The Most Versatile Tool
As you peruse the numerous aisles at your local Lowe’s or Home Depot, you are probably amazed and delighted by the plethora of power tools and handy gadgets. The cost of some of these magnificent tools and machines are rather costly. Certainly, the higher priced tools are well worth the money, but is there any item that is inexpensive yet versatile?
If you are able to get past the plethora of power and rummage through to the hand tools, you just might find some terrific tools that are perfect for your upcoming remodeling project.
Let us explore the wonders of a putty knife. Most passers-by overlook this item altogether unless they are planning a specific drywall project. A putty knife is very useful and handy when spackling your new drywall or repairing existing drywall surfaces. Are there any other handy ways to use a putty knife?
Recently, my family remodeled a home that was over a century old. During the remodeling process, the putty knife saved the day on several occasions.
No one in the family is a professional carpenter, but like many others, we enjoy the excitement of a fun do-it-yourself project. Of course, the putty knife was terrific for scraping the remnants of wallpaper adhesive from the walls. If you are faced with a textured surface, try using your putty knife.
The home we remodeled had a section of textured walls that was about two feet wide throughout the kitchen. To remove the textured appearance, we tried sanding the portion of the walls down, until it was smooth and flush. This process was time consuming and not creating the desired result. By using the putty knife, we were able to remove the layer of textured mud much more effectively.
Choosing the right putty knife is simple. Make certain you select one with a comfortable handle. We chose a Hyde putty knife. The handle is slightly curved to fit the contour of your hand. Consider selecting purchasing a putty knife with a soft cushioned handle. The padding may seem fancy and unnecessary, but you will appreciate the added comfort after hours of use. This feature is most certainly worth the extra cost.
While installing paneling, the putty knife saved the day! The thin plastic strips that go in between two sections of paneling can be very difficult to work with. In the bathroom, we discovered that using a putty knife was beneficial when installing paneling. As you begin to place the piece of paneling into the plastic track, slide the edge of your Hyde tool between the paneling and the plastic strip. The thin edge of the knife provides just enough space to ease your paneling into place. Using this trick helped us to save quite a bit of time on the job at hand.
A large putty knife makes a terrific edger for your do-it-yourself painter. Textured ceilings present quite a challenge to tape off. Use blue painter’s tape around baseboards, light switch plates, and even outlet covers, but this fabulous product does not stick well to lumpy surfaces. In order to paint the drywall or paneling nearest the textured ceiling, place the blade of your putty knife at the top edge of the wall where it meets the ceiling. If you happen to get too close to the ceiling with your roller or brush, you will get a dab of paint on your putty knife instead of the ceiling. The metal blade of the knife is much easier to wipe off and clean than the ceiling.
The putty knife may seem so simplistic, but in reality, it is a multi-functional tool. Be certain to pick one up the next time you are at Lowe’s or Home Depot.
