Unpopular opinion: flat boxes aren't always the best for butt joints

I was talking to this old timer named Dave on a job last week in Columbus, and he said something that got me thinking. He was saying how everyone pushes flat boxes for butt joints because it's supposed to give you a smoother finish, but he swore by using a 10 inch knife instead. His point was that flat boxes can leave these tiny air pockets if you don't have the mud just right, and he'd rather feather it out manually with a knife so he can feel the joint. At first I thought he was just stuck in his ways, but then I remembered a job six months back where I had to sand a huge flat box section three times because of bubbles. I mean, maybe I was using cheap mud or something, but it made me wonder if the tool is always the answer. So now I'm torn between sticking with the flat box for speed or going back to hand work for quality. Has anyone else had better luck with knives on butt joints over using a flat box?

2 comments

2 Comments

michael_wood327d ago

Respectfully, I think speed matters MORE on butt joints because flat boxes actually prevent overworking the mud.

finleybutler7d ago

Honestly, that Dave sounds like he knows his stuff because I've been noticing a bigger pattern lately where people think the newest tool or gadget is always the upgrade, but sometimes the old way just works better for the actual feel of the job. Like with flat boxes, they're great for speed on a big open wall, but on those butt joints where the tape is already fighting you, it's like you're just hoping the tool does the thinking for you and it doesn't. Ngl, I've had more luck taking my time with a 10 inch knife on those seams because you can actually push the mud into the joint instead of just smooshing it over the top and leaving those bubbles. It's like how people use those fancy nail guns now but still have to come back and hand nail spots where the gun just didn't sink it right. The tool saves time but it don't save you from having to understand the material.