Drywall trowels
There are many types of drywall tools available, but most professionals rely on simple techniques that work with them all. Whichever tools you decide to use, make sure they are good quality. If possible, ask a professional for some brand name recommendations. Although drywall installation and finishing are not difficult, they do take time, so don't rush. During each phase, keep the end goal of a smooth, even surface in mind.
Hanging Tool Tips
When hanging drywall, your goal is to leave the drywall as smooth as possible, with as few joints as possible. Fewer joints means less finishing. To avoid unnecessary breaks and gouges, try to handle the drywall carefully. While hammering or screwing, avoid using more force than necessary. Drywall is fragile. Make sure your utility knife, keyhole saw and other cutting tools are sharp so the cuts will be clean.
If you use a hammer, make sure the nails are pushed in deep enough to form a slight dimple, but do not break the drywall. Similarly, installed drywall screws should form a slight dimple, but they should not break the paper. If they do, you can adjust the depth setting on your screw gun to compensate.
Finishing Tool Tips
After the drywall is hung, the drywall finishing begins. The goal of drywall finishing is to create a smooth, even surface for painting. To do this, each joint between drywall panels must be covered with tape, which is first embedded in a coat of joint compound and then hidden by the subsequent coats.
The key to using drywall finishing tools is to learn "feather." This is when a thick coat of joint compound is applied with a drywall knife. The edges are then wiped clean, leaving a thick coat in the center. You can keep wiping the joint compound until the surface is smooth, but be careful not to wipe so much that you uncover the tape you are trying to hide.
Another tip is to make sure the joint compound is thin enough to work with but not runny. If you are using a mud pan to hold joint compound, you can probably go with a thinner consistency than if you are using a drywall hawk because the mud pan's sides prevent the joint compound from falling out. But professionals often use drywall hawks because they can hold more joint compound, making them more efficient.
Maintenance Tips
Drywall hanging tools require little special maintenance. Because of the water used during drywall finishing, drywall knives, hawks and mud pans often become rusty. To get rid of the rust, sand them lightly with 100-grit sandpaper until they are smooth. To keep them from becoming rusty, always dry off your tools after using them.
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