miam75•19d ago

Pro tip: The right mud pan can save your whole arm on a big ceiling job.

I was doing a 12 foot vault in a new build in Boise last month and my old 12 inch pan was just too heavy after a few hours. Switched to a lighter 14 inch Marshalltown with the rounded corners and it was like night and day, way less strain on my wrist. What's your go-to pan for high work that won't kill your arm by lunch?

4 comments

4 Comments

jamie_white18d agoMost Upvoted

I mean, the actual handle angle matters a lot too. I ground down the ridge on my old pan's grip so it sits flatter in my palm, lets my wrist stay straighter. Idk, maybe it's just me but that made more difference than a few ounces.

wright.lisa18d ago

Grinding down your pan handle is some serious commitment, I just complain about my wrist hurting. You've moved into custom tool territory, next you'll be telling us about the perfect bevel angle for your spatula. Honestly though, that makes total sense, a weird angle forces your whole arm out of whack. Guess I'll be staring at my pans with suspicion now, wondering if they're secretly working against me.

patriciareed18d ago

Seems like a lot of work for something a different grip could fix.

shane65518d ago

Yeah, the weight adds up fast when your arm's over your head all day. I've got a beat up old 14 inch that's basically just a thin sheet of metal now, but it's perfect for ceilings. The lighter it is, the longer you can go before your shoulder just quits. Rounded corners are a must too, lets you get into those inside angles without catching.