Drywall Mud Consistency: 5 Things Professionals Must Know

Knowing the tips and tricks for installing drywall will make you better in the profession. These tips will improve your efficiency, skill, and timing. And luckily, there are a lot of areas in the field where any drywaller can see improvement. We want to start you off with drywall mud consistency and the five things professionals must know.

Never Use Hot Mud

When it comes to using an automatic taper, you want to avoid using hot mud, also known as a setting compound. A setting compound has a set drying time, and it’s a chemical dry. Refrain from using popular brands like Durabond, Sheetrock, Easy Sand, and Light Sand.

They often have a number affiliated with the brand, like Durabond 90, 45, or 20. Never use those products in automatic taping tools. Instead, go with a joint compound. You don’t want to use a finishing compound because it doesn’t have enough glue for the taper. Use either a taping mud or an all-joint compound.

Avoid Thick Mud

If you have a hand-taping background, you’re probably used to using thicker mud. Automatic taping tools need the exact opposite. Mud consistency is always key for auto or semi-automatic taping tools.

Get the mud fairly thin using a mud mixing paddle. It should almost look like pancake batter. As soon as you open the bucket, you’ll notice how thick the mud is. Add a few hand fills of water to start. Then, work the mixture down into the mud.

Work From the Bottom Up

Start the mixing paddle at the bottom and work your way up. The paddle will do most of the work, but you can manually twirl it into a mixing motion for additional assistance.

After some time, it will start to get a cottage cheese-like consistency with a lot of clumps. Keep mixing and digging it up from the bottom until the surface starts to smooth out.

Monitor the Water Intake

Starting off with a couple of hand fills of water won’t get you the exact consistency needed for using a joint compound with a taping tool. You’ll need to add more water as you go. Keep the bucket nearby so you can keep adding more.

Don’t add so much water that the texture looks like soup. If you add too much, use a rag or sponge to soak up the water and ring it out into the mud.

Treat the Angles Differently

The pancake batter consistency is a good start for the flats and butt joints. But for your angles, you want to mix it a little thinner so you have less drag.

If you’re experiencing too much drag in your tape when using your TapeTech drywall tools, odds are your mud is too thick. Too-thick mud could also damage your automatic taper. It’s hard to clean and maintain with caked-up joint compound in the crevices.

At Timothy’s Toolbox, we know the trick to a good drywall job is getting the mud to the right consistency. Knowing these five things makes you a better professional.