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Tape keeps bubbling on my butt joints - what am I missing?
I’ve been hanging drywall for 5 years now. Butta joints always trip me up. Last week on a job in Cleveland, I did 3 sheets in a hallway. Every single tape seam bubbled overnight. I use all-purpose mud, press it down firm with a 6-inch knife. Still happens. I’ve watched guys on site who just flick their wrist and it lays flat. What’s the trick? Do you pre-wet the tape? Or am I using too much mud under it? My foreman just shrugs. Anyone else deal with this?
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mason_ward20d ago
Pre-wetting the tape, huh? You ever try that or are you just passing along what your buddy said? In my experience, pre-wetting can help but it's not a magic fix. Your real problem is probably too much mud under the tape. You want just enough to bond it, not so much it pools up and dries uneven overnight. I messed around with that for years until I realized I was basically drowning the tape. Try backing off on the mud and see if that stops the bubbles. Your mileage may vary though.
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