[Pics] How to smooth out this plasterboard edging filler?

Hi all

Cards on the table: total rookie with plastering, pics are horrendous but I ain't gonna learn from letting my ego get involved.

Had a leak which meant cutting a hole in my kitchen ceiling.

Cut plasterboard to size, filled gaps, smoothed a bit with a damp sponge, sanded lightly with multi-tool until it seemed smooth, then tried a coat of paint.

As you can see, it looks like ****e (added a pre-paint pic too for context). Better since the paint dried, plus it's a dark corner (was wet in these pics + work light directed at it) but still looks crap.

How should I fix it? Is it just a case of carefully sanding it back to thin out the layers, then painting again? It doesn't need to be perfect (otherwise I'd call a plasterer) but needs to be better than this.

I ask due to the "you dont know what you dont know" factor, for tips/tricks of the trade I may not have considered here!

All advice welcome please - as brutally honest as you like.

Thanks in advance,
Matt

Palm sander, vacuum cleaner and dust masks.
Cover everything with dust sheets including the doorway.

mattylad said:

Palm sander, vacuum cleaner and dust masks.
Cover everything with dust sheets including the doorway.

Click to expand...

Thanks mate - I'll have the front door and kitchen windows open so that should help. I don't have a palm sander but my multi-tool has 3 different grits of sandpaper on its attachments so I guess that'll do.

cheers,
Matt

I've found the best sandpaper for this is the open mesh type, doesn't clog up as easily.

Thanks gents - update attached!

Still far from perfect but I'm a damn sight happier with it. Once the rest of the ceiling is painted it should be much more stealthy.

Took me a while and some sore shoulders, using my multi tool and 3 different grits working down to a more fine one.

Learned a lot with this process... primarily that I've been using WAY too much filler in these situations.

Every day's a school day!

Ta again
Matt