Replies

1. 
   user-221516 | Apr 29, 2005 03:53pm | #1

   Bubbles in drywall tape are most commonly caused by a lack of compound. When applying compound over a joint do not be afraid to apply it rather liberally and when drawing your wide knife over the tape be sure to apply even pressure along the length. Sometimes even the best will squeeze too much out and leave a bubble. When this happens before the compound dries you can lift the edge of the tape at the bubble and put a little compound on the corner of your wide knife and slide the compound up under the tape and then squeeze the excess out and all should be fine. I hope this helps and I hope you can understand my explaination.

   Good Luck

2. 
   WorkshopJon | Apr 29, 2005 05:18pm | #2

   "What is the best way to avoid this?"

   T Bird,

   As the above poster stated:

    "Bubbles in drywall tape are most commonly caused by a lack of compound."

   I presume you are a DIY, so while the pro's make it look easy, it isn't always so. I had the same problem when I first was learning how to tape. Try laying the mud on heavy, scrape off the excess, and "sponge" the top side with a dampened taping sponge.

   ...or you could try self adhesive fiberglass tape, double layered.  It's more expensive, but a sure thing.

   WSJ

1. 
   FastEddie1 | Apr 30, 2005 03:01am | #7

   WSJ - why do you double layer the fiberglass tape?

   I have seen perforated self-stick paper tape ... that migh be a solution.

    I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.

1. 
   WorkshopJon | May 01, 2005 06:52pm | #10

   WSJ - why do you double layer the fiberglass tape?"

   Ed,

   When I've used the stuff as a single layer with conventional taping compound, I've occasionally experienced hairline cracks later on.  Two layers made that not happen.

   Jon

3. 
   DanH | Apr 29, 2005 07:24pm | #3

   A couple of tricks:

   1) Thin the mud a bit, and be sure to "work" it well before using. It's usually too thick and stiff out of the bucket.

   2) Wet the tape. Dip a length in a bucket of water, then squegee it between two fingers before applying over the mud. The pros will scoff at this approach -- it slows you down quite a bit -- but it works well for we folks who haven't quite got the technique down.

   If all else fails, try one of the self-stick tapes. Supposedly they're only supposed to be used with setting-type (dry mix) mud, but I've never had any trouble using them with pre-mixed mud.

1. 
   Gumshoe | Apr 29, 2005 10:47pm | #4

   Yeah, I always got bubbles when I used paper tape, until I started wetting it first. Now its never a problem.

4. 
   DANL | Apr 29, 2005 11:36pm | #5

   I like DanH's advice--I found by trial and error that wetting the paper tape really helped when I used it.

5. 
   JTC1 | Apr 30, 2005 12:27am | #6

   Ditto Strangbean and DanH.  Thin the mud a bit, wet the tape.  Doesn't take much water -- I tear the tape to length and dip it it a bucket -- hold both ends and rock it through, shake off the excess -- works wonders!

6. 
   HeavyDuty | Apr 30, 2005 04:07am | #8

   A taping banjo. Mud is applied to the tape.

   You have to do enough drywall to buy one.

7. 
   Fbart | Apr 30, 2005 06:57am | #9

   If you don't do enough taping to warrant a banjo, try this simple technique.  Cut a slot slightly wider than your tape and about 1/4" tall at the bottom of the narrow sides of an antifreeze container, set container in a corral made of wood scraps on a 2x6. Make a paper roll holdler on one side of the container where the paper can spool off of into the container.  Thread free end of tape throuth bottom of container, and fill container with thinned joint compound.  Pull tape through slots, and it will come out "buttered" on the top side, ready to apply to the wall.  One of my men can pull about 20' of tape this way, hanging it on the fingers of one hand, and keep ahead of me, wiping the tape down.

8. 
   OverKnight | May 01, 2005 10:56pm | #11

   I'm a DIY'er, and when I had bubbles under the tape, I used a small roller to push the bubbles out. I picked up the roller (has a 1.5" diameter X 1" wide plastic roller) on close-out at Lowe's for 0.50. Works well, and it doesn't rip or pull out the wet tape.