Pro tip: I stopped using a 6 inch knife for taping after a job in Boise.

I was doing a whole house remodel out there last fall, and the lead guy kept telling me to switch to a 10 inch for the first coat. I thought it was just his weird habit, but he made me try it on a long ceiling seam. The wider blade lays down way more mud in one pass, and you get a much flatter fill with fewer ridges to sand later. I probably saved myself an hour of sanding on that ceiling alone. Now I only pull out the 6 inch for tight corners or repair patches. Has anyone else made the switch to a bigger knife for the first coat, or do you stick with what you know?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_ryan19d ago

Man, that's a solid tip. So when you say a 10 inch for the first coat, are you using it for everything right off the bat, like butt joints and flat seams too? I've always used a 6 inch for butts and then stepped up for flats, but if the bigger blade really loads more mud that way, it makes sense to just start with it. I'm just picturing trying to handle a 10 inch on a small repair and it seems like overkill, but for big open walls I get it.

the_logan19d ago

Wait, is this really a life-changing debate, @the_ryan? It's just drywall mud.

reesemoore8d ago

Yeah I used to think the same way, but once you get the hang of loading a 10 inch it really does speed things up even on smaller spots.