Okay folks, 2015 almost 2016 here. Modern day drywall tapes have flooded the market but the two most common are paper and fiberglass, at least around here. As a novice drywaller, I have worked with both and can say that the fiberglass tape is easier for me to work with since I can put it on, and begin mudding. I can also mud in thinner coats which means it drys faster, but it also requires hot mud...or the powder mud that mixes with water. This mud apparently dries harder and stronger. I can tell it is harder to sand so I would agree. I have not seen the fiberglass in a wall long term, but only read critical reviews saying it cracked. Paper tape seems to be much more difficult to work with until I get the hang of it, and by then it's about time to call it a day! :wall: I know beveled joints are supposed to be a breeze, but I find it difficult to put enough mud in the bevel for the tape to rest in but also allow mud to 'squeeze out' from behind it. This is much easier on the butt joints because there is no 'hole' for the tape to hide inside of. The beveled joints also result in being the full thickness of the beveled which I am guessing is about 1/4" or so at the seams. Should I stick to what I know is easier to work with, or try to perfect the tried and true paper tape?

I have a wall where I'd like to add a TV mount. However, the center area that the TV should be mounted doesn't have a stud. But, there are two studs, one each to the left and right sides of the center. Would it be "ok" to drill and attach a horizontal [U]exterior[/U] "stud" or hard wood to each of the two side studs? I know that there are different types of wall mounts that are wide enough to be placed on the studs the way they are now. If I wanted to though, could I use one tall or two exterior beams to mount the TV to? Here's a crude drawing of what I mean (the red indicates the exterior visible horizontal beam located outside of the drywall which I'll probably paint to match the wall - there can be two of these for the top and bottom of the mount; the brown indicates the wood studs to the two sides behind the drywall; the two red dots indicate where I plan on adding wood anchors on the studs and long screws; the wall is about 3-3.5 feet wide): [IMG]http://i1228.photobucket.com/albums/ee451/kovacs22/Stud%20placement_zpskv5z6chb.png[/IMG] Should I not bother with it and get the right TV mount (I really like the quality of the one I'm looking at, as I have that installed for a different TV)? Does this setup make it inherently weaker than to connect the wall mount directly to the wall? Thanks in advance!