Basic steps for applying putty with a putty knife

　　I. What are the basic steps for applying putty using a putty knife? Below, a putty knife manufacturer provides an introduction.

　　1. Removing wall paint: You can perform a simple water test to check whether the original coating has adequate adhesion. In most cases, after inspection, there’s only one word for it—scrape it off!

　　2. Apply one coat of 801 adhesive to seal the wall: This step is designed to strengthen the bond between the putty and the wall surface. For older homes, you can apply a bonding agent to further enhance adhesion and ensure greater reliability.

　　3. For interior corners, snap chalk lines on both sides—make sure to check for vertical alignment. For exterior corners, simply use a straightedge for guidance. Apply a plaster putty mixture made by combining gypsum powder with 801 adhesive, ensuring everything is perfectly aligned. In most cases, installing decorative plaster moldings is not recommended.

　　4. Wall leveling: First, check the wall for "hollow spots" (you can tap it and listen for a distinct sound to determine this). Next, use a slightly longer aluminum alloy straightedge to inspect for any depressions at the top and along the wall surfaces—mark these areas—and then apply gypsum putty to smooth them out completely.

　　5. Apply the putty properly: After the gypsum putty has fully dried, apply additional layers of putty (each coat must be thoroughly dry before applying the next). To check if the putty is completely dry, you can use one of two methods: First, examine whether the color remains uniform; second, observe if the sandpaper sticks during the sanding process. For thorough drying, shine a strong light at an angle while sanding—on the ceiling, you can use 360-grit sandpaper.