Question about using a 6-inch knife for taping versus a 10-inch

For years I only used a 10-inch knife for my taping, thinking bigger was better for smooth coats. Last month on a job in Tacoma, my partner handed me his 6-inch knife for the inside corners and said 'trust me'. The smaller blade gave me way more control in the tight spots, and I didn't have to go back and fix as many ridges. I'm still using the 10-inch for the flats, but I'm a total convert for corners now. Anyone have a favorite brand for their smaller taping knives?

2 comments

2 Comments

pat3601mo ago

Man, I was the same way for a long time. Always grabbed the biggest knife I could find, figured it covered more ground. Then I had to fix a bunch of sloppy inside corners on a basement job and it was a nightmare. Switched to a 6 inch for those spots and it was a total game changer. The control is just way better when you're working in tight. I still keep a 12 inch for the big flat areas, but my little 6 inch Marshalltown is my go-to for corners now.

kevin_roberts411mo ago

You know what, I read a tip in an old trade magazine about this exact thing. They said a smaller knife lets you put more pressure right where you need it in the corner, so the mud doesn't get pushed out and leave a void. It made total sense once I tried it. I keep a 6-inch Hyde now just for that job, and my finish is so much cleaner. It's one of those simple changes that just works better.