Lydia Crowder, professional Drywall finisher, walks through the hand tools she brings to a drywall job and explains why quality matters more than people assume. She favors blue steel for her larger taping knives because it’s easier to flex and shape, though it needs some rust upkeep, while stainless works for others. Lydia checks blade straightness and handle comfort before buying, and wears snug mechanics gloves for better grip. For mudding, she prefers a smooth, seamless pan with a curved bottom over square-edged ones that can nick blades. She also covers skimming blades, which she uses for final passes on butt joints and uneven areas, and notes that replaceable blades vary by brand.

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