Level 5 and Dewalt (made my Level 5) have come out with new one-piece stainless steel drywall knives in a range of sizes.
What’s special about these drywall joint compound knives is that they have a full-length internal tang that has been robotically welded at four points of contact for extreme durability. The handles feature welded seams that are polished to a mirror finish.
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Level 5 says that their one-piece stainless steel drywall knives are lightweight, extremely comfortable, and “clean up like a dream.”
The blades feature a hollow grind that provides a flex point midway up the blade instead of near the handle, which is said to give the drywall knives a broken-in feel with the first use. Level 5 says that this will give users a better feel for faster application rates, optimum blade control, and smoother finishes.
The Level 5 drywall tools have a lifetime guarantee, and the Dewalt versions are similarly guaranteed against defects in workmanship for as long as you own the tools.
The one-piece drywall knives are available in 3″, 4″, 5″, 6″, 8″, and 10″ sizes.
Features
- 100% premium stainless steel for corrosion resistance
- Robotically welded at four points of contact
- Unique hollow grind at mid blade for optimal mid-blade flex
- Broken-in feel even with first use
- Precision-ground blade edge
- Ergonomically-designed handle
- Robotically-welded handle mirror polished until seamless
- Oversized hang hole
Prices range from $15.49 to $20.49 for Level 5 tools. At the time of this posting, the Dewalt versions are all $1 more than Level 5 tools of the same size.
Buy Now(Level 5 One-Piece Drywall Knives via Amazon)
Buy Now(Dewalt One-Piece Drywall Knives via Amazon)
Compare(Kraft One-Piece Drywall Knives via Amazon)
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Discussion
I don’t do enough work with drywall joint compound to make a convincing argument for or against these one-piece drywall knives. But, with stainless steel handles I’d imagine they’re lighter than tools with solid plastic handles. They’re probably a lot easier to clean, with no grooves or crevices to accumulate compounds or other work materials.
Since the Level 5 and Dewalt-branded drywall knives are both made by Level 5, and the Level 5 versions are each $1 cheaper (at least as of the time of this posting), I can’t see any reason users would be compelled to go with the Dewalt tools. $1 more per tool for a different removable label and differently etched/marked handle?
As for the price difference compared to other drywall knives or finishing tools, it seems that a lot more work goes into forming, welding, and finishing these tools.
These aren’t the first one-piece all-stainless steel drywall tools on the market. Have you one-piece drywall joint compound knives before? Would you try these?
Altan
Why are they exactly the same?!
Stuart
That’s fairly common for licensed products.
Altan
Who has the license ?!
Hilton
Level 5 it would seem as they are the ones making these knives.
Greg
Have used the Wal-Board Tools 6 in. Wal-Pro Stainless Steel Joint Knife for the past year or so. A Perfect knife that cleans up like a dream. Not a single seam for spackle to get caught in. Only drawback is that HD only carries the 4”and 6”. I would love to see it in other sizes if possible.
Still waiting on dewalt to become the innovator again instead of the follower.
Craig
My experience with Wal-Board was not good. They were pricey at HD but i tried it anyway. The 10″ blue steel’s “blue” wore off at edge on the first use and wore off more with every use after. The 4″ rusted from sitting in my garage in The South for a few weeks. The red rubber on the handle feels like it’s gotten softer and is ready to start disintegrating. I found a Hyde at the local Ace that was going out of business for $6 or $7 and i have had no issues with rust. The finish is smooth mirror-like and has been this way since i bought it a few months ago. Cleaning is simple and quick.
It’s also quite comfortable to use for me at least. I don’t do any drywalling professionally but have redone most of the rooms in our house over the last year and I’m sold on Hyde. I suppose the drawback is that it’s not a one-piece but a hose nozzle has no issue getting mud out of the seems.
OhioHead
Not sure if they are still made or not, USG made some super nice drywall knives about 10 years ago or so (sold @ USG supply houses or L & W yards). Super nice rubber overmold handles, metal ends (for tapping stuff into place) + a nice mud holder.
These Level 5 remind me of the USG mud knives.
Leonard
Lowes still sells USA made Warner drywall knives. Much less expensive and while they aren’t stainless steel, with basic cleaning, you won’t have major issues.
There is another brand True Value carries also that is likewise domestic and not that expensive either.
Oh how I remember a time when the use of robotics wasn’t a selling point as this meant less human jobs. Then again this product in very small print proves it would make no difference either way in this specific case.
ToolGuyDan
Humans are creative beings. I’d rather get a 100%-consistent, high-quality weld, and train that welder to program the software. You may not remember, but back in the 80’s, there were whole schools of management focused on trying to get humans to do their jobs tenths of a second faster. That’s an awful life for a worker. Better to have that worker figuring out how to get the robot to move a tenth of a second faster.
You may enjoy reading up on post-scarcity economics. There’s some neat stuff coming!
Wayne R.
In First World countries, “hand made” has a cachet; in Third World countries it swings the other way.
Nathan
so is it safe to assume these are made in China or do we know.
Meanwhile would you really want to hold a hard metal handle all day or a rubber overmolded one. I don’t do it professionally so I’d be curious. The pros that come fix all the stuff in our offices here seem to use Hyde or whatever Sherwin Williams sells. all are rubber overmold or plastic handled.
can’t imagine a need for this. Pretty – yes. Only thing that caught my attention was the hollow ground which I find odd for something flexible.
Chris
In the picture up top, I can see “made in china” directly under the barcode for both products.
Jarod
Maybe it’s because my eyesight isn’t 20/20, but that text is mighty small. Almost as if both companies are not exactly hiding this information, but not making this easily noticeable.
Some might not care about this and that is their right and to their credit they are being transparent, but why not make the text marginally larger or at the very least the same size as the other text?
Using their own words, “welcome to the red zone” haha.
Stuart
I see the same as Chris, with “Made in China” in the product photos.
Carl J
Probably going up in price soon. Why? Tariffs.
Matt J
I can see the value of stainless, particularly for a tool that requires a true straight edge and which could be used (and inadvertently left) in outdoor conditions where it would otherwise rust. Can’t use it once it’s rusted and trying to clean off surface rust near the edge would screw up the edge needed for good joint compound application.
Rest of it — true one piece construction, extreme durability, etc., is marketing wank. It’s a freaking putty knife. It needs to be flat on the edge and be able to smooth stuff. It does not need to stand up to any kind of beating.
That handle is also probably like 80%+ of the mass of the tool, so making a one piece stainless tool seems like a waste.
Would very much prefer a stainless blade with a wood or plastic handle for half the price.
Joe H
Drywall guys will use the handle to smack drywall nails that stick out instead of reaching for a hammer because its faster and gets the job done. So yes they do take a beating. Just ask a drywall guy.
Nathan
indeed but they are doing that now with plastic handles. some have metal caps on them -or look like they do.
So does anyone make a putty knife with a SS blade. I have to assume some are.
Matt J
Yes. But as Nathan said, that can be done with a standard handle, does not require “one piece construction”, and does not require any sort of extra durability in the tool or more specifically the method of joining the handle to the blade.
Dave
might stretch to say “one-piece construction” as there is a blade, tang, and 2 handle sides all welded together and polished. not exactly my definition of one-piece
Julian
The Walboard one piece SS knives are much nicer. One of the main benefits is ease of cleaning. The Walboard knives have a smooth transition from the handle to the blade; nothing can cake up, no seams. I’ve had their 4″ and 6″ versions for 3-4 years now, and have been pretty impressed. A bit of a splurge at the time at around $15-20 each, but ease of cleaning made it a good buy imo.
No one makes truly decent knives anymore. I buy old ones up at garage sales – the nice stainless blade maple handled ones that seemingly no one carries or makes anymore.
Cant even buy a stainless blade knife at Sherwin Williams anymore.
dave jones
You can get stainless steel ones in the uk, try Amazon UK.
Chris
Kraft makes one piece stainless steel knives like these and theirs are made in the US. I’m not a pro but they’ve worked great and I believe I paid close to what these cost.
kat
How is stainless steel lighter than plastic??
Stuart
If it’s hollow. I could be wrong, but the “welded seams” part suggests that it’s formed and welded sheet metal.
chuck coviello
you obviously didn’t get the one piece stainless this post is about
Don Furguson
just a tip, I came across decent putty knifes at the local Dollar Tree. They have a solid handle and semi sharp blade. Picked up 2 for testing and so far there holding up.