My old boss swore by a 6-inch putty knife for tucking carpet at walls

I worked for this guy back in 2006 in Des Moines and he'd say never use a stair tool for the final tuck, only a putty knife. Said it gave a cleaner line and wouldn't tear the backing. I thought he was crazy because everyone else I knew used a stair tool or a knee kicker. But I tried it on a tricky bedroom install with some berber that kept fraying. The putty knife actually slid in smooth and left a edge that looked like it was painted on. I still use that trick today on any stretch-in job, especially if the walls are uneven. Has anyone else gotten old school advice that actually worked better than the modern tools?

2 comments

2 Comments

river_jones6d ago

Oh man, that putty knife thing brings back memories. I had a boss in the early 2000s who swore by using a butter knife from the kitchen drawer for tucking carpet into tight corners. He said it was thin enough to get in without gouging the drywall and the rounded tip wouldn't snag the fibers like a sharp putty knife might. I laughed at him at first but then I tried it on a really fussy nylon carpet with a jute backing that kept splitting. That butter knife slid right in and the line was razor clean. I still keep an old butter knife in my tool bag for weird spots. Your mileage may vary but sometimes the goofy old tricks are the ones that stick around for a reason.

matthew_dixon6d ago

That butter knife trick is gold, I still use one from my grandma's old set.