Had to pick between a 4-foot and a 6-foot mud pan for a long hallway job

I was doing a big repair down a 40-foot hallway last month and my old 6-foot pan was just too big to handle easily in the tight space. I bought a 4-foot Marshalltown pan for about $35 to try out. It let me move faster without banging into the walls, and I could still load enough mud to cover a good distance. The finish came out just as smooth, and I saved maybe an hour total on the whole job. Has anyone else switched to a shorter pan for certain spots, or do you stick with the big one for everything?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_casey20d ago

I read a pro tip once that said "you just get used to handling it" is how you end up with a sore shoulder.

jana_fox5023d ago

A 6-foot pan is always faster for me on long runs, even in tight spaces. You just get used to handling it.

rubyk8623d ago

Tight spaces" is the real test, isn't it? I once had to get a long board through a narrow hallway with a weird turn, and it was all about the angles. That same feeling of getting used to the size totally clicks with what you're saying. It's funny how your brain just learns the exact tilt and shift needed after a few tries. Makes the whole job way less stressful once you find that rhythm.