Three years ago a neighbor in Boise showed me why my tape was bubbling every time

I was struggling with bubbles in my tape joints for months. Every job I did, I'd come back a day later and find air pockets. My neighbor who's been hanging rock since the 80s watched me mud one afternoon. He said "you're not pushing the mud through the tape, you're just laying it on top." Soon as he showed me how to really press it into the bed with a 6 inch knife it clicked. Haven't had a bubble problem since. Anyone else have a simple trick like that take years to figure out?

3 comments

3 Comments

wells.evan5d ago

The real trick is getting that first coat to actually lock the paper in. I switch to a 5 minute mud for the bed coat so it grabs faster and gives me less time for bubbles to sneak in.

brooke_murray5d ago

5 minute mud for the bed coat? That's insane.

black.oliver5d ago

Does the 5 minute mud actually give you enough working time to really press the tape in, or are you rushing the bed coat? I feel like if you push it too quick with hot mud you might not fully wet the paper and get adhesion issues later. Seems like it could trade one problem for another if you're not careful.