Once the drywall has been installed, you will need the right drywall tools for sealing joints and filling nail holes. You won't need to buy many tools for this job. Here are the most basic drywall tools you will need.
6-inch taping knife
Jeff Beneke
This is the perfect size of taping knife for filling screw holes and embedding the tape in the first layer of joint compound. No collection of drywall tools is complete without a 6-inch knife.
10- or 12-inch taping knife or curved trowel
Jeff Beneke
You need a wider knife for applying the second and third layers of joint compound and feathering the edges. A 10- or 12-inch taping knife will handle the job, although some professionals keep a curved trowel in their collection of drywall tools for this specific task.
Mud pan
Jeff Beneke
A mud pan allows you to hold joint compound (aka “mud”) in one hand and your taping knife in the other. A good mud pan has thin metal edges along the sides for quick knife cleaning.
Corner trowel
Jeff Beneke
A corner trowel allows you to apply joint compound to both sides of an inside corner at the same time. It also helps shape and smooth the corner quickly. Some professionals consider this an optional addition to their drywall tools and find they can finish inside corners just fine with a 6-inch taping knife.
Joint compound
Jeff Beneke
Joint compound is available in premixed and powdered forms. Most jobs can be handles just fine with a bucket of premixed all purpose mud.
Drywall tape
Jeff Beneke
Drywall tape is used to help cover and seal joints between sheets of drywall. It is commonly available in rolls of paper or fiberglass.
Pole sander
Jeff Beneke
A pole sander with a 4-foot handle and pivoting head allows you to reach distant spots while keeping your distance from the dust you create.
Sandpaper or sanding screens
Jeff Beneke
A supply of 120-grit sandpaper or sanding screens to fit the sanding pole is often all you need. If you want to create an especially smooth surface, though, 220-grit will do the trick.
Dust masks
Jeff Beneke
Sanding dry joint compound creates a dusty mess, and a good quality dust mask is really the only safety item you will need in your collection of drywall tools. To work properly, the mask must form a tight seal around your nose. I usually wear a hat and eye goggles as well when sanding.
Shop vacuum
Jeff Beneke
A shop vac with a fine dust filter is the best way to clean a room after sanding. If you try to clean up with a broom, you usually wind up doing little more than stirring up dust. This is the most expensive item in this list, but it also is one of those drywall tools that can be used for many other chores.
