How to Use a Banjo Taping Tool

Mix the drywall compound, or "mud," thoroughly in its 5-gallon pail container before applying the mud to the wall using the heavy-duty electric drill and the drywall mud mixing paddle. Drywall mud will apply to the wall and be easier to work with if it has been recently mixed.

Open the banjo drywall tool. The banjo tool features two separate compartments. The round compartment at the back end of the tool receives the paper drywall seam tape. Place a roll of paper tape in the banjo and guide the paper tape through the slots into and out of the second compartment in the tool. Pull the tape to create a trailing edge of paper tape extending from the front end of the banjo.

Fill the second compartment in the drywall banjo with freshly mixed drywall compound. Use the 4-inch drywall taping knife to remove the mud from the 5-gallon pail. Fill the small compartment in the banjo. When the second compartment is full, close the banjo.

Pull a short piece of drywall tape from the front edge of the drywall banjo until the tape coming out of the banjo is coated with drywall compound. This tool coats the tape with mud and allows you to apply the drywall tape to the wall that is already coated with drywall mud on both sides of the tape.

Press the front edge of the banjo tool against the drywall. Slowly draw the banjo tool down the wall, over the top of the drywall seam. As the banjo moves across the same, a drywall tape will be applied to this seam as if it were masking tape, sticking to the drywall because of the drywall mud.

Run the 6-inch drywall knife over the top of the newly applied drywall seam tape to press the tape to the wall and smooth out the drywall compound. With practice, this step will become unnecessary. Experienced drywall banjo tool users can apply the paper tape to the wall in one simple step, which saves the contractor installation labor costs.