Took me 5 years to realize I was holding my drywall knife wrong

Was at a supply shop picking up mud and this old timer just casually says 'you know you're supposed to choke up on that thing, right?' I'd been using a 6 inch knife with my hand all the way back at the handle, basically zero control. Tried his way last weekend and my taping looks 10x better. How do you guys hold your knives?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_joseph1d ago

Man, I've been holding drywall knives for 15 years and I still keep my hand all the way back on the handle. I tried choking up once and it felt like I had no leverage at all. The whole point of that long handle is to let you use your whole arm for control, not just your wrist. When you choke up, you're basically turning it into a butter knife and wearing out your hand muscles faster. I get that some guys like it for detail work, but for any kind of speed or coverage, you need that reach. Maybe your old timer was just trying to sell you on his personal trick, but there's a reason the tool comes with a long handle in the first place. I'd rather have less precise control and more power any day.

mark61112h ago

First 6 inch knife I ever bought had a handle so short I had to choke up on it. Never really thought about it until I went back to a normal one. Now I just grab whatever feels right for the job and don't overthink it.