Sanding’s definitely the messiest part for me too. I always lay down plastic sheeting and tape off everything, but that dust still finds a way into every corner. One thing I’ve learned—never skip the mask and goggles, even if it feels overkill. And yeah, patience is huge. Rushing just means more headaches (and sometimes a second repair). If you’re tackling it yourself, vacuum as you go and keep a damp cloth handy. Makes post-sanding cleanup way less of a nightmare.
- Been there with the sanding mess—no matter how much I prep, that dust sneaks everywhere.
- Last time I tried a DIY kit on a chipped sink, I underestimated how long cleanup would take.
- Agree on the mask and goggles, but I’ll admit I sometimes skip taping off the whole room if I’m in a rush... usually regret it later.
- Damp cloth is a lifesaver for sure. Also, I use a shop vac right after sanding—makes a difference.
- Patience is key, but man, it’s tough when you just want the job done.
Taping off the whole room does feel like overkill sometimes, but I’ve learned the hard way that skipping it usually means I’m cleaning dust out of baseboards for weeks. The shop vac trick is solid—if you’ve got one with a HEPA filter, it really helps keep the fine stuff from just blowing around. I’m with you on patience being tough. It’s always tempting to rush, especially when you’re staring at a half-finished sink and just want your bathroom back.
I’ve tried a couple of those DIY kits, and honestly, the prep and cleanup are usually way more involved than the instructions let on. The last kit I used claimed “minimal sanding required,” but I still ended up with dust in every corner. I do like that you can save a lot of money if you’re careful, but sometimes I wonder if the time investment is worth it compared to hiring someone who’ll get it done in a day.
“Last time I tried a DIY kit on a chipped sink, I underestimated how long cleanup would take.”
That’s been my experience too. I’ve started using painter’s plastic to cover not just the immediate area but also the vent grates and doorways—makes a difference, but it’s a hassle. I’m curious, for those who’ve gone the professional route, did you notice a big difference in durability or finish? I’ve seen some pro jobs that look flawless, but I’m not sure if that’s always the case or just good marketing photos.
Also, has anyone tried using a wet sanding method instead of dry? I’ve read it can cut down on airborne dust, but I haven’t tested it myself. Wondering if it’s worth the extra effort or just another step that sounds good in theory.
I’ve tried a couple of those DIY kits, and honestly, the prep and cleanup are usually way more involved than the instructions let on.
That’s been my experience too. The last time I used a kit, I thought I could get away with just taping off the sink area—big mistake. Dust got everywhere, and it took longer to clean up than to actually fix the chip. I did try wet sanding once, and it definitely helped with the dust, but it made the surface harder to judge for smoothness. Not sure it was worth the hassle, honestly. As for pro jobs, I’ve seen some that look perfect up close, but I’ve also seen a few where the finish started peeling after a year or so. Guess it depends who you hire...
I did try wet sanding once, and it definitely helped with the dust, but it made the surface harder to judge for smoothness. Not sure it was worth the hassle, honestly.
Wet sanding is a double-edged sword for sure. Cuts down on airborne dust, but yeah, you’re basically working blind until it dries. I’ve seen folks try to speed up the process with a hair dryer just to check their progress—usually ends up with more mess or a weird finish.
On the pro side, you’re right, results are all over the place. Some guys use proper two-part epoxies and take their time with prep, others just slap on a quick fix and call it a day. The peeling you mentioned is almost always from poor prep—if they don’t rough up the surface enough or skip degreasing, nothing’s gonna stick long-term. Seen it happen even with “big name” companies.
DIY kits can work if you’re patient and don’t mind putting in the elbow grease. The instructions always make it sound like a 30-minute job, but between taping, sanding, mixing, and waiting for cure times, you’re looking at half a day minimum. And yeah, dust gets everywhere unless you tent off the whole area or use a vacuum attachment. I’ve started using painter’s plastic and a shop vac—still not perfect, but better than finding white powder in your coffee mug three days later.
Honestly, if the crack’s small and you’re not too picky about looks, DIY is fine. For bigger chips or if you want it to look brand new, pro is safer—but only if you can find someone who actually cares about prep work. Otherwise, you’re just paying for a temporary band-aid.
Funny thing is, I’ve had more luck fixing my own sink than some of the “pros” I’ve hired for clients. Go figure...
