I finally got why that old guy at the supply house was so picky about his mud knives

I was grabbing a 12 inch taping knife at the place on 5th Street last week, and this retired installer, maybe 70, was there. He saw my cart and said, 'Kid, you're buying the wrong flex. The blade's too stiff, it'll leave ridges.' He handed me a different one, a Marshalltown, and told me to feel the difference. I tried his way on a ceiling patch the next day and the finish was way smoother. Anyone have a favorite brand for finishing knives they swear by?

3 comments

3 Comments

gavincampbell4mo ago

Oh man, you just learned the golden rule. Never ignore the old guy at the counter. They've forgotten more about finish work than most of us will ever know. I got the same speech about a hawk once. He was right, of course. The weight was all wrong on the one I picked.

gavin_clark4mo ago

My grandpa taught me that about fishing lures, same deal.

jesse_cooper2mo ago

Gotta push back a little here. I've been burned by the old guy at the counter more than once. The last guy tried to sell me a trowel that was way too stiff for the tile I was working with, and he insisted on some expensive grout that ended up cracking within a month. Sometimes they're just stuck in their ways and won't admit when a newer product actually works better. I'm not saying ignore them completely, but take it with a grain of salt. A little skepticism has saved me more headaches than any old timer's advice ever has lol.