I finally got why that old guy at the supply house was so picky about his mud knives

I was grabbing a 12 inch taping knife at the place on 5th Street last week, and this retired installer, maybe 70, was there. He saw my cart and said, 'Kid, you're buying the wrong flex. The blade's too stiff, it'll leave ridges.' He handed me a different one, a Marshalltown, and told me to feel the difference. I tried his way on a ceiling patch the next day and the finish was way smoother. Anyone have a favorite brand for finishing knives they swear by?

2 comments

2 Comments

gavincampbell8d ago

Oh man, you just learned the golden rule. Never ignore the old guy at the counter. They've forgotten more about finish work than most of us will ever know. I got the same speech about a hawk once. He was right, of course. The weight was all wrong on the one I picked.

gavin_clark8d ago

My grandpa taught me that about fishing lures, same deal.