What is the difference between a taping knife and a jointing knife?
Some manufacturers make a distinction between joint knives and taping knives. Generally, joint knives are smaller (6” and below) while taping knives are larger (6” and above). As you can see (and as noted above), this marks the 6” knife as the most versatile size.
Is a drywall knife the same as a taping knife?
Intended Use. Putty knives are designed (surprise, surprise) for working with putty and more specifically for smoothly spreading putty into indentations and depressions. Taping knives, on the other hand, are designed specifically for scooping and spreading drywall mud onto seams and joints between panels.
What drywall knives do professionals use?
What Drywall Knives Do Professionals Use? One of the top drywall taping knives professionals use is the Dewalt 16 inch Big Back Taping Knife. This knife’s long blade allows for even application and easy feathering of the joint compound. It’s also lightweight, has a soft-grip handle, and comes with a lifetime warranty.
What size taping knife do I need?
Drywall Knife in 12-, 6-, and 4-Inch Sizes The 6-inch knife and the 4-inch knife are used for slopping the mud into place and for taping. The 12-inch knife is used for feathering and final coats. You will need either the 4- or 6-inch (they are fairly interchangeable) and the 12-inch knife.
Can you plaster with a taping knife?
Taping Knives. They are used to apply joint compound, the premixed plaster-like substance, purchased in tubs, that is used to finish the taped joints between sheets of drywall.
Why are drywall knives curved?
Because the curve helps keep the corners of the blade slightly away from the taping surface, the result is a smooth surface without the tool marks created by a flat knife blade. The knife blades are available in blue steel or stainless steel.
Is Blue steel better than stainless steel?
Carbon steel (including blue steel) has a greater level of flexibility and offers more precision (in the right hands) but will naturally rust with use. Alternatively, stainless steel offers a higher degree of resistance to rust & corrosion.
How much pressure should be on a drywall knife?
Hold the taping knife at a 45-degree angle and use light pressure—just enough to smooth out the edge, but not enough that you make a ridge in the mud.
How do you care for a putty knife?
Be sure to also keep your putty knife clean. This can be done by soaking the knife in water for anywhere between 10 and 20 minutes. Afterward, scrub the blade down with a scouring pad, then rub them dry with a clean cloth.
Should I use plastic or metal putty knife?
Plastic blades are often disposable and do not stand up well to continued use. A better-constructed blade is made from ground and polished carbon steel. However, although the carbon steel is more durable, it may rust if not properly maintained. The premium version of a putty knife blade is made of stainless steel.
How does baking soda remove rust from knives?
Mix water and baking soda into a thick paste and spread the paste all over the metal, making sure that rusty spots are well covered. Let the paste sit on the object for an hour or so. Use steel wool or a wire brush to scour the object and remove the rust. Rinse the paste off with water and dry thoroughly.
Is there a difference between a putty knife and paint scraper?
While they both look the same, scrapers have a stiff blade that is too stiff for the efficient application of compounds. Putty knives, on the other hand, have a thinner blade that is too flexible for scraping.
How do you Derust a knife?
To tackle items with significant rust, submerge your rusty tools or knives in a bowl of vinegar and let them sit overnight. Once they have had a good soak, remove them from the vinegar and scrub the rust off with steel wool or a wire brush. (This may require some elbow grease.)
What is a taping knife used for?
These knives are great for smoothing the tracks left by smaller knives, feathering mud, and generally leaving a clean surface at the end stages of the project after detailing has been completed. These larger knives are commonly called taping knives and have a square shape to them.
What is the best material for taping a knife blade?
Stainless steel, a special form of steel that resists rusting and contains up to 10.5% chromium, is one of the two most common materials used for taping knife blades. The primary reason is durability: stainless steel is very hard and very long-lasting.
How to choose a tape-taping knife?
The most important factor when choosing a six-incher is flexibility, which brings us to: There are, generally speaking, three materials used to form the blades of taping knives: stainless steel, carbon steel, and blue steel. Carbon steel knives are relatively uncommon, though you may encounter them occasionally.
What are tapered knives made of?
There are, generally speaking, three materials used to form the blades of taping knives: stainless steel, carbon steel, and blue steel. Carbon steel knives are relatively uncommon, though you may encounter them occasionally. The differences between the materials may not be apparent at first, so let’s break them down.