How to finish drywall

[jonok69]

I must say i do not like mesh tape. People i work with from different areas use it but paper tape is quick and clean in my opinion. Mesh tape is very useful for fixing corner bead that has bubbled or cracked though. I don't see a problem with mesh tape just don't use it much.

[TheCactus71]

@jonok69 I respect your honesty. I use mesh and paper. Both have been done very successful. The way I look at it is that either will fail if not installed correctly. Both require proper installation to work the way they were designed.

[suffolkshepherd]

Excellent. I have done Drywall off and on my whole life. Now I am building my own office and found your videos. I only thought I knew how to finish drywall until I seen these. The biggest change was speed. I am flying now when I mud. The second and huge difference is the smoothness when i am done muddding, Before I would have ridges....thanks for making these

[hatem185]

again with the mesh tape "easy tape" its not what you use

its for handyman not poper tradesman. its going to crack omg

[TheCactus71]

@hatem185 it's funny how much negative feed back i get on using mesh tape. i use both successfully. You must use both tapes properly or either may crack. Pre fill all gaps are very important for both tapes. On mesh tape application it is necessary to use quick-set mud (power mix) for your first coat. it you do these two steps you will be fine.

[MississaugaHandyman]

I also found another import issue is to make sure that none of the strands of fiber glass mesh are proud of the mud. When you don't have that much experience at doing this type of thing you have to make sure you do it properly watching with your eyes is of corrections as you go along. The extra second it takes to make sure an initial coat is done right saves you time playing around with that few strands of fiberglass sticking out of your mud.

[kingkyzr]

Thnx

[MrSLPCamaroSS]

I only use mesh tape on patches because there're easier to float, now on new houses i use paper tape with a bazuka as a tool.

[paul718269]

Excellent instruction.. Just what I needed! Thanks :-)

[AtlanticAcadian]

So when you finish the last coat on that seam can you still see both edges of the drywall sheets or is it feathered wider than the recess?

[TheCactus71]

@AtlanticAcadian you do NOT want to see the edge.

[webworkhere]

I love my banjo!

[vargazzdlh]

THANK YOU SIR ! THIS HELP ME, NICE JOB!

[yehgiddaymate]

i prefer paper over fibre glass and prefer a more solid base coat mixed with water.

[bagpiperhipple]

awesome vids, very helpful. thanks for taking the time to make and upload these

[ELQUITO12]

theres a thing called mud pan thats much easier to handle. LMAO @ ur stone age tools

[axoll]

I have a question, please help, I just finished sanding the first coat and the walls are dusty , do I have to wipe the walls clean before applying the second coat ?

[TheCactus71]

@axoll you should otherwise second coat will peel on you.

[nbim72]

is it better to use mesh tape? also has anyone heard of a hopper its a much easier way to tape houses

[TheCactus71]

@nbim72 both are fine if used correctly. follow my instructions about mesh tape.

[35057]

I wish I was Canadian.. And the right trowel/scraper/knife makes a HUGE difference!! I just bought a tool similar to his (same size) and what a difference! I'm almost mediocre now!

[MrTheleprechaun]

p.s...i think you do a bloody great job!

[MrTheleprechaun]

simple as this....mesh tape if using setting type compound..never use all purpose joint compound on mesh tape..and vice versa..never use setting type compound for applying tape! and always use paper on your internals..

[TheCactus71]

@MrTheleprechaun to got it!

[TheCactus71]

@enricoallah Every job is different.

[baddvd]

hi thanks for vids could you please tell me or show how to make and finish a curved corner apposed to a 90 degree corner many thanks.

[FrankVirginia87]

@baddvd you need to buy a product called straight flex this will alow you to finish any angle inside or out. but if your putting a 90 inside just tape with regular tape and your outside 90 with a paper no-coat bead.

[TheCactus71]

@FrankVirginia87 i will admit... i do not care for straight flex. however i do like level- line which is a cheaper version of no-coat products.

[Phil145021]

I'm kinda new at finishing (25 years). Mesh tape comes with TWO guarantees. 1) It may or may not stick to the drywall. 2) It WILL Crack. It should be illegal......BUT it keeps me in business having to retape mesh tape seams with paper, so I like it. If it was the right product to use.....the why doesn't THE NUMBER ONE manufacturer in the WORLD recommend it? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[TheCactus71]

@Phil145021 Probably because there competition manufactures it.

[superiorcustomdrywal]

@Phil145021 Definately agree with u. USG does recommend it, but 4 plastering not finishing with drywall compound. they also recommend using a setting type compound, such as easy sand, 4 ur bed coat because it dries hard & they no if u use mesh tape u will need something 2 help keep it from cracking. I hate mesh tape. Ppl think its some kind of easy way out or magic solution but its really just a waste of time. TheCactus71...USG actually does manufacture mesh tape but like i said 4 plastering

[xXsnitchyXx]

great vids , your neat , if you get time look at my channel and my drywall vids , i think im as good as you ,

paper or mesh , your correct both will fail if strested , i paper but run bazooka , and box's , im not a fan of mesh internals ,do you do that ? , i find i cut the mesh to easy when bedding mud cheers

[TheCactus71]

@xXsnitchyXx It sounds like we share the same opinions. The only time I use mesh in the corners is if I'm doing a fast repair and need to use quick set mud. I will check out your videos.

[datzfast]

@dizzog26 i did a whole house in mesh tape and the only aera of problem was a settel in the staircase wall between floors and only after adding 3 bathrooms and water tank of weight causing a settle of a hair crack. so for me mesh tape was prettey good as i had no paper tape application tools anyway. its paper and its strong and the other is fiber glass and its strong. with paper you can get bubbles but you can cut them away and fix them easy also. paper is cheaper but fiberglass is quicker .

[TheCactus71]

@dizzog26 You are correct on the fact that structures settle. However paper is not going to stop it from settling. I have seen movement so bad that it cracks completely through the drywall. That is bad. The point is, apart from structural movement, neither mesh or paper tape will crack if treated correctly. Both will crack it put under stress from structural movement.

[tevitah]

Hey Randy, I enjoy watching all your videos! Do you recommend a certain brand of mud? I'm a novice working on a small project and deciding on a mud seems tricky. Maybe you could make a video explaining the advantages and disadvantages of certain types and brands. Thanks!

[TheCactus71]

@tevitah You just need to use what works best for you. You will get a different opinion from one professional to the next.

[datzfast]

i built my own house 5600 square feet and discovered this method almost to a tee. i never used sand paper and my walls and ceilings are smooth as glass, i was not fast i was very neat. nice video. i did use a 3-4 coat method as my mud shrinks. Any how its pleasant to see it done correct. a real tradesman would never sand at most use a taping knife to knock of burger of mud here and there.

[TheCactus71]

@datzfast I am a professional but sanding is a part of all our projects. It eliminates all flaws. I use fine grit sanding sponges.

[InShatteredMolds]

5 star work 8-) i always tell people in a nut shell, no high spots on your first coat, no low spots on your second coat

[muckdog72]

use a 8 and 12 and they wont crown on ya.

[alowhit]

YOUR CRAZY FOR USING MESH TAPE. dura bond or not its going to crack.

[TheCactus71]

@alowhit You must be doing something wrong. I use mesh tape all the time and never have a problem with cracks. There will always be some cracks to fix. It is not because I did my job wrong. It's usually due to lumber shrinkage or structure movement within the first year. This is normal. By the way, I use paper tape too. Either will fail if not treated properly.

[gregvandenberge]

I like to use yellow tape so you can see it better.

[crankabit]

I took on a drywall job at our church and didn't know how to do the finishing. I watched some terrible YouTube videos. My work resulted in ALOT of sanding. I found your videos and your technique is absolutely the best! After watching all of your videos, I was able to do the finish work much much better. After a few days, I am able to apply tape and mud to seams much faster but more importantly do it to minimize the amount of sanding. You are a wonderful teacher! Please do more videos!

[TheCactus71]

@crankabit Thanks for your kind words. This is a perfect example of why I do these videos.

[copychicken]

in the first coat the tape is visual or it is covered tottally?

[TheCactus71]

@copychicken You should try to completely cover the tape with the first coat.

[ksjdhg]

Finally! Someone who knows what they're doing!

[manitoulinthug]

do you finish your flats with flat boxes?? (10' and 12 " ) or do you do it by hand??

[TheCactus71]

Yes, as a drywall finishing contractor, we use the boxes. My video's are intended to help people see how to finish by hand since the average person will not have automatic tools to work with.

[MrDGINT]

i think trowels do a much better job than a paddle i learnt with hawk and trowel now i just use a six inch for taping a eight inch trowel for second coat and a twelve inch trowelfor finish coat thats how most of us in australia do it

[TheCactus71]

Watching people who don't know what they are doing is what inspired me to do my own video's. Thanks for the comment.

[superiorcustomdrywal]

Well i learned using a pan and knife when i was around ten. Ive always wanted to learn how to use a hawk and trowel. just never really had the time. always trying to keep things moving to get the jobs done ya know what i mean. Alot of respect to hawk and trowel finishers though

[superiorcustomdrywal]

Not really sure why you would use a hawk if you're going to use finishing knives instead of a trowel

[TheCactus71]

I learned using a hawk and personally find it much easier and more practical than a pan. Most of my employees use pans when knifing by hand. We use automatic tools 90% of the time anyway.

[TheCactus71]

@superiorcustomdrywal the hawk is much faster to clean up.