Properly completing a drywall job requires many types of finishing tools. Of these tools, the drywall knife is the most essential. You might ask yourself, what are the different kinds of drywall knives? These knives do vary, much like the different types of drywall mud. Between shape, size, and function, you have many options.
The function of a drywall knife
Of all the different types of finishing tools, a drywall knife is the one tool that applies the mud, lays the tape, and completes the application. Simply put, you cannot complete your drywall installation without this tool.
Each knife performs a different function and comes in a specific size. The different sizing allows the blade to complete particular tasks when applying the drywall. For example, a 4- to 6-inch drywall knife cannot do the job that requires a 12-inch knife.
Joint Knife
Smaller knives, commonly known as joint knives, work best for the first stages of your project. The blade ranges from 4 to 6 inches, and their smaller size allows them to get into tight crevices. You use this blade to lay the first layer of mud to the joints.
Joint knives come rounded with sloping sides. This design allows the blade to fit into corners without damaging the wall. With this blade, you can also apply more pressure to force the mud into the seams and holes created from screws.
10-Inch Taping Knife
The 10-inch taping knife applies the second coat of mud, the taping coat, and the subsequent finishing coat. The 10-inch knife is narrower than the 6-inch, making for better application for the finishing coats.
After using the 10-inch knife for the final coats, you’ll start to even out the initial layer applied with the 6-inch knife. This knife gives you that clean and crisp look you want before moving on to the next phase.
12-Inch Drywall Knife
The 12-inch drywall (taping) knife has a flexible blade to bend the knife. This motion assists with feathering the final coats of mud. Feathering creates a transition from the center of the mudded joint to the bare drywall.
At the center, you’ll notice it’s the thickest area of the mud, and once you start to feather it out on either side of the joint, you’ll see an even smoother surface.
With this knife, you can apply more pressure to the outside edge of the joint by flexing the blade at the border. This technique makes the mud thinner on the outside rather than the inside. You can’t use the 6-inch or 10-inch blade as a substitution for this task.
Aside from these sizes, each knife comes in various materials. You can choose from stainless steel, rubber, wood, blue steel, or plastic. Carefully examine the different kinds of drywall knives before making a choice.
