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Switched to ready-mix joint compound after 10 years of mixing my own mud
I've been drywalling for about 8 years now, and I always mixed my own joint compound from powder because I thought it saved money. Last month I had a small job in Austin where I had to patch up a bedroom ceiling after a leak. I was in a hurry so I grabbed a bucket of pre-mixed all-purpose mud from Home Depot for like $12. I figured it would be slower and weaker but honestly it saved me 20 minutes per batch and the texture came out way smoother on the second coat. No lumps, no dust clouds in my truck, and I didn't have to guess at the water ratio. Now I'm wondering if I've been wasting time for years. Has anyone else switched from powder to pre-mix and stuck with it?
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the_laura1d ago
Oh man, I'm right there with you. I spent a good five years like some kind of drywall caveman, mixing my own mud in a 5 gallon bucket and sneezing dust for hours. Then I tried the pre-mixed stuff on a ceiling job and felt like an absolute fool. That first bucket had no lumps, no mystery dry spots that turn into craters when you sand, and I finished in half the time. Pretty sure I owe my truck's entire suspension system an apology for all those years of hauling 50 pound bags of powder around.
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karenc201d ago
Oh man, I know exactly what you mean! I switched to pre-mixed about two years ago after a similar last minute run to the store, and I haven't looked back. My hands used to be so sore from mixing powder all day, and my truck was always full of dust no matter how much I cleaned it. Plus, I found that the pre-mix actually sands easier on the final coat around the edges, especially on ceilings where you want a real smooth finish. It feels good knowing someone else had the same lightbulb moment after years of doing it the hard way.
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