Other Considerations. Some manufacturers make a distinction between joint knives and taping knives. Generally, joint knives are smaller (6” and below) while taping knives are larger (6” and above). As you can see (and as noted above), this marks the 6” knife as the most versatile size.
In this post
What does a taping knife do?
Taping knives, on the other hand, are designed specifically for scooping and spreading drywall mud onto seams and joints between panels.
Is a putty knife and joint knife the same?
Most joint knives can scrape off drywall mud and simple spackle or putty but harder materials can be more of a problem. The joint knife can even buckle when applied too hard, potentially resulting in an injury. Additionally, most joint knives have a flat edge and are more flexible than a rigid putty knife.
What size knife do you use to set the tape in a joint?
4, 5 & 6-Inch putty knives are universal knives that are specifically ideal for picking angles, hand taping angles & covering screws and wall patches. 8 & 10-Inch putty knives are perfect for wiping tape, smoothing out wide lines of compound, and also for patching tub surrounds.
Can you plaster with a taping knife?
Taping Knives.
They are used to apply joint compound, the premixed plaster-like substance, purchased in tubs, that is used to finish the taped joints between sheets of drywall.
Why are drywall knives curved?
Because the curve helps keep the corners of the blade slightly away from the taping surface, the result is a smooth surface without the tool marks created by a flat knife blade. The knife blades are available in blue steel or stainless steel.
Which drywall joint to tape first?
The “first coat” consists of applying the mud-saturated tape to all of the joints and corner beads and filling screw or nail holes for the first time. Begin with the butt joints first, then the horizontal tapered joints, then the angles and finally, the corner beads.
What taping knives do I need?
Drywall Knife in 12-, 6-, and 4-Inch Sizes
The 6-inch knife and the 4-inch knife are used for slopping the mud into place and for taping. The 12-inch knife is used for feathering and final coats. You will need either the 4- or 6-inch (they are fairly interchangeable) and the 12-inch knife.
Is Blue steel better than stainless steel?
Carbon steel (including blue steel) has a greater level of flexibility and offers more precision (in the right hands) but will naturally rust with use. Alternatively, stainless steel offers a higher degree of resistance to rust & corrosion.
How many coats of drywall mud do I need?
If your wall has distinct crevices, cracks, or textured areas, or if your brand of drywall mud isn’t offering enough coverage, you may have to do a couple of additional coats of compound. However, in general, you’ll need one coat to fill in the seams and three more coats after taping.
What is a plaster taping knife?
A Kango Taping Knife spreads compound fast, fills in architrave gaps and nail indents, and scrapes off dried compound and flaky paint. This drywall taping tool also has a metal strike cap for tapping in exposed nails.
What angle do you hold a drywall knife?
Load the edge of the knife blade with about 2 inches of compound. Starting in one corner of the room, force the compound into the joints between sheets. When they’re completely filled, hold the knife at a 25-degree angle to the surface and smooth out the compound in a single pass.
What mud do you use for drywall?
All-purpose mud is commonly used as a first coat because the bonding agents in the mud cause the drywall tape to hold better. All-purpose mud is harder to sand and not often used as a finish coat. Topping mud is a form of dry mud that is lighter than all-purpose. It is best used for final coats.
How long does it take for joint compound to completely dry?
about 24 hours
How long does it take joint compound to dry? Under conditions of a temperature of 70° and 70% humidity, joint compound should dry in about 24 hours. Higher humidity and/or lower temperatures will slow drying time.
How many drywall knives do you need?
The equipment you need for this stage includes basic tools for mixing, taping, finishing (“mudding”) and sanding. Only four tools for finishing are absolutely essential: a mud pan, two drywall knives and a sander.
How do you keep a drywall knife from rusting?
Wash them down (with water) and dry them with a rag. Then spray them with WD-40. I purchase better tools, stainless when possible.
Should you wet drywall tape before applying it?
Dampen, but don’t soak, the tape in a bucket of water. Wetting the tape before you embed it in the joint compound can help eliminate troublesome bubbles that show up after the joint dries. Keep a bucket of water nearby and quickly run each piece of tape through it before applying the tape to the wall.
Do you sand in between coats of drywall mud?
After the first coat has dried completely, you will need to sand and apply two more coats to the fasteners, sanding between each coat. Keep your knife clean by drawing it over the edge of the mudpan or hawk.
Can you mud drywall seams without tape?
If you apply joint compound to drywall seams without tape, the compound will squeeze through the seams, wasting your time and resources. Joint compound used to fill seams between sheets of drywall will shrink and crack as it dries. Joint compound without tape will crack and fall out over time.
What’s a joint knife?
Smaller knives, (6” and smaller) are commonly known as joint knives, and are best for the first stages of a project. Their smaller size allows you to get into smaller spaces and crevices, as well as use more pressure to force mud into seams and the holes left by screws. Joint knives are also rounded with sloping sides.