As someone who has worked in the trades/construction for about 30 years, I would take your "lack" of knowing everything any day of the week. To me, this means you are open to learning and allowing for new experiences even if you don't get it 100% right the first go. I don't see you having a tantrum, throwing your tools (yes, I have worked w/ far too many toddlers in adult bodies), but owning that you are learning and you share this in your vids. You take the time to explain what/why you are doing whatever it is in that moment and share whatever you have learned. Haters gonna hate and that's a reflection on them.

As a carpenter/builder, seeing the struggle learning a new tool or process is more helpful for me than seeing the expert do everything flawlessly. Trade skills aren't easy. If it looks easy, I'm missing the small details, the angle of the wrist, the pressure, the angle you clean your new towel. I'd much rather watch you try something new, fail a bit, learn a bit, and improve. Because that's exactly the process I'll go through. Great job!

I would rather watch you learn how to use a tool than watch some of the people on here that really haven't a clue to what they're doing. Watching you is one of the most enjoyable things I do in the evenings after work. You're knowledgeable, humble, very respectful and caring for your family and the other people around you. You make my day every time I turn on one of your videos. I've been doing this type of work for a while longer than you've been alive and I still learn things from you. The day that I stop learning is the day I stop breathing. Thank you for your post and may you and your family be blessed.

My favorite YT channels: Stud Pack, Scott Brown Carpentry, RR Buildings, Perkins Brothers, and this guy!!!

As a 68 yr old lady trying to renovate a 100 yr old house, your videos are my go to for “how to”. I’ve done drywall years ago by applying mud thick & then sanding it to death. After watching your videos, I now do a much better job of applying the mud for a light sanding. You may not know everything, but you do explore new options that may provide a “better way”. Thank you for what you do - keep it up!

We still love you. You can only show so many ways to hang and mud sheetrock and I've learned so much from you. Keep up the good work man!

Bro you could start a cooking channel and Id still watch you.

I love when you hammer out these tasks while you’re rambling. Doesn’t matter what you’re talking about really, I just love to watch the ease with which you perform these things, and I learn a lot just by watching. AND it’s fun to listen to, haha!

I bought my Columbia boxes due to you. What I do - 1 spring, run both ways, straitened pushing arm on ceiling work (you last longer), use brake so wheels don’t touch on ceiling (try it !!) sponge for cleaning blade (or sitting the box on while you go for lunch (keeps it wet)

Ben, I love the fact that you show that you are sometimes learning in new things. Because it shows the process of learning. And the fact that new things, tools Don't just come natural to people. I would imagine there's a large portion of your audience that would stay and watch your videos while you attempt to learn new skills. That is why a lot of us are here

Seeing screwups actually helps a lot also because I might see something that happens to me, but I can’t figure out what I’m doing wrong or how to fix it, even if you don’t notice it when you’re recording.

One of the problems of old cable TV reno shows was they'd cut out the tricky parts, the mistakes, the learning parts. Laying flooring, I need to know how to handle a doorway, having to drill a hole for a pipe and still angle the piece under a lip. Painting, I need to know techniques and tools not for the open flat parts, but for the tricky parts. Plumbing, I need to know not how to snap together modern fittings, but how to connect new to old. Electrical, I don't need to know how new clean installs go, but how to handle common mistakes, what to watch out for. Drywall, I don't want a slick presentation, I want to know when I have mu unique problem, how to adapt your three different problem areas to accomodate my problem. I don't need your gifted tools, as I'll be using my prefered tools. If you have folks leave because you don't pretend/posture, good, they aren't for you. I'm your audience, my drywall skills have not improved from experts showing me things that don't relate to me, but from seeing things and techniques that I can apply to improve myself. Of course our complacency doesn't lead to comments, which is why comments are misrepresentations. It's good to not be subject to the Dunning-Kruger effect as it allows us to improve/grow/learn instead of investing in ignorance.

Well now hang on sir! I have spent some time operating from my recliner and many bags of Cheetos honing my skills of the majority of trades. Except roofing due to my bad knees and all. 😂

The only time I unsubscribe is when they start talking politics. I watch these videos to get away from politics. I was a mechanic for many years and you find out pretty fast there is always more than one way to do anything. I always did what worked best for me. Keep doing what you are doing.

I started using a hawk and trowel because of Ben. It's been a great tool and I try to channel my inner Ben every time I use them.

It's great to watch you learn as it teaches how to cross the hurdles as we come to them when first starting out. A lot of times the "experts" don't explain newbie problems because they don't have them anymore to remember what it's like when first trying new tools. Thank you!

Really glad you got into my feed. Long time, small job painter and hand taper. The benefit you provide is you show what it is like to try new tools, without having a pre disposition as to whether it will work for you or not. Your honesty come through and your comments are both funny and real. Thanks!

I learn 100 times more from watching you dial in your tools and techniques than any video that only shows perfect results from the start.

I think it's fun watching someone skilled fumble around something new. Like those stucco videos were great. Maybe the key though is that you're upfront about learning it, and there's clearly expertise demonstrated even if not the main subject of the video. Also not mentioned here, but I respect the integrity of not introducing ads.

Just do things and speak your mind- you’ve a great ethos and are clearly a good person and society needs more of this. Thank you.

the 'internet expert' is a big part of why i started my channel at all. i know enough to see when people are cheating and skipping showing their mistakes and it bugs me that they're not showing what you'll run into how how to fix it. it's so much more about people showing off than helping anyone learn.

All I know is u taught me a lot of great tips I'm not a carpenter or drywall man just a old man that has to do a little job once in awhile,but I've been around building homes and the dry wall stuff,i think you have amazing talent,and the way u do it with simple tools is the art,great job teaching us,Thanks

I enjoy your straightforward honesty and humor to go with it, your a cool guy

My thought it was funny that you were chasing anything with a knife 😂. Seriously though you've helped me so much with the plaster work I'm doing. I love the detail in your videos and your little tests. Endless thank yous!

I am a fan to show the whole process including the screw ups. Sometimes I learn more with the screw ups and seeing how an expert would handle it. I never trust anyone who shows a perfect project rom the beginning to the end of the project. Also seeing someone use something new, showing us the whole process, not rating it bad because most of the time, it is user error, not the fault of the product. it makes you more relatable to the general viewer. Remember most of use will never ever use these items, but watch because of the entertainment.

Watching someone who does know what they are doing trying new things and learning builds my confidence in them.

Long time subscriber to your channel: I hate you tube creators who put a thumbnail with the words " Your doing it wrong ". KZfaqr's who do this want to piss you off by making you comment. Your channel is cool because you don't do this practice. Keep doing what you do Mr. Vancover. 🙂

I enjoy watching your channel, and one of the reasons is due to your not coming off like you know it all. You talk about your faults and that you, too, are always learning. You have that teacher way of showing us how to do this difficult task, and I have learned much from you and have greatly improved in my abilities. For that, I thank you, good sir

Sure wish I knew it all, or at least could remember everything I've learned over the years. ;) Seriously though, your channel saved my renovation when I needed it most - thank you and keep at it. Note: I prefer when you just work on stuff for real. No need to figure out just the right content to "hook" us, just the work hooked me. The nasty reno is my favorite.

Hi Ben. Always watch your videos and have picked some stuff off of you so thank you. I’m a drywall contractor myself and I do it all. Started as a taper running machines bazooka boxes etc. as well as hand finishing, just a few things on your struggles in this video. You can prime your pump using water put it in the bucket and pumping it into another bucket or pan. It cleans it out great and removes all crumbs also. Then put it in the mud and pump until all that comes out is mud. When running boxes go left to right or right to left and then second pass go the opposite way to the first or you will get fisheyes it should help with the need to pull a knife after Christmas trees happen due to mud being too wet or the back of the box is dirty(just under the blade) Also I find it’s ok to go a bit more crowned when sanding with a planex like you do. It allows for shrinkage and the sander does flatten things out also if done right. Lastly I personally hate Columbia tools they’re cheaply made and difficult to run. Their gaskets are very sticky. So that’s why they’re taking an extra pass. Wd40 before running helps a lot with that in my opinion. Hope this helps you buddy. Keep up the good work

Just arrived in Vancouver on the Rocky Mountaineer. I’m thinking: “This is Ben’s stomping grounds….” almost like walking onto “holy ground”……. Keep up the good work, my man!

You're such a riot! lol Just wanted to say two things: 1) I think it's great that you are willing to be vulnerable and learn new things on camera. That ends up helping yourself and your viewers. I hope you keep it up! ... 2) I picked up a habit from you and wanted to laugh towards the end (where you hold the knife out to be sure which side is bowed) thank you!

I enjoy all your content. Maybe you could do a weekly segment like “Ben Try’s…” and use some new tool you’re not super familiar with. Then people will know what to expect. Maybe a little skate content sometimes too? I’m just an old man who enjoys finishing and learning to skate. Anyways keep up the good work 👍

Agreed. It is helpful to see expertise but it is just as helpful to see process, mistakes, etc. Whenever difficult tasks are edited to look easy, it is discouraging to someone trying to learn the task. We make our first attempt and because it is so far from the edited standard, we think we are terrible at it and may give up.

Been taping for 25 year. Used boxes for maybe 3 years and what I don’t like about them is that they don’t fill bad joints very well. And with todays lumber a lot of joints are bad. So I went back to hand taping and never looked back.

If anyone knows the TV Show "Supernatural". If you close ur eyes, you could totally think Cass is talking. Same voice and same positive energy. Just a little side thought I had when watching. Maybe the voice makes his videos so relaxing to watch. I love them.

Ben, you're getting a first-hand lesson in the wonders of board with high shoulders, Notoriously bad in Lower Mainland. It takes 3 coats to cover, flats with high shoulders from the factory , the 10+12 box won't cover. Either skim final coat by hand or go 8+10+12 boxes.

regardless how you do your videos, I'm remodeling my house by my self and finishing drywall for the first time in my life. Your videos have been the biggest help i have found. Thank you.

Character (including humility) is a significant reason I subscribe to a channel. Competency with content I’m interested in is the other, just pro level not the GOAT. Thanks for your contribution. And kudos to you cameraman who helps you communicate so well.

Hey Ben, I'm a fully qualified KZfaq trained plasterer. 🤪 My opinion of you trying out these different things all to do with the different facets of plastering is great. We can all learn together. So thanks for sharing the video, ✌️ Peace from Melbourne Australia.

I just watch dads who post home improvement and DIY content so I can pick up ideas and tricks. I’m working on a home I just bought that was totally rotten and we had to tear everything down to the studs. Been watching your drywall videos because I’m gonna do all the drywall myself. I’ve done it many times before but always good to find new tricks.

Your vids helped me heaps with lining my entire shack solo. Thanks!

To be fair, there are a lot of "expert" youtubers putting out videos with dangerous electrical work, improper deck construction, etc. Nobody is out there auditing these videos and hopefully a DIYer skims the comments before following the instructions. For drywall, nobody is going to die and the house won't burn down. At worst the mud looks ugly and the DIYer can cover it up with Knockdown/Orange peel texture.

I think I joined the VC crowd back in the Covid boom you mentioned before, but I think I like this content more. I've learned a ton from your instructional videos, but I'm now content to listen to you ramble whatever you'e thinking. I'm a painter and I let my mind wander any where it would go, so it's cool to hear your thoughts in freeform. Plus it's just good to see you enjoying your time doing your craft instead of appeasing others. People can go watch your existing content if they want to know basically anything about the topic to get started.

Love your videos! I agree with your base sentiment; KZfaq should be somewhere that fosters growth. For me, I’ve learnt a ton, equally watching experiments and boring standards… I know watching experiments means I can glean recommendations from mistakes. Keep it up man, you 100% can learn on camera. Maybe folks complain but that’s just the mask of anonymity people hide behind

There's two major aspects for content creators. One is the content, second is how entertaining he/she is in representing it. When content involves a skill it's heavily reliant on the skill level of the creator. Ben, you're damn good at what you do and your random babble though out is entertaining. What makes creators fail is repetition. Most are going to find it boring and if he/she doesn't step out of the box once in a while they will fail. Lastly, clickbait. That channel is bound to fail and is something you've never done. You're straight forward with what you do therefore keep following your instinct and you'll be fine.

You are very talented my Friend! I hope your talents bring your family happiness and prosperity. You deserve the best for helping us grow with you! Thank you for sharing your gifts!

Ben, what you are struggling with is not just KZfaq, but with purported experts everywhere generally. You, being a person who wants to learn and grow, are not someone who claims to be confident in all aspects of what you want to talk about. But a lot of other content creators stake their livelihood on their ability to sound confident about all things, even when they are 100% wrong. This is literally the basis of modern information media - how loud and proud can you be to bring in views. But for those of us discerning types who can see through the bullshit, you are one of the go to guys. Most people like me want to see informational content that includes the experience of mistakes, second guessing, and hard fought knowledge. You are our lifeline in a sea of overproduced, over sponsored, boilerplate garbage clickbait. Keep telling it like it is - this is a great format of professional tips and life lessons. We will continue to support you because you stay true to yourself. It is a very rare thing.

I started in construction right out of high school 50 years ago. Mostly just do handy man work and maintenance work now. I saw on a jobsite some drywall guys taping the corners with a tool that mudded and taped in one sweep! They did a 16' top corner of a room in 30 seconds. I was floored. It was the the coolest thing I have seen in a while.

I just wanna thank you, I’m bc boy now living flat land of Canada, we couldn’t afford a decent home so bought a fixer upper, basement had previously flooded and swelled entire main level, caused stress cracks all over the upstairs walls( bi level) the stairs leading upstairs were something else lol, spent a year rebuilding the house this got us in a better financial position, watching your videos literally trained me lol walls are now beautiful and crazy enough no cracking has come back, you have helped my family more than you can imagine, and my wife thinks I know what I’m doing 😂 which I humbly say I do not, anyway happy Canada Day 🇨🇦 may your family be blessed

Your videos are always the best Ben…if you never make a mistake…how will you ever learn to do it right. Never give up…your subscribers are behind you 100%. Thank you for sharing. Have a great day.

I love watching anyone learn. It allows me to see what to expect as a newbie! 🤓

I'm really looking forward to the follow up video where you show us what you learn from all the helpful comments on this one.

Humble and Kind Ben, love it.

I want to share a similar experimental phenomenon in education. This experiment was done within the last couple decades on physics students. You take a class and randomize it into 2 groups. The first group get hour-long lectures where the instructor clearly and concisely presents the concepts and does several example prpblems while explaining the correct way to do things. The second group get hour-long classes where the instructor presents the concepts, does 1 or 2 examples **with mistakes**, has a dialogue asking students how to correct the mistakes, and then the students do an example in small groups. On average, the students in the first class say they like the class more, understand more, have a more competent instructor, and are more confident and less confused than students in the second class. BUT THEY DO WORSE ON THE TESTS! Who knows how widely this generalizes. But I think it could explain some pushback from viewers when you are trying things, making mistakes, fixing it, etc. But in at least one context, the data suggest that you learn more that way than from an expert who always gets things right.

I hear you on the expert thing. I watch your videos because I am an owner builder and am making sure what to expect from my build and subs. I appreciate your content and have learned alot from you. Thanks

Another fine lesson. As a DIY person, I live, and have lived through all this learning myself. 🙂

Who knows everything all I know is ur videos have helped me and I have fixed drywall with your tips!

I would much rather watch an everyman video like yours. Admission of mistakes and how to correct them is much more informative to me as a visual learner. I really enjoy your stuff and actually drywalled and mudded my wifes yoga studio all by myself with your help of course......lol Thanks Man

I've learned a lot from you. Thank you VC. I really don't care what other people think, say or do. I know it must be unbelievable what some people say to you. Expertise is self evident, you can't fake it. I know some stuff you don't, you know some stuff I don't, but that is not the point and it's not why I started watching your channel. Why would I want to criticize or confront you when I came here to learn? I honor what you do. - even if you're hopeless with a box ! haha. Like I'd know...

Enjoyed you going flat out on this video while not boxing yourself in. Nothing like having fun while you get the job done.

Some KZfaqrs put their mistakes into an outtakes or blooper segment at the end. But in a skills channel like yours, please keep us with you as you try to skate up the learning curve.

I have never seen this contraption. Lol thank you

This mud spreader box looks very useful for someone who does large areas and has another guy following him with a tape.

I love your honesty & frankness 🤗

I for one am enjoying watching your existential crisis about youtube. Mostly cuz you seem to already have the mental and emotional resources to come out the other side in a good place. :). Thanks!

Your videos are very helpful and informative to me. Thank you.

"Loose mud." LOL. Thanks, I needed that today.

Ben if you're having trouble with your empty pump priming with mud, like at the beginning. Put it in your water bucket put your hand over the nozzle and pump water into it. Then move it to your mud bucket. Way faster and easier than opening it and shoving mud inside.

You may not consider yourself ‘expert,’ but your videos enabled this klutz to frame, drywall, tape, and mud a two bedroom, full bath basement that had to be demolished for concrete floor replacement. Indistinguishable from the original ‘professional’ version and in many respects far better.

Great video, love your work!

I didn't bother to read prior comments, so perhaps someone has said something similar already... My take-away (as a practitioner) is that it pays to keep up & level up. I'm in software. I hear a lot of hype around AI, but there still seems to be a lot of value in it as a tool (not a replacement). The way you follow up to clean things up reminds me of where we are, and probably will continue to be whenever new tech comes into play: there will always be a need for an expert to fill in the gaps, literally in your case.

i've seen an Australian crew running these boxes fast, one bloke running the box and another following with a blade. They make that look efficient.

Ben, I love ya man, agree with 96.5 percent of your content. A well tuned box doesn't need to be chased! Kinda defeats the purpose of running a box! I live just south of Seattle, would love to do a video with ya! Started pushing these tools on 6-23-1977!

Great show Handy. My state would burn me at the stake if I go in an electrical panel. HandyOn!

We WANT to see you trying new tools, procedures and techniques. That's why we've been subscribers for years. Do not edit out the mistakes or failures. Any thing that is new or different does require a learning curve and showing that is only being realistic. We keep coming back because we feel you're an honest straight shooter. And your personality. If you want to showcase talents other than just dry walling, go for it. Afterall you're the Vancouver "Carpenter ". I've seen you paint and do trim work and other things. As a carpenter, you should showcase all of your abilities.

Keep up the good work, lots of know it all's out there, and they need their own channel!

It's nice to learn along side you, even if you don't know it! There's some KZfaqrs in the renovision space that do dumb and dangerous things confidently. 🤷‍♂️

What’s the best way to patch wall anchor holes? I removed some wire closet shelving and I have a LOT of anchor holes.

Right on with showing the learning!

Failure has a great scientific value. I hate those videos where someone who has been using a tool for 10 years makes it look very easy, but then it's completely different when I try it. Such videos are of limited value to ME, because I'm a DIY and do it twice in a lifetime :-)

Unfortunately it's a 2-way street. There are a lot of people without ethics, or awareness, who will willingly call themselves "professionals", when I, as a DIY-er, can get better results, and put more care into the work I'm spending thousands of dollars on. I'm not going to pay some guy a higher hourly rate than I make, to take my money & half-effort my home. My options I guess are: -read a forum. Easy repository of info. A mix of good/bad. At least it gets peer-reviewed. Or wherever people are talking about high-end technique & results -look for youtube videos. A mix of good/bad. -talk to some random guy at a big box store? -hopefully hire a passionate old-timer, or guy, to help me do it myself/teach me I like learning skills, controlling the materials/tools/labor, and keeping money out of the hands of charlatans Thanks for sharing knowledge, and helping establish some semblance of a baseline. Shoutouts to the guys with high integrity, trying to stretch customer's dollars. May we all find one another

Love your integrity. Keep up the videos

Your 12 in float knife is the best one and hardest one to find. I havent been able to find one in stainless like that.

We have a huge paint supply here, and they provide classes for spray rigs every so often. How cool would be if the mud tool company would do a few of those where you're at?

I would much rather watch you, admitting that there is always more to know, and when you are out of your depth, than any know-it-all. If you are wrong about something, it’s okay, because I wasn’t expecting you to know everything. When KZfaqrs who position themselves as a “this is how you should do it” type are wrong about something, it inevitably disappoints the viewer because they acted like they knew everything, and then proved themselves wrong. Then they feel like they have to double down. I feel like I’m just repeating what you said, but what I mean is that I get what you’re saying! I appreciate you!

I'm sure you have video on this, but I have nails popping near the edges of my ceiling and wall. Also, whoever taped my house in 2001, has left a void in where the ceiling and wall meet. If not careful it rips. Any fix for this?

If I was just learning flat box work I would have the problems you are having and you show us how to deal with those problems without becoming discouraged. That is worth watching. The infallible expert is a myth. Everybody makes mistakes and everybody should be learning new stuff all the time.

Hey Ben, Great video. How about a vieo on round corners and knockoff sprayed walls like Florida? Maybe have a guest tradesman that does it?

Gratefulness!!

Sure your loyal base fans understand. I’d rather someone be honest and tell me they are learning than someone telling me they’re an expert and doing it totally wrong.

Ben you are an expert because you own a Mud Box. you know more about them than I do as you own one and have used it ! If they dont like it then tough there loss. I stick around and learn stuff.

And that Sir is why you are a regular Bob Ross.

REALLY like your videos!

Would love to see you branch out into random jobs like tiling, plumbing, or some random other work. I feel like you can get a good enough understanding of a task to do it proficiently which would replicate how a homeowner would try to DIY something. That's basically my approach to any projects since I've never been handy and learn as I go. Watching your videos helped me build a laundry room in the garage and completely insulate and finish the whole garage on top of that. #v(|< the haters.

Great stuff. You have to keep learning or life gets really boring! Cheers

Any chance you have access to a repair job that has veneer plaster over the 2'x4' (??) gypsum substrate? I've got a house full of it to fix in a couple months... 65 years old and has cracks between panels in the fields and corners. I'm thinking of opening up the cracks with a knife, hot mud to fill, and Fibafuse with all purpose over top. Be interested in seeing how you'd attack it. It's a beautiful and well maintained house except for that!

I'm doing well. I enjoyed this episode of "internet expert."

Enjoyed the video!😊

Totally agree with you. I’ve watched your videos and gained a lot of info on drywalling. I am by no means a pro at anything but descent all around. Was a painter for ten yrs so have a lot of knowledge there, seen some “pro painters” on KZfaq giving the worst advice. You have been spot on so mad respect for you there. It’s only perfect in your own eyes.