[deetu]

I am not good at spackling so I will do a little, sand it then do a little more until it looks right.
I have good, although slow results doing this but it works... until now. For some reason, the first spackle is different from the second coat so that when I'm sanding, the first will leave weird ridges that will not blend with the second.
Any ideas why? Any suggestions on how to fix it?
Thanks in advance.

 

[Matthewt1970]

Sounds like two things. First, it sounds like you are not overlapping with your next coat. You should use a progressively wider blade with each coat or do it wider with the same blade and completely cover the previous coat so it looks like you only have one wide coat in the end. That makes it a lot easier to sand and makes for a smoother finish.

Second, any ridges will be caused by lumps in the compound or a bump on the wall. Always sand before and after you apply spackle or drywall compound. A flat drywall sander is a MUST in any painters toobox. Some will sand betwen coats, but when you get good at it you can just go along knocking down ridges between coats with a blade.

 

[deetu]

No, no, that's not what the problem is. Humm... it's hard to explain exactly what is happening. It's like there are two different kinds of spackle going on the wall. The first one being harder then the second one so when trying to blend, the harder areas stay solid. I don't know how else to explain it.

I will try to take a picture but I don't think it will show being all white.

 

[slickshift]

Hard to say w/o knowing exactly what you are doing and with what products
It sounds like your repairs are too big for spackle though
I suspect you are using the wrong product

Exactly what are you trying to repair, and what exactly are you using for product?

 

[deetu]

I am repairing cracks in my 12 yr old modular home from settling.

Metal corner beads popped and wall board shrunk back so I screwed corners back down, then spackled tape along line and blended into the wall.

Ceiling cracked so screwed wall board into wood supports placed in attic, however, ceiling no longer matched so I peels off exsisting tape, shaved a little wallboard and retaped but had to again blend spackle on one side to make it even.

Product is from Lowes. USG lightweight, all purpose joint compound.
Humm... didn't notice the lightweight before but that still shouldn't make it different textures as I am trying to work with it, would it?

I tried to take a picture but it didn't work.

 

[slickshift]

Not a product problem

Hmmm...although settling cracks are the worst to repair (I can't even offer a warranty on them because...well, the building may continue to settle), it's not a re-crack problem you are having

Then I'd tend to think it's an application/technique problem
If you were applying the j/c too thick, and not waiting long enough for it too dry, you could end up with the problem you seem to be describing

 

[bjbatlanta]

I'm not quite following either, but I never have liked and don't use the lightweight compounds....

 

[deetu]

I make sure I give it enough time to dry (sometimes can't get back to it for days) I used another brand to fix my livingroom and didn't have any problems so I think you may be right that it is the spackle. Didn't know there were different kinds. Sigh...

 

[slickshift]

Hmmm...
Brands of joint compound shouldn't make that much diff
Not sure what's going on then
Sorry

Maybe more specifics?

 

[bjbatlanta]

Or add a bit of latex paint to your compound for contrast and try the picture again....