Consistency

[Idrisdraig]

Am using joint compound on taped joints. (Managed to get two coats on then had to leave it for a week due to other commitments.)

With the second coat, having filled the joint, when I went along the joint with a knife, the compound pulled on itself, leaving a very rough finish.
I suspect the mix was too dry or too wet. Or I had the knife at a bad angle.
Any suggestions?

 

[bobasd]

are you using bagged or ready mixed compound?
put a photo up of the worst joins please.
if youve rippled the tape and or got lumpy loose bits then you might have to start again or do a belt sander job - thats if you are going to skim over.

 

[Bonni]

It's to do with the background. Board and paper is low suction, dried plaster/Easi-Fill etc.. is high suction.

Your first coat simply dried out, when you tried to fill over it, it simply sucked the moisture out of your filler. If you water down SBR or PVA and two coat over the first layer of filler, then that would have changed it to low suction.