A 20-year veteran told me my mud was too wet and I owe him a beer

Been hanging for about 3 years now. Old timer named Rick walked past my job site last month, watched me tape a corner, and just said "you're fighting the mud, son." He showed me how to mix it just a little thicker so it holds its shape. Been doing it his way since and my corner beads are way flatter. Anyone else get one piece of advice that changed their whole finish game?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_oscar1mo ago

Wait isn't it supposed to be a little wet for taping though? The way I learned it from an old timer was thin mud for the bed coat so the tape really sticks down and then thicker mud for the top coats. But I guess corners are different since you gotta shape them up tight. I had a guy tell me once to use a corner trowel and that saved me a ton of sanding but mostly I think everyone finds their own little tricks over time.

murphy.blair1mo ago

You ever try getting tape to lay flat in an inside corner with mud that's too wet? It just slides right off. I've been at this a long time and that thin mud idea might work for flat tape on walls but corners need something with more body. The tape needs something to grip onto or it'll bubble up on you every time. Thicker mud lets you push it right into the crease and it stays put while you smooth it out. I'd rather spend a little extra time mixing it right than fixing sagging tape on a hot day. Different strokes for different folks I guess but corners are the one place where wet mud will cost you.

olivia_harris191mo ago

Makes me wonder if the issue is more about technique than mud thickness. I've seen plenty of guys run thin mud in corners and it holds fine if you bed the tape right and don't mess with it too much. A hot day might wreck that plan though, so maybe climate plays a bigger role than anyone wants to admit.