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Had a chat with a painter that made me look at my tape lines differently
I was finishing a basement in Grand Rapids last month, and the painter, an older guy named Frank, watched me mud a corner. He said, 'You know, I can tell you're a good taper because you leave a soft edge, not a hard ridge.' He explained that a hard ridge from too much mud on the tape catches light and paint differently, making the wall look wavy even after it's painted. I mean, I always tried to keep it smooth, but hearing it from the guy who has to cover my work really hit different. Made me slow down and focus on that final skim coat like never before. Do you guys get feedback from painters often, or do you mostly work in a vacuum?
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jamesf412mo ago
Yeah, Frank's right about that soft edge. @jason480, a wider knife for that final skim makes a huge difference.
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jason4802mo ago
Man, that's a great point from Frank. I used to be so focused on just getting the tape to stick and not bubble that I'd slap on too much mud without thinking. Always figured the paint would hide a little ridge. Hearing how it actually messes with the light and finish makes total sense. It's one of those things you don't know until someone who deals with the next step points it out. Makes you want to go back and check all your old work.
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harpery472mo ago
So when Frank talked about the light catching the ridge, did he get into the specific angles of light that make it worse, like from a side window versus overhead?
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