The Proper Drywall Taping Tools Will Make the Job Easier!

Drywall taping can be considered an art form, however it can be taught. The correct  drywall taping tools are one of the most important things to have when starting a taping job.In the picture above are the drywall taping tools I use all the time. I take care of my taping tools. I don’t like to replace them. Drywall taping tools are like brushes to an artist. You start using them and they can do what you want them to do. They fit in your hand comfortably. They feel good and they do what you want them to do. These tools I’ve had for many years.

What Size Drywall Taping Tool Should I Use?

Size does matter! The size taping tool will depend on the size of the repair. If it’s a small repair, you may only use the small taping knife. If it’s a larger repair you may use two or three of the knives. I will also use the smaller blade for mixing drywall mud in the taping pan.  When taping new drywall I will use the small knife for embedding the tape on the flat joints and the inside corners. When moving on to the next coat or application of taping mud I move up to the larger knives. On the flat joints I will the 4 inch for embedding the tape into the mud, then move on to the 8 inch for the next coat and the 12 inch for the final coats. On the inside corners I will only use the two smaller knives.

The smaller one to embed the tape and the other to finish it. The inside corners will only need two coats of taping compound. The flat joints will need three to four, that’s why you need the bigger knives. After each coat move to a larger knife to cover the edge of the previous knife. The wider you make the patch or joint, the less visible it will be.

Purchasing Drywall Taping Tools

After purchasing drywall taping tools you can start taping right?No! That’s right no! Here’s the big secret. You need to do some tweaking to your new tools so you can use them. First the two smaller knives. On the two smaller knives you will need to dull the corners a little. That’s right, dull the corners. When you buy new knives they are square and sharp on the corners, so you need to dull them or round them off.

Doing this will help keep the knife from cutting the tape on the inside corners and keep from putting lines in the taping compound or mud. After purchasing the larger knives you will also have to round the edges. There is one more step you will have to take for the larger knives. You need to bend the blade a little. When the knives are new the blades are flat. You need to bow them a little. Not much, just a bit.

If you lay your new taping knife on a flat surface you will notice that it’s flat. When I lay my knife on a flat surface you can see that my knife is bowed.

You can see from the close up photo above how the knife in the center is lifted  and not touching the surface.This will help keep the lines from forming in the taping compound when you’re putting on the finish coats. This is one of the most important things to do to prepare your tools for a professional finish.