Skimming Blade

A few weeks ago, our 1980 Southern California slab-floor house with copper plumbing sprang a leak for the fourth time since we bought it in 1998. This was the second time the hot water had leaked under the slab, not in the walls, once again putting our expensive flooring and cabinets at risk.We hired professionals to close off all the copper pipes and replace them with modern, expansion-type PEX routed through the attic and walls. Since this is a single-story, four-bedroom, 2½-bath house, they had to cut lots of holes—over 35—through the interior walls ("drywall" over 2x4 studs, typical of California tract homes).I'm a retired EE with a knack for fixing just about anything and a garage full of tools to prove it. The plumbing job was hard on my budget, so my wife suggested, "Let's DIY the walls and save a lot of money. We're not in a hurry."So, we decided to patch the holes with matching pieces of drywall, cover them with 38"-wide fiberglass drywall mesh, and have me "skim coat" everything. (I did this successfully in the kitchen four years ago when I replaced all the cabinets and countertops, and everyone compliments the work when they visit.) Back then, I didn’t even know skim-coating blades existed. I did it all with 14" putty knives—and way too much sanding!One reviewer claimed his set broke easily, but his photo showed what looked like a plastic end-piece for the pole. The set I received has cast metal end threads on the pole, not plastic, and the pole itself feels sturdy and easy to adjust. As a retired engineer, I’m not worried. (See photo.)I'm especially pleased to have three different blade widths. The edges came protected with sturdy, reusable covers. (See photo.)I’m no expert with plastering tools like this, so I can't judge whether the blades have the "right" flexibility. Mine measure 0.33 mm (0.013 inches) thick, according to my Mitutoyo digital calipers. All I know is that I'll be at least five times faster with these than I would be using putty knives.I’ll only use them once, but I highly recommend them!

This skimming blade set works great for drywall jobs. The blades are sturdy and the adjustable handle makes it easy to reach ceilings and high walls. Leaves a smooth finish with less effort.

For someone who is terrible at drywall,Thank you.

Good, not great... for the price, unbeatable

Wish I would have had this 15yrs ago!! Awesome product!

Not as good as other products I've use. Returned it.

Leaves a nice smooth joint. Easy to clean, fairly light weight, and good material.

Amazing for skim coating large area