When you have used most of the mud on the taping knife, clean the edge of the knife on the mud pan, and scoop more mud to start again.

If this is your first time skim coating, practice on a less important wall first! I could feel myself improving a lot during the first 2-3 days working on a wall for about an hour each day. Go slow at first until you are more familiar with the motions of each stroke. Scoop the right amount of joint compound (about 2″ thick and wide) onto the taping knife, and apply it to the textured wall. The biggest secret for a smooth skim coat is to keep the taping knife at about 10 degree angle to the wall, and don’t use too much pressure. Step 2: apply the first coat of mud onto the textured wall It’s much easier for a beginner like me to use the slow setting kind, and wait longer to apply the second coat. Note: Professionals would use quick set joint compound as the first coat, and the premixed kind as the fine finish coat so they can get the work done in one day. ( If this makes you hungry, a snack break is allowed! ) Mix the mud to a consistency of somewhere between a soft creamy peanut butter and mayonnaise. Use the 6″ taping knife to scoop some joint compound into the mud pan. You can use this drywall mud as is, or mix in about 10% water to make it easier to spread, which I highly recommend. This type of drywall mud is finer, and takes longer to dry, which allows beginners plenty of time to get it right. If you are just learning to skim coat, use the Joint compound that is premixed in a box or bucket.

Skimming drywall ceiling