Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Tuesday Tool Muddy Mire edition

Today's tool--this week's tool--the tool of the last couple of weeks--is the combo of the drywall mud pan and the mudding knife.  I've been spending a lot of time with these recently, trying to get the drywall in the new bathroom finished.  The job was started by a professional drywall guy, because the tile guy needed to have the drywall in place to do his job.  However, the job was not finished by the drywall guy because I am cheap.  Rather than pay the pro to do the taping and mudding, I am doing it.  I feel like I am atoning for something.

Mudding drywall is harder than it sounds.  The tape (if you use paper tape, which the pros do*) loves to bubble and buckle.  The mud loves to clump and cling to the knife (which is really a spatula).  I've asked various people (including the drywall guy) for advice.  All have given me advice, then either suggested I get a pro to do it, or said "that's why drywall guys are paid so well."

I haven't even got to the sanding yet.  I don't think I'm rich enough for the Tuesday Tool to be the Porter Cable power drywall sander that I saw at Oregon Tool.

*The fiber tape costs about ten times as much.  If you're not a pro, for pete's sake, use the fiber tape.  You will not regret it.

2 comments:

  1. Engineering friend once said, "You will always do a better job than a bad contractor, but you will never do a better job than a good contractor."

    Shameless plug: http://housearrest.wordpress.com/2013/01/07/fairy-tale/

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    1. Matthew--that is about the truest thing I've heard recently. The fairy tale is good, too, and I can think of a lot of people would benefit from the experience.

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