5 4 3 2 1 0
a
b
c
d
20
Finishing butt joints
You will now use the finishing head to “feather” your butt joints by adding thin
coats of mud on either side of the seams. The goal is to avoid having your
taped seams be noticeably higher than the rest of the wall.
1. Point the MudGun
™
up and remove the front ring and nozzle.
2. Replace the ring with the
T-adapter
and tighten.
(illustration a.
3. Push the T-adapter into the
7-inch finishing head
.
(illustration b)
4. Set the slide adjuster on
1.
(illustration c)
5. Pull the trigger until you see drywall mud emerge from the head.
(illustration d)
6. As you pump mud out for the first time, use your putty knife to spread
it across the full length of the finishing head.
(illustration e)
f
g
21
7. Place the finishing head flat against the wall with the skid pad lined up
with the center of the tape.
(illustration f)
8. Run a thin bead of mud along both sides of all taped joints, leaving a
gutter in the center between them.
(illustration g)
9. If the coating is not smooth, has bubbles, or is wavy and uneven on
the edges, smooth the compound out by making another pass over the
coating using the finishing head without pulling the trigger.
10. Rest the gun in water and let the mud dry for 24 hours. See
compound manufacturer’s instructions.
11. Once dry, set the
slide adjuster
on
0.
(illustration h)
12. Run a bead of mud down the center of each joint.
(illustration i)
13. Let the mud dry, then check the flatness of the taped area using a straight
edge. The flatter it is, the better it will look after painting.
14. Sand with 220-grit sandpaper or sanding sponge to eliminate imperfec-
tions and flatten out the joint as much as possible without exposing the
tape. Prime before painting.
5 4 3 2 1 0
h
i
TIP
We recommend letting the mud dry and removing any imperfections by sanding. You
can, however, use a putty knife to remove excess mud or smooth out ridges before it
dries if necessary.
TIP
Using a dustfree sander will eliminate the mess of sanding.
Visit hydetools.com to learn more.
FINIShING ThE SURFACE
Note: Before beginning this step take a moment to ensure the tape on all joints is completely embedded, and that
there are no bubbles under the tape. Remove any excess dried compound lumps or ridges by lightly scraping with
a joint knife.
e
TIP
Try to avoid marring wet mud on the first side when feathering the opposite side.
