Warning: Got called out on my seam cutting by a grumpy old installer in Kansas City

I was finishing a job in a big office building, cutting my seams with the standard 45 degree angle like I always did. This older guy, Frank, who was doing the tile in the lobby, came over and just stood there watching. After a minute he said, 'Kid, you're leaving a ridge. Your blade is too dull and you're pushing, not pulling.' I argued at first, but he made me run my hand over the seam. He was right. I could feel a tiny bump. He showed me his method: a brand new hook blade every two seams, pulling it towards you with almost no pressure, letting the sharpness do the work. I switched to his way the next day. The difference was night and day. The seams just melted together. I go through more blades now, but the results are worth it. Anyone else have a specific blade they swear by for this?

3 comments

3 Comments

bethperez28d ago

My foreman in Dallas always said a dull blade costs more in callbacks than new blades ever will. He made us change them every three cuts, no questions asked. That rule saved my finish work more than once.

milatorres28d ago

Totally agree with @bethperez, that rule saves so much time.

maryt6223d ago

Honestly used to think that was a waste of money, just pushing blade sales. Then I had to redo a whole section of crown because the cut was fuzzy and wouldn't sit right, took me hours. That one job cost way more than a pack of blades ever would. Changed how I see it completely. Now I swap them out early and never look back.