I finally switched from a 6-inch to a 4-inch knife for my final skim coat

For years, I stuck with a 6-inch knife for that last smooth layer, thinking the bigger blade meant less work. On a job in Tacoma last month, I was fighting ridges on a big ceiling and my buddy handed me his 4-inch. I figured I'd humor him, but it was a game changer. The smaller blade gave me way more control over the pressure, and I could feel the mud better. I finished that ceiling in about the same time, but with half the sanding. Now I use the 6 for filling and the 4 for the finish, every time. Anyone else make a simple tool switch that saved them a ton of headache?

3 comments

3 Comments

terryk107d ago

Ever try a 5-inch as a middle ground?

terryk281d ago

Tell me about it... been there.

the_alice7d ago

Honestly the whole middle ground thing misses the point for me. It's not about the size, it's about what you're actually trying to do with it. A 5-inch just feels like a compromise that doesn't do anything well. Too big for real pocket carry, too small for serious work. You end up with the worst of both worlds.