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Any sheetrock finishers in the house?

The profession arteeeeeeeeeeeest do it in two passes with absolutely minimal sanding. Until we evolve with the born ability to apply mud, I vote for the arteeeeeeest.

 

[dtherrien]

Re: Any sheetrock finishers in the house?

No..do not use a power sander on sheetrock.even if you bought the portercable model it would take a couple of years to master it.Feel with your hands on the joints and fill in any low spots or feather out your edges. Any lumps just scrape off with your taping trowel. For a novice you could get by with two trowels....a 5" taping knife and a 10" knife....make sure that both knifes are as flexable as you can get....do not use a stiff trowel. Also you can buy a hand sander (manual) that attaches to a bucket that uses a water trop and your shop vac.

 

[jph20]

Re: Any sheetrock finishers in the house?

porter cable makes a good drywall sander and any rental store including home depot rents them lol and don't forget the dust masks

 

[Johnshan1]

Re: Any sheetrock finishers in the house?

I rented a Porter Cable drywall sander at home depot, did a 20x15 room with it inculding the ceilings, came out great. Since theres a vaccum built into the sander theres a lot less dust.<br /><br />It was my first time using it and was a real life saver, the rock came out perfect, go rent it!<br /><br />If it took 2 years to master it no one would use it.