Porter Cable Sander, How does everyone use it??

fenez

you guys sand between every coat? if so why?

silverstilts

nope not unless i am in a hurry and screw up major. no need to sand in between coats in fact it tends to dry out the mud as you are coating on the next coat, then every time u sand it will ruff up the paper too much of this and you will have a rough wall.

__________________
aka the rock doctor

fenez

I have been finishing for 22 years and have never had to sand enough that it would require a power sander, I just don't understand the need for it.

Wallers

Okay, I need you to explain this. You don't sand between coats... what about the overlap from running bead that is left from the 2nd side you run? Do you guys just scrape your bead and laps and hit it again? What about crunchies in angles from the plow? I get scratches in second/ third coat if I don't sand! Everyone here sands between coats, but if theres a trick so I don't HAVE to let me know!!! Because yes, the dust causes problems, build up in the corners of the boxes, mud will flake off sometimes coming out of angles, etc. That's just the way it's taught here... so it must be right. haha

Plus all we have to choose from is Goldbond and USG for mud. I hate them. Very gritty. I worked in SLC for a year and they had Hamilton's. I loved it! Creamy goodness! I guess we can get Magnum AP, but that's the selection. Magnum rots so quick, if it sits for 3 days (between jobs) the next time you open the bucket lookout! STINKY! I love working with it, just can't stand that smell.

Are you hand finishers or using tools?

Wallers

Oh yeah, as far as the PC, we use it to sand texture down on remodel jobs. That's it. I haven't put it on a wall yet, but it might help to curb that dust problem!

fenez

ahhhh thats why some of the guys sand between coats (auto tools) I am a hand finisher...by hand there aren't any edges to worry about.

wnybassman

Must be, I was wondering about that sanding between coats also. The only time we usually touch sandpaper between coats is to knock the squeeze out off the metal corner beads and to smoothen around outlet boxes close to a seam. Once and a while a larger edge can be scraped off with the stiff 4" knife I have in my back pocket. Hand finisher here also.