Taping knives under 10 bucks are fine, I don't care what the old timers say

I was at the Drywall Supply in Concord last month and watched a guy spend 45 minutes picking out a $45 taping knife. I've been using the same 6 inch Stanley I got for 8 dollars at Home Depot for 3 years and my flat joints look just as good. Why are we convinced spending more money makes the mud go on smoother? Has anyone else noticed the guys with expensive tools aren't actually doing better work?

2 comments

2 Comments

tylermurray1d ago

But @uma_nguyen24 you ever notice that cheap Harbor Freight blade leaves little scratches in the finish if you don't sand it down first? That flex you're talking about lets it ride over high spots instead of cutting 'em, so you're actually leaving more mud on the wall than you think lol. I'm still team cheap knife though just gotta knock the burrs off the edge before you use it.

uma_nguyen241d ago

Ha! I feel you on this. I picked up a cheap 8 inch taping knife from Harbor Freight for like 6 bucks and it's been my go to for two years now. Sure it's got a little flex that some guys don't like, but I just adjust my angle and it lays mud flat every time. More expensive tools don't fix bad technique, simple as that.