Pro tip: I switched from a 6-inch to a 10-inch taping knife for my final coat about a year ago.

Lucas Kelly · 2026-03-11T01:20:04.729869+00:00

My old boss in Phoenix always said a 6-inch was plenty, but I kept getting ridges on big ceilings. Now I use the wider blade with lighter pressure and it feathers out way smoother. Anyone else make that switch and notice a difference in their finish?

seanjohnson7mo ago

What, was your old boss taping dollhouse ceilings? A six-inch blade on a big job is just making extra work for yourself. Uma_nguyen24 is right about the pressure, but the bigger knife is what lets you actually do it.

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uma_nguyen247mo ago

Honestly, the real trick is the lighter pressure you mentioned. A lot of guys just push too hard with any size blade.

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the_finley7mo ago

Wait, your old boss in Phoenix was still pushing a 6-inch for a final coat on big ceilings? That's wild. A 6-inch blade on a big, flat surface is just asking for trouble. You'd have to be a robot to not leave lines. The 10-inch lets you spread the mud out so thin and even. It's a totally different game.

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