How to Tape Drywall With a Banjo (page 2 of 2)

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Pro Tips

A Layer of Mud on the Top and Bottom of the Tape Ensures Success
To ensure trouble-free results, prefill the gaps between sheets of drywall with a setting-type joint compound and allow it to harden. Be careful to wipe off all excess compound flush to the drywall as you apply it, and scrape off any dried lumps with your taping knife before you start taping. As you pull the tape from the banjo, the topside may be dry or have very little joint compound. This isn’t a problem as long as you trowel a thin layer of joint compound over the tape before you embed it to lubricate your knife. If friction from your knife is leaving the tape fuzzy or causing it to buckle up into little ridges, you’ll know you need to trowel on a thin layer of mud before you trowel the tape flat. Transfer the mud that oozes out from under the tape back onto the surface of the tape as you go.

As the mud in the banjo runs low, it will no longer cover the bottom of the tape and the tape will be very easy to pull out. These are clues to refill the banjo. Open the cover and reposition the tape before you refill the compartment. Joint compound often thickens as it sits. You may have to mix in a little more water.

Follow This Sequence for the Best Results
The pros we talked to suggested applying tape in this order: (1) the vertical seams, (2) the horizontal seams and (3) the inside corners. It’s OK to overlap the tape where one seam meets another. Divide long horizontal wall seams or seams that run across an entire ceiling into smaller sections by cutting the tape at an intersection with another seam (it’s difficult to embed a section much over 10 ft. long). Always start at the center of each section and work toward the ends when you’re embedding the tape. It’s OK to tape a number of seams before returning to embed the tape as long as the joint compound doesn’t start to dry out. Working with a partner who follows closely behind to embed the tape is a good way to speed up the job.

Keep the Tools Clean to Avoid Lumps
Taping is a messy job. It’s a good idea to keep the banjo, mud pan and taping knife free of dried joint compound. I like to keep a 5-gallon pail of warm water and a sponge handy to clean my hands and wipe off the tools. Otherwise, little chunks of dried mud will cause all kinds of trouble as they get stuck under the tape or in the joint compound. When you’re through for the day, scrape excess mud into a garbage bag and scrub the banjo and tools with a stiff-bristle brush to remove joint compound before it hardens.