However, carbon steel is very prone to rusting. In addition, stainless steel is harder to sand back to a new edge than softer steel blends.Ĭarbon steel, in comparison to stainless, is considerably more flexible, and is thus well-suited to feathering, smoothing, and other fine tasks. The result is that it will have a harder time feathering mud well, getting into corners, and is more prone to permanent bending than other blade types. However, stainless steel, because of the hardness that makes it so long-wearing, is also less flexible than other knife styles. Properly cared for, a stainless steel knife will last for many years. The primary reason is durability: stainless steel is very hard and very long-lasting. Stainless steel, a special form of steel that resists rusting and contains up to 10.5% chromium, is one of the two most common materials used for taping knife blades. The differences between the materials may not be apparent at first, so let’s break them down.

Carbon steel knives are relatively uncommon, though you may encounter them occasionally. There are, generally speaking, three materials used to form the blades of taping knives: stainless steel, carbon steel, and blue steel. The most important factor when choosing a six-incher is flexibility, which brings us to: Blade Material For this reason, many professionals choose to have several six-inch knives on hand for a given project. It is fairly well-suited to both mud application and detail/finishing work, and as such, is typically the most-used size. The five inch or six inch knife deserves special attention, as this middle-sized knife fills a special niche.

These larger knives are commonly called taping knives and have a square shape to them. These knives are great for smoothing the tracks left by smaller knives, feathering mud, and generally leaving a clean surface at the end stages of the project after detailing has been completed. Larger knives (6” and greater) are great for finishing, since they allow you to cover more ground with lighter pressure. Smaller knives are more likely to leave marks and uneven surfaces, but in the initial stages, that’s okay, since you will come back to do another coat. This is designed to allow the knife to fit into corners without damaging the wall. Joint knives are also rounded with sloping sides. Their smaller size allows you to get into smaller spaces and crevices, as well as use more pressure to force mud into seams and the holes left by screws. Smaller knives, (6” and smaller) are commonly known as joint knives, and are best for the first stages of a project. Size may be the single most important consideration in choosing a taping knife, as the size determines what stage of construction the knife is suited to. How are you supposed to know which knife is right for you? This guide to the all the possibilities will take the guesswork out of choosing the right knife for you and your project. However, the number of options can be overwhelming: size, handle material, blade material, special features. A true workhorse, most projects would simply not be possible without a taping knife.Ĭonsidering how important taping knives are, it’s critical to choose the right one for you and for your project. They are used for applying mud, finishing, laying tape, and more. With further modifications and testing on rubber trees, the proper double-blade configuration could potentially increase the lifespan of rubber trees.Taping knives are an indispensable part of every drywall professional’s toolkit. While the single blade and surform blade have some advantages, the double blade showed great promise for control and small cuts. A single blade, double-blade configuration, and surform blade were tested on trees local to UC Davis. While the handle remained similar to the traditional knife, the three blades were attempts at meeting the smaller-cut objective. The prototype that was developed included three different interchangeable blades to be affixed on a base handle.

It was the objective of the D-Lab to create a prototype that would augment the narrowness of a bark cut and allow for an increased lifespan for the rubber tree. While there are different products and university projects that have looked to advance the efficiency of the rubber-tapping knife, there is still significant room for design improvements. There is a traditional knife that can be found in different countries and has been used for many decades. The field of rubber tapping currently requires a knife to carve off just the right amount of bark in order to extract rubber from a rubber tree without damaging it.

Supertab rubber tapping knife