How do you clean your knives and mud pan after each use?
#1
Member
Thread Starter
How do you clean your knives and mud pan after each use?
I'm doing a home project that involves taping and mudding. After each use I wipe the knives and mud pan off with paper towels. This is kind of wasteful and the mud pan is never fully clean. Is there a better way to clean these items? Can you use water and flush that down the drain?
Thanks!
Thanks!
#2
Forum Topic Moderator
I always clean up with water, usually a water hose outside. While you might get away with washing the dissolved mud down the drain - it isn't a good idea!! really bad idea if it's a setting compound like Durabond or EasySand!
#3
Group Moderator
I scrape out what I can but then the final cleanup is in the sink with water. Haven't had it clog the drain yet but I'm not doing this often.
#4
I scrape the pan out as clean as possible... and scrape the knives off too.
I wash the pan with a bristle brush but I don't waste my time getting it spotless. It's just going to get dirty again. I also don't usually wash the knives unless the handles got muddy. For the knives I give them a quick sanding with a sanding sponge right before I use them the next time. Washing knives can lead them to rust.
I wash the pan with a bristle brush but I don't waste my time getting it spotless. It's just going to get dirty again. I also don't usually wash the knives unless the handles got muddy. For the knives I give them a quick sanding with a sanding sponge right before I use them the next time. Washing knives can lead them to rust.
#6
Group Moderator
Yeah, as seldom as I use mine, making sure the blades are dry is no big deal. Start using them every day and I probably switch to something like X's process.
#7
Drywall mud dissolves in water so no issue cleaning in a sink, dont try it with plaster of paris, that wont dissolve!
#8
Member
Years ago I upgraded to a Hawk and tape reel and would never go back to a mud pan. The hawk gives you 4 sides to keep your knife clean while working. It is easy to remove 98% of the mud when done. Made out of aluminum it washes up quickly and never rusts. I scrape my knives on the edge of the hawk in preparation for every batch of mud going on the wall. it ensures the knife is clean and I can position the mud where I want it on the knife. I haven't looked but there must be some good videos on using a hawk.
The reel hangs on your side and acts like a third hand. Pull up the end, stretch out the tape along the seam, then hold the knife to act as a cutting blade and tear off the paper. drop the remaining end of the tape and give the reel a quick spin to pick up the slack and go to work setting the tape into the mud.
Bud
The reel hangs on your side and acts like a third hand. Pull up the end, stretch out the tape along the seam, then hold the knife to act as a cutting blade and tear off the paper. drop the remaining end of the tape and give the reel a quick spin to pick up the slack and go to work setting the tape into the mud.
Bud