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Old timer's tip convinced me to switch from topping to setting compound on big jobs
Back when I started around 2005, I always used all-purpose compound for everything. Then a guy named Hank who'd been hanging since the 70s told me to try setting compound for my second coat on a big commercial job downtown. I was nervous about the shorter working time (you know, that 45 minute pan life). But man, after that first job with way less sanding and fewer callbacks, I never looked back. Any of you still messing with all-purpose for your final coats on large walls?
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robinson.hannah4mo ago
Hank sounds like he knew his stuff. The thing nobody talks about is that setting compound actually bonds better with the tape on those big jobs. All-purpose can shrink and crack over time on long seams, especially with temperature changes in commercial spaces. That shorter working time forces you to move faster and keep your mud fresh, which actually helps stop you from overworking the compound and introducing air bubbles. Plus the harder finish means you can get away with a lighter sand and still have a smooth wall. I've been using it for years now and my callback rate dropped to basically zero.
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