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A drywall knife is an essential part of any drywall professional's toolkit. Drywall knives are used for a variety of tasks, including applying drywall compound, finishing, and laying tape. Most projects would simply not be possible without a drywall knife.
There are a few different types of drywall knives available on the market, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
The most important factor to consider when choosing a drywall knife is the blade size. Blade size is determined by the thickness of the drywall installed and the type of project that you will be working on. The standard drywall knife has a blade size of six inches, but blade sizes can range from four to twelve inches.
In addition to blade size, drywall knives also vary in handle type. Some drywall knives have wood handles, while others have plastic or metal handles. The type of handle you choose is largely a matter of personal preference. However, metal and plastic handles are generally more durable than wood handles and will last longer with heavy use.
Best X-Large Taping Knife
DEWALT 16" Big Back Taping Knife
- Premium quality blade with perfect, precise flex.
- “Big Back" anodized backplate and larger blade to hold more compound
- High-grade stainless steel protects your blades from rust and corrosion.
- Comfortable, full soft grip handle with a glass-reinforced nylon core. Anti-slip. Impact and solvent resistant.
- Handle double riveted to the blade plate with stainless steel rivets.
Rigid anodized backplate that is wider and thicker than competitive models.
- Alloy metal hammer end for resetting drywall nails. Also adds blade protection when dropped.
- Easy-peel label.
- Premium stainless steel blade for corrosion resistance and perfect, precise flex.
- “Big Back" rigid anodized backplate plus a larger blade to hold more compound
- Lightweight, double-riveted soft-grip handle ergonomically designed for all-day use.
- Alloy metal hammer end for resetting nails and improved drop protection.
Best Large Taping Knife
DEWALT 12" Taping Knife
Premium quality blade with perfect, precise flex.
- High-grade stainless steel protects your blades from rust and corrosion.
- Comfortable, full soft grip handle with a glass-reinforced nylon core. Anti-slip. Impact and solvent resistant.
- Handle double riveted to the blade plate with stainless steel rivets.
- Rigid anodized backplate that is wider and thicker than competitive models.
- Alloy metal hammer end for resetting drywall nails. Also adds blade protection when dropped.
- Easy-peel label.
- Premium stainless steel blade for corrosion resistance and perfect, precise flex.
- Rigid anodized backplate that is wider/thicker than many competitive models
- Lightweight, double-riveted soft-grip handle ergonomically designed for all-day use.
- Alloy metal hammer end for resetting nails and improved drop protection.
Best Budget Taping Knife
Warner 12" ProGrip Stainless Steel Drywall Taping Knife
Introducing Warner Tool Products a family-owned company – 85th Anniversary in 2012, (Est. 1927). Research Driven Innovation: Pioneered the Soft Grip Putty Knife Handle in 1992, (ProGrip), Originated the color coding of Putty Knife handles to identify the flexibility of the blade. (Patented), Developed Dura Cap TM – more comfortable lightweight hammerhead, Developed Dura Cap TM – more comfortable lightweight hammerhead. Warner greatly improves the Paint Tool Shopper Experience: Job Specific labels that aid the consumer with knife selection. The product sells itself! Warner means Quality and Value: For 90 years, Professionals and Consumers have trusted the Warner name for quality products that perform. Warner is an Industry Leader in Product Design & Innovation: ProGrip Putty Knives with color coding flexibility, Carbide Paint Scrapers, Soft Grip Taping Knives, Drywall Stilts & Benches.
- 12" Painter's Taping Knife SS
- We call it the Warner Way. We’re SMARTER, STRONGER, AND BETTER at making tools and giving our customers the support they need to be successful.
- Our tools are made to last by a skilled team of hard-working men and women who take pride in building quality into every product
Best Drywall Tools Kit
Goldblatt 5-Piece Stainless Steel Taping Knives, Soft Grip Handle with Hammer End, Includes- 6'', 8'', 10'', 12'', 14''
All the blades are designed to combine rigidity and flexibility. Premium stainless steel provides maximum strength. Features a Big-Back anodized backplate to hold more mud.
Handles are made of premium durable PP+TPR material for long-term use, ergonomically designed for all-day use with minimal fatigue, and provided with a soft and comfortable grip.
Precision Ground Blade Edge helps scraper cracks easily. Precise flex for a better finish and faster application rates. Rigid back plates are wider and thicker than most competitive models.
- 5 Pieces taping knives set includes 6’’, 8’’, 10’’, 12’’, 14’’ different sizes, meet your different using requirements, will make your lives on the drywall job easier, more efficient, and more profitable
- Blades are made of high-quality stainless steel with a mirror polish finish, which is better than blue steel in corrosion resistance. Precise flex for a better finish and faster application rates. Rigid back plates are wider and thicker than most competitive models.
- Lightweight full soft comfort grip handle ergonomically designed for all-day use with minimal fatigue. All the handles are strongly riveted to blades by stainless steel rivet for long-term use.
- Designed with alloy hammer end for resetting drywall nails. Impact and solvent resistant. Also adds blade protection when dropped. Large hang hole easy for storage.
Best Medium Taping Knife
LEVEL5 6" Soft-Grip Stainless Steel Drywall Joint Knife
A joint knife (or “putty knife”) can be found in the back pocket of most drywall finishers. These versatile tools are used for setting & cutting drywall tape, applying joint compound and other filler materials, cleaning up drywall edges, scraping paint & residue, resetting exposed screws, and much more…
LEVEL5 Stainless Steel Joint Knives with Soft Grip Handles are professional grade knives designed for reliable, all-day use on the job site. These knives feature a handle core manufactured of glass-reinforced polypropylene that is then over-molded with a comfortable soft-grip elastomer. The proprietary grip profile was developed through years of finisher feedback to minimize hand fatigue.
- PROFESSIONAL GRADE | Designed and built using nearly 20 years of input from professional finishers. Our tools are meant for reliable, daily use on the job site.
- PREMIUM QUALITY | A precision hollow grind provides a proper flex point midway up the stainless steel blade (versus near the handle). The blade feels nicely “broken-in" from the first moment you use it! This means a better feel for faster application rates, optimum blade control, and smoother finishes. Polished for easy cleanup. Durable metal alloy hammer head for setting drywall nails.
- ERGONOMIC | Lightweight full soft comfort grip handle ergonomically designed for all-day use with minimal fatigue. Glass reinforced nylon core. Impact and solvent resistant.
- BUILT TO LAST | Our tools are built for reliable, daily use on the job site.
Best Drywall Finishing Tools
LEVEL5 Skimming Blade Combo, 24" Blade + 25" - 36" Extension Handle
Available in eight lengths, there’s a LEVEL5 skimming blade for every drywall finishing job:
The 7-inch, 10-inch, or 14-Inch blades are often used for bedding and wiping down drywall tape after the tape has been applied by hand or using an automatic taper or banjo. When finishing butt joints or slightly wider areas, 16-Inch, 24-Inch, or 32-Inch skimming blades are ideal and will get the job faster vs. smaller trowels or finishing knives.
The 40-Inch or 48-Inch skimming blades are perfect for smoothing larger areas. Typical examples would include when you spray or roll on the compound and smooth to a level 5 finish, or when you are covering up textured ceilings and walls.
- GENUINE LEVEL5 ›› If the quality, performance, and reliability of your finishing tools matter, choose LEVEL5 brand tools.
- FEELS LIKE CHEATING ›› Get incredible results with a low learning curve! Skimming blades smooth out drywall mud, plaster, and other compounds with ease. They are game changers!
- FINISH WITH HIGH PRECISION ›› No other skimming blade compares to LEVEL5. The proprietary blade edge enables the mud to roll off with ease. The unique shape of the blade also minimizes or eliminates lap marks when you are smoothing out large areas (see the description below for more details).
- PERFECT RESULTS EVERY TIME ›› Smoothing compound requires finesse. LEVEL5 tools are designed to be rigid but extremely lightweight. Why? So you can obtain an unprecedented “mud feel” for the smoothest finish possible.
- WHAT'S IN THIS TOOLSET ›› This skimming blade toolset has everything you need to start smoothing compounds on walls and ceilings. See the description below for an overview of each tool in the set.
Bates- Paint Scraper, Taping knife, Pack of 2 Putty Knife Scraper
Looking for ONE tool that does the Work of 5?
Then you must have this Bates Paint Scraper 5-in-1 tool in your toolbox. It has multiple uses like a paint scraper, screwdriver, paint can opener, hammer, crown molding remover, putty knife, box opener & more. The soft grip handle is durable and gives you comfort in handling to last a long job. Rust-resistant carbon steel blade for flexibility and hard for durability.
- PROFESSIONAL QUALITY: Paint Scrapers that get the job done with a superior finish. Makes repair and refinishing jobs quick and easy
- ONE TOOL WITH MULTIPLE USES: Tools can be used as a paint scraper, screwdriver, paint can opener, hammer, crown molding remover, putty knife, box opener & more. One scraper blade replaces multiple hand tools in your toolbox.
- STAINLESS STEEL BLADE: Straight-ground blades for flexibility and carbon steel blades, hardened for durability. Rust-resistant steel blade
- COMFORTABLE AND DURABLE: Soft grip designed to last for long jobs without discomfort to your hands
