20 years in and I just learned my taping knife was wrong

I've been hanging and taping drywall since 2004. Always used a 6 inch knife for my first coat on the flats. Last month a guy I sub for out in Boise watched me work and asked why I was fighting the mud so hard. He handed me his 4 inch and told me to try it. First pass felt way too narrow but the mud went on cleaner with less sanding later. Now I use the 4 for bedding tape and save the 6 for the second coat. Anyone else stick with a tool forever before realizing there was a better way?

3 comments

3 Comments

derek99420d ago

Same deal here. I ran a 6 inch for bedding for like 15 years before a guy in Billings set me straight. The 4 inch gives you way more control over the mud bed under the tape and you end up with less air bubbles. I still use the 6 for the second coat but I keep a 4 in my pouch now for taping. It feels weird at first because youre so used to the wider blade but once you see how clean the tape lays down you wont go back.

patriciareed20d ago

Grabbed a 4 inch after reading this and holy cow, what a difference. I'd been fighting bubbles for years and never connected it to the knife size. Feels like I just unlocked a cheat code or something.

lucashart19d ago

Patriciareed nailed it with that bubble thing. I had a similar moment but with my trowel, not a taping knife. I was doing some stucco patch work a few years back and this old timer showed up to check on me. He watched me fight with a 10 inch trowel on a small repair and just laughed. Handed me a 6 inch and said "small jobs need small tools." Felt like I was working with a toy at first but the control was night and day. Made me realize I was using the wrong tool for the job just because it was what I always grabbed. Have you tried a 4 inch on inside corners yet? That's my next experiment.