How do I use a banjo to apply drywall tape?
Drywall taping can be a painstaking job, and you can lose a lot of mud to drips when you do it by hand. A drywall banjo is a tool that automates taping somewhat, and if used correctly, it gives a clean job in less time with less wastage. You can use a banjo for flat seams, but not for inside corners, and you have to thin the mud somewhat so that it will flow smoothly onto the wall.Preparing the BanjoOpen a box of drywall joint compound (mud) and transfer part of it to a 5-gallon bucket for thinning. Save the other part for top-coating the seams after the first coat has dried. Add water to the bucket until the mud becomes a little soupy. It may take up to 4 cups of water for this. Don’t make the mud too thin, or it will run ineffectively out of the banjo onto the floor, but don’t make it too thick either, or it won’t come out of the banjo at all. When the mud appears to be of a proper consistency, pour some into the banjo and load on a roll of paper drywall tape. Pull a little tape out
