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AR15.COM
8/15/2006 10:49:49 AM EDT


How come you have to sand the compound when you patch a hole in your wallboard?

I've seen guys use a giant spackling knife and just spread the stuff out flat and they're done.

How do you do that?

I'm sick of dragging this repair out every time I have to fix a nail pop.

What am I doing wrong?  The repair compound they sell just won't lay flat, it grabs the knife and rolls up.

Thanks.
8/15/2006 10:51:50 AM EDT
[#1]
Try drywall mud. It seems to work better than spackle. Or, just push it in with your finger so you don't have a giant smear of material to deal with.
8/15/2006 10:51:53 AM EDT
[#2]
"Paging RichardH247 to the GD forum!"

Could be that it's dried out a bit. The wider the knife the better.  Get it as smooth as possible. Then, do not sand! "Polish" it with a damp sponge.
8/15/2006 10:52:40 AM EDT
[#3]
You have to sand it or it will be a eye sore when you paint.
8/15/2006 10:55:14 AM EDT
[#4]
+1 on drywall mud.

I have taken a liking to the stuff that goes on pink and then whitens as it dries. No questions about when to sand that way.

The wife has a method where she uses (SMALL repairs only) a damp sponge or shop towel to smooth it out instead of sanding and she swears by it. Looks OK too - no lumps or anything. I can't get it to work, myself, so I have to sand.

If you put it on and then get it right off, you can avoid using too much though, that might be a way for you to attack it.
8/15/2006 10:56:55 AM EDT
[#5]
Use wallboard compound.   $6 for 25 lbs.  Drywall tape knives are available everywhere in a variety of sizes.

You can also get an abrasive sponge.  One side is rough.  Use it wet.  No dust.

There is no substitute for the correct tools.

I am scraping popcorn ceilings in a 2000+ sq. ft. house, so I have this shite down!!

8/15/2006 11:01:38 AM EDT
[#6]
I've been doing this for a good while in my reloading room.  If a nail pops up (older house, drywall nailed rather than screwed) you need to put a drywall screw (1 5/8") above and below the nail.  Hit the nail hard enough to make a good dent with a normal framing hammer--or remove it.  Use drywall mud to finish it.  Sand with a "sanding sponge" made for the purpose.  It takes a coat or three to get it nice but the mud sands VERY easily--no pressure and just a little sanding.  Don't buy the cheap plastic drywall knife or plastic pan--get the stainless ones, which don't cost much more and are MUCH easier/better to use.

Spackle sucks as it dries hard and is a bitch to sand.  It's also harder to get on there in a way that doesn't need a bunch of sanding.