As with Painting, it is necessary to have the proper tools to complete any kind of drywall work. Whether the project is large or small, the basic tools remain the same.

The following is a list of tools and how they are used.

Mud Pan- The mud pan allows you to hold joint compound in, and work out of when you are patching or finishing drywall. These pans come in both plastic and metal and the cost depends on the brand and material used to make.

If you are only planning on using the tools once or twice, I would suggest buying plastic. They are usually cheaper and clean up very easily. I have a plastic one that I have had for almost three years. I do not use it all of the time but it has held up very well.

Knife Set- The knife set is where you want to spend the most money. It is very important that you have a quality set of stainless steel drywall knives. Having the right knives can make your project easier or harder. You want to make sure that the knives that you are purchasing are not bent or have any flaws on the metal. The knives should, however, be slightly bowed.

The purpose of the knives are to smooth out the drywall compound so that is why it is necessary for them to be flawless. I would suggest purchasing a 5" or 6" knife, an 8" knife, a 10", and a 12" knife. These sizes are most commonly used so should be sufficient for just about any project. You may also want to consider purchasing a smaller knife depending on your particular project. Sometimes there are those tight, hard to get to areas where a 1" or 2" knife comes in handy. The 5" and/or the 6" knife are used in the initial taping of the joints and to fill the screws. The larger knives are used to feather out the compound in order to create a smooth surface. The knives are used in a successive order from smallest to largest in order to feather our the area.

Drywall Tape- There are a couple of different options when it comes to joint tape. You can either buy a paper tape or a mesh tape. A lot of people use the mesh tape and like it. In my opinion, the paper tape is easier to work with. The mesh tape folds and creases and can be difficult to straighten out. The paper tape does fold on occasion but is easier to straighten out. Either one (paper or mesh) will do the job. It's all about personal preference.

Mixing Tools- It is very helpful to have mixing tools, especially in larger projects where large amount of drywall compound are going to be used. Trying to mix the compound and water by hand and achieve the proper consistency can be very strenuous over time. The mixing tools consist of a drill and a mixing paddle. The drill should ideally have two handles. Both the drill and paddle can normally be found in either the painting section of a hardware store or by the sheet rock. They can be costly, so you can rent them if you only plan on using them one time. You may also want to ask around to see if anyone you know has these tools. Trust me, it will make your life a lot easier having these tools.

Banjo- I am not talking about the guitar-like instrument. The banjo is a tool that holds the tape and compound all in one. It makes it a lot easier and faster to apply the tape to the joints using a banjo. It combines two steps into one. It is not a necessity, but very helpful for larger projects. Again, the banjo can be pricey. They usually run around $100 dollars, but it is well worth the cost. Other tape applying tools costs thousands of dollars so it is a good alternative. It takes a little practice to learn how to effectively use a banjo so do not get discouraged. Most of the problems are do to having the wrong compound consistency. Once you get that figured out, you should be good to go. I am not going to get into the more high tech taping tools because they can be very complex and are only useful to professional drywall finishers. The banjo should be sufficient for your project.

Sanding Tools- Sanding is a major element involved in properly finishing drywall. Unless you are only patching a small area, I recommend purchasing a sand pole. Having it will make the job a lot easier than if you try and do all sanding by hand. Even though the pole makes it easier, sanding is by no means fun. In fact, it is probably the most difficult part of the job. For this reason, having any tools that help should be welcomed. Not only is sanding the hardest part, it is also the dirtiest part. When sanding, you want to make sure that you where a mask or respirator to keep particles out of your lungs. You also want to make sure that all surrounding areas are sealed off with tarps or some sort of visqueen. Expect to have dust in unwanted areas despite sealing off the room. The idea is to minimize the amount of dust, not eliminate it all together. I have tried multiple ways to seal off rooms, and somehow it escapes into unwanted areas. In some cases, a wet sponge can be used as an alternative to sanding. This is usually only an option when the job is small (i.e., small patch/repair). If using a sponge, be careful not to apply too much pressure. Getting the compound wet makes it easier to damage. For this reason, I suggest using sand paper if you have not done it before.

There are, of course, many other drywall tools out there, but these should suffice for most novice drywall finishers. I usually only do minor drywall work and have found these tools to be the most helpful.