| If you are trying to tape and finish drywall | | | | or bumps.3. Place a coat of compound over the |
| for the first time, chances are high that you | | | | top slightly wider than the previous coat. |
| will do what I and nearly everybody else has | | | | Use your 10" wide taping knife to remove |
| done on their first attempt at this art: You | | | | excess mud and leave a level coat.4. Use your |
| will glob on lots of joint compound on the | | | | wide knife to "knock down" the surface so |
| wall thinking that the sand paper will level | | | | there are no bumps or ridges. The knife will |
| off the humps and bumps. In the end you end | | | | make the surface level whereas sanding tends |
| up with a humpy-bumpy wall and drywall dust | | | | to produce humps and bumps.5. Repeat steps 3 |
| all over your home!Sanding is not a good way | | | | and 4 several times.6. Again use your knife |
| to level the surface. Rather, you need to | | | | to level out the surface. Place small amounts |
| use your wide taping knives to level off the | | | | of compound to touch up any depressions, and |
| just-applied compound and also use your | | | | then finally when all is level, use 240 grit |
| taping knives to level the surface before | | | | paper on a 3.5" by 8" sanding block to |
| applying the next coat. Leave the sandpaper | | | | lightly sand.7. Prime and paint.For more |
| alone until the very end!Here are the basic | | | | details on these steps with photos included, |
| steps to taping a joint:1. Place a coat of | | | | go to .Michael Sakowski has been doing his |
| compound a little wider than the tape. Pass | | | | own drywall taping and finishing for the last |
| your paper tape quickly through a bucket of | | | | 15 years and through his own experience and |
| water, shake it off, and then place it over | | | | consulting with others has developed an easy |
| the joint. Use a 4" or 4.5" knife to imbed | | | | technique for producing professional quality |
| the tape tightly and remove excess | | | | results. He has created the website as a |
| compound.2. After the tape and compound dry, | | | | step-by-step tutorial for finishing and |
| use your taping knife to knock off any chunks | | | | taping drywall. |