As an avid DIY, I have occasion to repair or touch up finished ceilings during home remodeling pr...As an avid DIY, I have occasion to repair or touch up finished ceilings during home remodeling projects. I’ve tried many techniques to approach the kind of finish the pro’s achieve with modest success. Recently I used this knockdown knife in lieu of a wide drywall knife to apply joint compound to a ceiling repair. Despite the poor stippling effect of other equipment that I also used in the process, I thought that the knife worked well to flatten the texture, and the 24” width helped to hide creases that would be caused by multiple passes of a shorter knife.
It is lightweight and easy to handle when standing on a ladder or scaffold. It has a plastic handle that is easily gripped even with wet hands (see picture). Its narrow blade depth suggests it is best used for knockdown of a stippled ceiling, rather than the application of large amounts of compound to the ceiling. I applied the compound using drywall knives, then used texture brushes to create a stipple and finished by running this blade near the ceiling to “knock down” the stipple. I admit that it’s a difficult technique for many DIY’s to master, but this tool is capable if you are.
The tool requires simple assembly using two small screws and wing-nuts (see picture) that are supplied. , It is easily disassembled again for compact storage. When properly assembled, the grooves on the handle will face away from the knife – in fact, the fasteners are designed of a length so that it is difficult to assemble the handle if it is facing inside-out (see picture).
It cleans easily, and spreads a smooth, flatly surfaced compound. Nice tool. I would recommend it to others.
by JAY