I have a small bathroom and a kitchen alcove I'm getting ready to slop compound on the drywall. Trying to save my arms and back- does anyone have a suggestion for using a small power sander? Type (vibration, belt), any tips, etc... Finish look will be slop and go, so the finish coat will just need to be smoothed over.
Thanks

Lacking the art of getting the mud on smoothly, I have a lot of experience sanding it, a lot. Forget the power sander. Just use coarse, 60 grit, paper, maybe a wood block and hand sand it. Once I go through a dozen apply, dry, sand cycles, it is good enough to roll a latex on and the sand scratches don't show.

Mud sands quickly with the coarse paper. Just hang in there until it is smooth. It is much easier to sand the mud smooth before painting it than after. Shine a bright light, the halogen shop lights work great, parallel to the wall. Any defects will show up. Put another coat on, let it dry, and sand.

I had someone tell me that you can use a wet sponge to smooth out the joints instead of sanding? Anyone else ever heard of that?

I have heard of it too, but never remember to try it. Well worth trying. Shouldn't make all the dust sanding does. Sometimes you can scrape the worst of it off with a sharp, stiff putty knife.

Let Me Tell You The Best Way To Save Your Back And Arms.
Just Learn How To Slop Mudd.
If Your Not Mudding Over Seams, Then Just Use A 12" Sheetrock Knife, Make A Pass Or 2 On The Area And Apply Pressure To One Side Of The Blade , What This Does Is Fan Out The Outer Edge Of The Mud, This Is Where The Bulk Of The Sanding Is Done.

And Just Say No To 60 Grit. Youll Sand Right Through To The Drywall And Burn Up The Sheetrock, If You Really Need That Type Grit, You Dont Need To Be Mudding, My Brother In Law Is This Way. Mudd Is A 3 Coat Process. Its Not How Much You Put On The First Time, Its Layers. Each Layer Fans Out 2 To 3 " Wider Than The Other.

As Far As Sanding Get You A Portable Sand (orbitial Only) No Belt. Hook Up To A Vac, With 150 Grit, Max No More Than That, Now If You Really Fanned It Out Nice You Can Go To 220 And Sand,
Good Luck.

Also Try And Watch A How To Mudd Video, First, But Like Anything Else This Is Something You Have To Try A While Before You Get It Right, At First You Will Suck At It... yes You Will. We All Did. Practice And By The Time You Do A Whole Kitchen You Shouldn't Be To Bad,

Avoid sanding drywall... learn to use the knives... for small jobs a 3" & 6" knives should suffice... build up the wall finish... more applcations is better than all at once... 150 grit sandpaper is ample... in a smaller area just use a hand block and sand... very simple... the dust is the worst part...