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