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Hot take: I used to think premixed joint compound was always better than mixing my own
A contractor friend told me I was wasting money on pre-mixed buckets after my mud was cracking on a drywall repair in my basement. I switched to all-purpose powder mix and it cost me $12 for a bag that made three times as much as a $18 bucket. Anyone else find mixing your own gives a smoother finish?
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rubyk261mo ago
Right but nobody is talking about how the humidity in your workspace changes everything. I was fighting cracking for months in my garage until I realized the open bucket was soaking up moisture from the air. The powder mix lets you control the water content perfectly for whatever temp and humidity you're dealing with. Hot dry day? Add a little more water. Basement like a swamp? Stiffen it up. The pre-mixed stuff is a one size fits all that actually fits nobody.
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murray.jana1mo ago
I tried drying my powder in the oven at 150°F after @rubyk26 mentioned moisture, and it stopped my cracking completely.
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ivanscott1mo ago
130F works better without burning anything.
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