TapeBuddy Drywall Taping Tool

I’m not gonna lie. I was a little bit skeptical first but this is actually an amazing product. It makes taping drywall at least 50% faster. It makes doing the corners easier, but it really shines on doing seams. I wish I’d known about this product sooner. I like that you have two choices on the amount of compound that you want on the tape. I started with a heavier amount, but it does such a good job. I was able to switch over to the lighter amount and get just as high-quality coverage.

I am not a professional drywall mud person but have taped and floated a lot of drywall. I am someone who doesn't have the money to pay a crew to tape the drywall seams in the home I am now building. That puts me in a position of attempting to find a solution that will speed up the process. Drywall mudding is not a skill that everyone can learn. There is an art to finishing the mud to where the blend with the sheetrock is acceptable. That alone is a task that takes skill. If you have no knowledge of how to hang sheetrock correctly to avoid butt joints learn how to hang sheetrock correctly or you will be setting yourself up to end up laying in a spilled bucket of mud on a cold concrete floor throwing rolls of tape at the joints that you cannot blend, ever! This TapeBuddy is an aid to one step of the drywall mud process: applying the tape. That's it. The TapeBuddy advertises this tool for the DIY person who wants to simplify taping. That is exactly what the tool does if used correctly. READ THE DIRECTIONS AND PLACE THE GREEN TAB WHERE INDICATED IN ORDER TO HAVE THINNER OR THICKER MUD APPLIED TO THE TAPE! According to many reviews the user had no clue that their failure in using the tool began with not placing the tab in the slot and regulating the thickness of the mud. If you are working alone the length of the tape you can apply is going to be shorter than if working in pairs. The mud makes the tape heavy so if you try to tape a long piece by yourself one end isn't going to cooperate with the other. If two people are working the tape each can take an end after cutting and apply the longer section together and this speeds up the taping process immensely. Thin your mud to the correct consistency, pull the tape through the mud slowly and apply the tape to the seam. Adjust the tab for the degree of thickness you prefer the mud to be. You won't know this immediately. Do some test runs with the tape and mud on the sheetrock and see what works best for your needs. The TapeBuddy is a very helpful, sensible tool to use for taping drywall for the DIY person. I highly recommend the purchase. Take your time and practice. When you feel confident enough to apply the tape to your seam you can use your knife to eliminate any flaws while the tape is wet and workable. The TapeBuddy IS NOT an instant coffee tool where you mix water and mud and get a cup of perfectly taped seams. To be successful you will have to practice and learn some of the art of taping drywall. If you aren't willing to take the time to refine your skill enough for the tape to be applied correctly and STAY on the seam, save yourself some trouble and hire someone to do the job. Patience turns a job into a skill. If you have the potential to learn the skill of taping drywall order the TapeBuddy to help speed up the process. Highly Recommended Tool!!

So, after using it to tape one room. Like you homeowner that has to do drywall every now and then, and usually hates the job, but have gotten better at it over the years. Probably best to watch the utube videos, but here is my summary as a homeowner. So you definetly need to thin the mud, you also need to pull down on the tape as you pull it out. I worked by myself and especially on the ceilings I could only work with about 4 ft strips at a time. I use the more mud option. Yes it worked as designed. and would recommend it. One note, after applying the tape in the factory joint, as long as you are there (especially on a ceiling) use your 6" knife to put another coat over it. On the first pass the tape gets imbedded just right but the joint requires a lot more mud on top it, so do it while you're there, it will say you an extra up and down.

For a low cost solution, this works really well. The indentations on the bottom allow for setting the unit on top of a 5 gallon pail top. You do need to thin USG drywall compound per the Tape Buddy instructions. Very easy to use and clean up.

This thing is a real game changer for the do-it-yourselfer. It makes taping so much easier than putting mud on the wall or ceiling and then trying to get your tape to lay properly. Using this the mud is on the tape and any part of the tape that you place on the drywall seems to stay put, even overhead, so you can move over and work the next section of it. I was able to tape long runs of ceiling without any problems. If you're new to drywall projects and want to make life easier, I recommend giving this a try. It sped up my job immensely!

I returned this because the hopper is quite small and it didn't appear the value was right for the item either.

The TapeBuddy Drywall Tape Dispenser by Buddy Tools is a game-changer for anyone tackling a drywall project. This innovative tool has completely transformed the way I approach taping joints, making the process efficient, clean, and surprisingly enjoyable. One of the most significant advantages of the TapeBuddy is its ability to keep your hands virtually mess-free. While you'll inevitably get a bit dirty, the precision application of joint compound directly onto the tape minimizes the mess on your hands and surrounding surfaces. This feature alone saves you time and frustration, as you won't have to constantly wash up or clean tools. The ease of use is another standout feature. The TapeBuddy's design allows you to effortlessly load the tape and adjust the amount of compound dispensed. With a simple pull, you can apply perfectly measured strips of tape, ensuring a professional finish. The tool's sturdy construction and ergonomic handle make it comfortable to use for extended periods, reducing hand fatigue.

I've always taped with just a knife and mud, and figured I'd give this a go. The cleanup of auto taping tools hasn't been my jam, especially with hot mud, so they never really felt worth the mess, but this sure solved all my qualms with no downsides. It's easy to setup, quick to clean up, I can tape with durabond all day and have no issues.