Unpopular opinion: skip the fancy sanding blocks for drywall

Everyone told me I needed those expensive sanding sponges for drywall joints. Spent $15 on a pack at Home Depot. They clogged up in 5 minutes. Tried using a regular 120 grit sandpaper wrapped around a scrap 2x4. Worked way better. No clogging. Lasted through 3 rooms of my basement in Omaha. The sponges just make dust cakes and fall apart. Anyone else ditch the special tools for basic stuff like this?

2 comments

2 Comments

samw4720d ago

I mean I gotta disagree here... the sanding sponges don't clog if you use them right with light pressure and keep tapping them on the wall. I've done a few basements and those sponges give you way more even pressure than a 2x4, plus no risk of gouging your joints if you hit a high spot.

wadeg9220d ago

Start by saying @samw47 you're lucky the sponges didn't clog on you but that's not the norm for most guys I know... I've had sponges turn into a solid brick halfway through a room even with light tapping. The grit just packs in no matter what you do. Plus using a 2x4 wrapped with paper gives you way more control over flatness because you can feel the joint compound actually leveling out. Sponges flex too much and leave a wavy finish if you're not careful. And that gouging thing is just about technique, if you keep the paper flat and don't dig in you won't gouge anything. We're talking about professional results here not just getting it done quick.