Great video! I actually use the solid stainless steel knives professionally and they do not slip on me. Also, worth mentioning is how easy they are to clean!

The Blue blade will rust overnight. Very frustrating. If you buy one, you better clean, and dry it completely, every single time. It will also rust in very humid conditions. I recently found that out. My quality one was in storage, and I was visiting relatives out of town, so I bought the cheap Blue blade to fix a ceiling. Rusted so quick, I was amazed. Learned a lesson though. Good information on this video.......AS USUAL!

You are absolutely the best! I have 22 years experience in maintenance and I still check out your videos to cover any areas where I am curious or don't have a lot of experience. Thank You!

I have been finishing for over 30 years. I use blue steel. Most finishers I know use blue steel. I haven't used those wooden handle knives in years. They are heavy and will wear you out if used all day. My opinion based on my experience.

Another great tip Leah. Who would ever know that there are so many “wrong” tools to use for a job. I appreciate all of your tips Leah. Thank so much!

great video! I was struggling with this in Lowes yesterday so I called the 1-800 number on the taping knife package. The customer service rep had NO IDEA what the answer was

I have used blue blade knives for many years, I clean and dry them and even sand the edges. I also sand the edges before the first use.

You have a very newsworthy voice lol...so calm and collected. Great vid 👍🏾

Love your presentation style in the various vids of yours I've seen. No overproduction, clear concise and helpful. New sub. Go Jane Go!

Hi Leah! Being new to DIY, I'm about to patch a drywall in my bathroom; you rock, you have a soothing style, thank you!

Stainless is important ESPECIALLY for a DIY because we take longer to work and my non-stainless blade will start to rust within minutes of being set aside while waiting for the Spackle to dry. Bonus Tip: I keep the Spackle that I'm working with from drying out by wetting it with a spray bottle. Especially if I have to walk away for a while.

Great video and fantastic advice. I've had issues with rusting blades as well as chipped plastic ones so this video is perfect for me

I picked up a set of wallboard high shine stainless steels like in your video. Only difference is I hit the handles with spray on rubber, and used with a pair of Milwaukee A3 cut protection gloves they are top notch. Great video and like always write in rain!

Never rule out the possibilities of that white plastic knife. If you do get some nubs on it you can drag that across a piece of 220 sandpaper on a flat piece of glass or surface equivalent and sharpen that knife right back up and you get a brand new sharp edge!

Plasterer here, gotta say loved your video, gotta love them high end tools for a better feel control and finish!

Yay, just bought one last week for some drywall repair. Glad I bought the right kind.

I love listening to her speak. Her voice is soothing.

Couldn’t agree more Leah!👍🏻 But, I’ve had guys that have worked for me before that swore by the blue steel taping knives. When they would get a new blue steel drywall knife they would stick it in a full box of joint compound and leave it overnight so it would rust... I’m a stainless steel man myself. Take care, -Paul

Truth be told every knife serves a purpose. Blue steel knives work best with regular joint compounds. Clean and dry after use and they won't rust . You can even spray a coat of light oil on them. Stainless steel knives work best with setting compounds. The plastic knives are great for cutting down to a odd size for hard to get at areas. This video seems to be more of a personal preference. My favorite knive is that 6" wallboard pro stainless you show. And I've never really had an issue with it slipping out of my hands while using. The difference in blue steel and stainless is how the compounds glide off the blade while using.

Excellent explanations on picking out the proper tool for the job, Ms. Leah! I always thought plastic knives were for scrapping gunk off of stuff 😀

I have two blue blade, another Carbon steel 6" knife, and a Marshalltown stainless inside-angle knife. The blue blade and 6" absolutely do rust if you don't take care of them, but just some basic maintenance and common sense, prevents rusting. After every use, clean the knife off, and wipe it dry. If you're going to be storing it for a while, either store it in a cool dry place, or put a bit of grease over the blade, and cover it with a cloth. If I had to do it again, I'd go stainless Marshalltown for everything, but the blue blades work well for my purposes. I'll also add, my blue blades did develop rust at first, but nothing a bit of a steel wool didn't take off. It'll take a while for the knives to pit, in which case just toss them and buy stainless!

Love your experience and how you effectively speak to useful topics without long winded dissertations. 👍👌

I love your way of teaching, thank you soooooooooooo much Leeah. Stay well.

The last knife you're holding at the very end is my favorite taping knife

I'm just learning, I prefer the blue knife... Wash and dry, no worries

I HAVE WIPED MILES OF PAPER TAPE WITH THE FIRST KNIFE FOR FORTY YEARS, IT WORKS GREAT

For my 6 inch drywall knife I prefer the blue blade because it’s flexible compare to a stainless steel. You could always put WD-40 on it to keep it from rusting. Thanks for the video.

As a professional taper the blue steel knife is ok if your using it everyday. The plastic knives I keep around because they cut easy as I often need to cut a custom tool, also if you need to scrape mud off plastic or other surfaces that mark easy. The stainless knife and handle I found to be really noisy. It rings when you clean the blade on the mud pan, at least with the stainless mud pans.

For your very last coat try thinning down your mud & putting it on with a paint roller then hit it with your knife comes out like a mirror. 😎👍

I personally like blue blade and Ames Tools have the best finishing knifes in my opinion

Tons of misinformation here. There are a lot of professionals who prefer the steel blade taping knives. Properly cared for, they will last forever. The plastic knives have their place too. Usually for a quick job with products like bondo which can ruin a good knife. They are cheap enough to use once and throw away if needed. The all metal knife is also fine. If you keep the handle clean and dry, which isn't difficult, it will be fine. If you get drywall mud all over the handle, it's going to make any of those knives slippery.

Your advice is always sound and right on the mark.

I use the plastic ones to scrape gunk off cooking pans.

Licensed drywall contractor for 30 years. The material the knife is made out of has no bearing on the application of the mud except... Blue steel is steel that is heat treated thus it turns blue to become "spring steel" and retain its shape so when you apply mud it is multiplying the force your hand is using and therefore causes less hand fatigue to drive mud into the surface. Stainless steel is thicker and the mud does not flow from it but slips from the surface because it is smooth. So when you use stainless the mud tends to run off the knife. Blue steel works best once the blueing wears off and the metal is rough and it actually grips the mud to it so you can flow the mud to the wall from it. It is the actual knife edge the mud is flowing off of, and that edge needs to be razor sharp. Each day the edge should be inspected by skimming a small patch and look for lines or grooves in the material applied to a wall. Then take 100 grit sandpaper and put it on the wall and hone the edge of the knife laying it near flat to the sandpaper and sliding the knife back and forth long ways on both sides . Then wipe blade edge with a towel. The 6 inch bell knife is used for corners and loading mud from a bucket, if you are going to leave it in the bucket overnight or for long periods then use stainless. If you care for your tools then use regular steel and clean the knife after use and spray with wd-40. The 8 inch knife is used for spotting screws and wiping down tape. It should be blue steel also to be springy to multiply pressure and reduce hand fatigue. The next knife you will need is a 12 inch knife , it too should be blue steel and should be broken in from use for best results. Ames tools and Wallboard are both professional tool manufacturer suppliers. Any knife you see in home depot with yellow handles and blue steel are your best choice to use . If it is a one time deal or you are a pro .

Good explanation of good and bad drywall knives! I have used the cheap plastic knives for odd areas where a stainless knife won't fit. With a good pair of shears I can cut them to fit a space above or behind a door frame for example.

I just bought the same plastic knife set to patch and tape seams I do have a 6 inch stainless steel so i'll try both and see how it goes eventually I will buy a pro one

I like the cheap plastic ones, I mostly patch plaster and drywall and am always misplacing knifes (and caulk guns but that's another story, I now own 5 guns), if I get a nick in the blade I sand it out with the drywall sandpaper I have on the job. But if I did a lot more drywall i would buy those in a heartbeat. Been using Rite in the Rain for Years, bought my first one at a gun show. They make all sorts of different books for different trades.

Was just about to buy blue stee... thanks!

Yeah if you have a knick you can sand the blue blade smooth.

i use the stainless ones, they are the best, haven't slipped out of my hand yet

Like to tryout that DeWalt stainless knife. Looks easy to clean and outlast me.

As a newb I appreciate the time you took to explain the differences between the various mud knives. Very helpful!

I love my Wal-Board yellow handle blades, I use the 8”,10”,12” religiously and they never let me down

Love watching and learning from you! You explain everything in great detail. Thank you!

Love most of your videos but this one i don't agree with. Most blades have a purpose. The flexible blue blade is without a doubt the best imo. Easy to re surface and it's forgiving.

Leah, thank you for the thorough details and explanation! You save DIYers money and time!

love your trick!! I thought the sleek silver one was suppost to be the best. I wanted it! haha

I use wire wool to clean mine when they go a little rusty, never had an issue :)

Halleluha!! i always wondered about whether i had the wrong knives as they were constantly leaving marks on the mud. Thank you Leah 1

Enjoyed this one. I "treat" my knives after every use. I rub them down with wd-40. Prevents any rust during storing them and forgotten water clean up.

I'm 40 years in the trade. The yellow handle blue steel blade is really the best for coating not to mention from an 8" to a 14" when one buys them the first thing they need to do is bend a cove in the knife and only ever use that side of the knife. And the blue steel will become razor sharp and thats a good knife. Stainless just won't bend properly. I've watched many of your other videos and they are always great.... always pleasant watching your videos. Tho, I will also say, you are correct when DIY'ers buy a steel knife they just don't do enough work to break a knife in. And again, nor do they know to cove a knife when it's first bought.

Great videos, but I have to disagree here. I've spent many hours applying joint compound, and I've never had slipping problems with all stainless tools. They're easy to clean, don't rust, and definitely worth the extra $.

That’s the exact one I got, so easy and comfortable to use.

I prefer the 6 inch stainless because it lasts, I used to use the Hyde's and other but just when they would get perfect the handle would rust off and break

The best drywall knives are the yellow handle Richards and are the best value in a professional tool. She is holding a black richards knife at the end that will also work but is a bit stiffer than the yellow knives. Unless you are doing mudding you are not going to paint you do not need a stainless knife.

Leah, Nice video and assesments on types of knives. I have bought a lot of the blue blade knives because I can get them in really wide widths here, and because they have a bit of flex, which for me, helps in blending the compound at the edges. I don't think that I have had the rusting isue that you mention, but I will start inspecting them as I use each one. That may be because I am pretty meticulous with the cleaning and care of them, not letting them stay wet. Thank you.

Also drywall knifes have one side that is concave and the other side for smoothing mud, I learned that today on another you tube video.

Lea once I get my knifecase into stores I would love for you to try my new knifecase out..u seem to know n love the art of finishing...I'm a master at finishing...42 yrs of hanging n finishing under my belt..

I do drywall finishing for a living and hate the stainless steel knifes. They won't hang on to the mud like the regular knifes. I've had the same knifes for over a year. I clean them after every use. The mud slides off the stainless too easy which means less control and wasted mud.

I just found your videos yesterday. Very insightful. Thank you.

You have such a great channel! So happy I found it

Aaarghh tell me about it..I just learned the hard way 😣back to the hardware store I go!!thanks for the tip

I USE THE STAINLESS STEEL WOOD HANDLE KNIFE I BOUGHT 20 YEARS AGO.. I CANNOT FIND ONE LIKE IT ANYWHERE. I WILL ALWAYS RECOMMEND STAINLESS....

love watching your videos! so informative!

I love the chrome one. Ooooh...

Good ideas. My drywall tools are rusty because I didn't clean them and left them in the trunk. It didn't take long.

I use the wallboard all stainless... cuts the tapes very well and I get my job done level5 plz people use wat makes you happy and what best works for you but don’t use plastic

Here it's Marshalltown trowels or the German company that makes the flexi trowels never use knifes maybe painters use a small knife for pollyfiller. Maybe we should be using a stiff knife but blaster boards are always fully finish with hardwall 99% of the time

"I-! .....see beyond the road I'm drivin' " -thanks to Leah!!! ...a little Boston playing there at the end!

how cool would it be to cross paths with Leah at home Depot!!!! I was just there yesterday!

Very informative video... You are always so helpful...

THANKS LEAH I need that extra boost, that says I can do this!

How do you store your putty knives without them getting scratched or dinged up like you’re saying in your video

Great information, Leah. Thank you for sharing that with us.

Lol... blue steel is sharper than stainless and allows you to cut edges better. The all stainless knife i use daily and its not slippery... a pro should have a mixture of knives bc they serve different situations and purposes. Blue steel will allways hold its blade longer than stainless

I disagree about the blue blade , they work well , and all you have to do is dry them after cleaning and occasionally spray a little WD-40 on them to prevent rust .... Once in a while take light rust off with emory cloth if need be .... They do not rust "terribly" , and a little maintenance really goes a long way .... I love the flexibility of them and I get great edges on my bedding .... I do very little sanding to my bed joints , and THAT is well worth the minor maintenance required for the blue blade tool .... I'll take a blue blade any day

Great vid leah!! I bought the handsome knife lol but I put some shark bite silicone wrap on it for some extra grip. I have to order level 5 tools so home depot is easier for me to grab tools. Thanks to you I was able to find good knives!

Leah, Your Great. Thanks for all the advice!

As always good video! Always look forward to your videos, you always have good tips. Thanks Leah. Take care of your tools people!

I've been in the drywall trade since 1993. I love that all stainless knife. Also anyone that needs to be told that a plastic knife is a bad idea, has no business being anywhere near a tool of any sort.

thanks, thats two items now on the shopping list

Look at her knives. They are bent, the wood handled one at the corners, which will dig and tear at the paper of the sheetrock, and mud work, and the other, in the center, which will cause a crown (hump) or a low spot with gnarly edges. Both outcomes will require more sanding, and the low spot will have to be filled. Blue steel works just fine in the hands of thousands of finishers, all over the place. If you get a nick file or sand it, have a little rust sand or file it. If your only going to finish once a year, you might want a stainless steel blade with a rubber handle, or wood handle. Plastic ehhh, it's your money buy what you want. I bought one and cut it so I could get I to a really steep angle. But blue steel has more flex than stainless, and holds up better to force being applied unlike plastic, which with taping, you are going to want both of those attributes, plus the more you use it, the more flexible it becomes. Your wrist and finger will thank you, especially if you've ever wiped tape with stainless.

Good tips. I prefer just replacing them after a while. IMO, those tools are inexpensive and it is best to have a fresh batch every now or then. You are Bob Ross of DIY.

An old American tourister briefcase works great for carrying and storing your blades.

Hi Leah,love your videos,very informative step by step tutorials and reviews,have you seen the youtube video by the Canadian lad " DRYWALL PATCH WITH DRYER SHEEET !!!?? " it's really good.I live in Scotland so sometimes our products have diferent names and we can't get some of your tools and products in United Kingdom unless we have them shipped from the US which adds greatly to the cost but obviously we have equivalent tools for the job,keep them coming,always look forward to all your content

Thank you for sharing your experienced opinion.

Dry your knife off after you wash it. Nicks can always be filed down. Plastic is great for less than 90 angles, cut them. Nothing fills corner bead better than a hoc. Love my Hyde for wiping down tape. A Darby is best for skim coat.

I personally prefer blue steel or carbon steel on a drywall knife. drywall finishing is all I do (18 years)

Many thanks Leah.

Your videos make me feel like a master carpenter

I never knew that all weather paper existed..that's nice..

I have the stainless set. True professionals use their fingers for bending the blade.. the blades you have are heavy and hard to maneuver. it depends on theoerson i guess.

Great, as usual, no wonder it was hard for me to get s smooth finish

Great video, I never liked those metal handled knives either because of the shock hazard they present

Thank you Leah 👍

Thanks Leah. Awesome info as always !!

I like many others respectfully disagree... Blue blade knifes have served me perfectly for decades. Can they rust? Yes. But it’s nothing a medium grit sanding sponge won’t remove. Since all my blades and my hawk get sanded clean before each use... It’s never been remotely an issue. The more you sand it and use it the more flexible it becomes. IMHO.😉👍

You could wrap the stainless steel handle in grip-tape no? Enjoyed the vid thanks SJD! Comments were helpful too

Thanks Leah! Awesome as always!!

Thank you😊