Sunday 20 May 2018

Smoothing Things Out With A Drywall Mud Dispenser

By Sarah Gibson


Walls are erected to separate things, to create a divide, to create borders between spaces. They are very good at what they do. But building them can take some time and effort, it can take a little bit of sweating. But having a drywall mud dispenser around can make it a little bit easier.

Drywall boards are fabricated from plaster. They come mostly in boards. They were originally developed in the early half of the twentieth century, and became prevalent in the latter half of the century to replace the traditional lath and plaster technique of finishing interior walls.

There are many names for the material, with drywall simply being the most prominent. Other names include gypsum plaster or boards, plaster boards, and sheet rock. Whatever the name, the material is used in the building of interior walls and ceilings. If a building was built in the last two or so decades, there is a good chance that it makes heavy use of gypsum.

Mud, not really moist earth but more of a joint compound that resembles the feel of it, and tape are both used in the application of drywall. Sheetrock comes in uniform panels. But walls are not always uniform. Some are taller than others, some are longer. So, sometimes the panels have to be cut down in order to fit, or multiple panels have to be used in order to cover the entirety of the space. Because multiple panels are used, seams and gaps can form. The tape is used cover over the seams and the compound is applied afterwards. Applying the tape and the mud creates the illusion of being seamless, of being one large panel instead of multiple smaller ones.

The tools are not hard to use. First is the joint compound, which comes in a bucket. Then comes the trowel, to hold and apply the mud. To keep the hands free, a holder can be used for the tape, to secure and dispense. Finally, there is the knife. Survivalists often state the knife is the most versatile of tools and this is not different. The knife can be used to apply the compound, cut off bits and pieces off the tape, and to smooth out the surfaces.

The application of compound and tape is a simple enough task. First, secure the boards and then apply the mud. Then tape over the mud. Then run the knife along the length of the seam to smooth out the surface. They key in such a task is evenness, too little compound results in dry spots, too much results in parts of a wall being thicker than others.

Now, the tools and materials are easily acquired through a number of retail outlets. Any hardware store worth its salt is going to have all the materials needed. If not, online retailers can provide products that brick and mortar stores cannot.

There are some safety precautions to consider. While the compound itself is harmless, the tools used are sharp and stiff, so they should be handled with care. When treating higher walls and ceilings, every precaution to secure a position should be taken.

People want pretty things and pretty homes. But homes do not start out pretty. They must be made so. But the right tools can make doing that easier.




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