Ten years back I could mud a room in half the time with just a 6 inch knife and a pan

Last week I was doing a small bathroom job over on Elm Street, maybe 30 sheets total. I pulled out my old 6 inch taping knife that I've had since I started with my uncle back in 2008. It got me thinking about how we used to do everything by hand, no bazookas or automatic tapers, just a pan and some muscle. Three years ago I bought a banjo for the first time and it felt like cheating. Now I see guys my age rolling in with full pump setups and I wonder if we've lost something. Does anyone else still keep an old taping knife around just for the feel?

3 comments

3 Comments

daniel85721d ago

Buddy Mike still uses a 4 inch knife out of habit. Says it feels wrong otherwise.

murphy.barbara21d ago

You ever notice how different knives break in different? My dad had this old 5 inch Stanley that had the handle worn down to the shape of his hand from all the years. When he passed I kept it in my truck for good luck. One time I was out on a job in the middle of winter and my brand new knife snapped at the handle cause the compound was too stiff. Dug that old Stanley out of the glovebox and finished the whole ceiling with it. Felt like he was right there with me. You can't buy that kind of feel off a shelf.

phoenix2921d ago

I still can't even trust myself with a brand new knife, I'd probably cut my own hand off before the handle wore in.