Drywall taping is as much an art as a science.
Drywall taping is an underrated art and there is a good chance it can be done poorly by do-it-yourselfers. The results can be seen on many walls with tape that is coming away from the wall. Proper drywall taping requires application of the right amount of spackle under and over the tape. The tape needs to be firmly set into the base of spackle underneath it to prevent it coming away from the wall when the spackle dries.
Spackling Trowels
Spackling trowels are made in a series of sizes, from 3 inches wide up to 12 inches wide. When taping the joint between two pieces of drywall, spackle is applied to the joint with a wide trowel before the tape. The tape is then run along the joint and pressed into the spackle with a narrower trowel, firmly setting it into the spackle and covering the joint. More spackle is applied over the top of the tape with a wide trowel and the spackle is feathered off away from the joint to avoid leaving ridges and inconsistencies.
Tape Reel
A tape reel is not a necessity for homeowners who do occasional taping, but is very useful for professional drywall tapers. A tape reel is basically a handle with a spool on it, onto which a roll of drywall tape is secured. This allows the taper to secure one end of the tape in the spackle on the wall and quickly pull the spool away, leaving the tape in the spackle. This is much faster than unrolling the tape by hand, tearing or cutting off a piece, and setting it into the spackle. A professional who does this work every day saves a tremendous amount of time by using convenient tools such as this.
Sanding Poles
When the coat of spackle over the tape has dried, it need to be sanded. A final coat of spackle is applied that also needs to be sanded. Sanding the taped joint is made much easier with the use of a sanding pole. This is a telescoping pole with an adjustable flat surface on the end of it onto which sandpaper is secured. The pole allows the taper to sand surfaces with a much broader, more even motion. The pole allows four main advantages. It provides a smoother, more even surface; it sands walls quickly and efficiently; it allows the person sanding to access ceilings and the tops of walls without the use of a ladder, and it allows these areas to be sanded without standing directly beneath them, thus avoiding drywall dust in the eyes and face.
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