I used to think a 6-inch taping knife was just for small stuff

Last Thursday, I was finishing a ceiling in a Reno condo and my 12-inch knife handle snapped clean off. All I had left in the truck was my old 6-inch Marshalltown. I figured I'd just make do, but that little knife let me get into the tight corner by the HVAC duct way better than the big one ever could. Now I keep it on my belt for the whole finish coat. Anyone else find a small tool works better for certain jobs than the big gear?

3 comments

3 Comments

umamartin14d ago

Yeah, the right small tool can save your whole day sometimes.

the_eric14d ago

Totally. I was trying to fix a wobbly shelf yesterday and this little magnetic wristband for holding screws was a game changer. Dropped zero screws into the carpet. I mean, before that I'd just be on my hands and knees for ten minutes. It's those tiny things that just remove the whole annoying part of a job.

king.derek1d ago

Exactly. A small drywall knife gets into corners a big one just can't touch. It's like what umamartin said, the right small tool saves the day. I keep a little flat bar in my pouch for prying trim. A big wrecking bar would just smash the wall. Sometimes you need the finesse, not just the force.