Hi all - FibaFuse is able to reinforce joints by allowing the compound to flow in and around it, fusing with the compound rather than sitting on top of it.
I'd love to hear feedback, positive or negative - and if anyone is interested in a sample, please let me know.
Hello FiberFuse.
I have been watching this thread for a long time and it has intrigued me to try your product on a few occasions. I recently found out that a buddy of mine who runs a drywall business with a 8 man crew has been using it for quite a while on on new work. (
about 13 months) His crew hangs and finishes about 70 units a year. We had quite a long discussion as to the differences between using FibaFuse on new work and on repairs. He and I came the the same conclusion that it is a great product for new work, and not so much for repairs. Neither of us know how it will hold up in the long term with building settling, wind buffering, or chemical reaction to the drywall compound itself.
The Pro's and Con's:
1.
New work: Works very good in the flats. The tape can be buried during the taping coat with a extra swipe with compound using a stiff blade.
2.
New work: Works very well with most any compound.
3. The FibaFuse is not as forgiving as mesh or paper tape when taping inside corners where the flats meet the corner. Any irregularities from studs, screws, or blowouts will cause the edges of the tape to vee outward showing traces of the tape edge coming though the compound. Paper tape will soften initially from the compound and makes it a little easier to work around poor hanging and other problems. Mesh tape will pretty much follow the surface it is pressed against providing it is still tacky. A novice would struggle using FibaFuse, because novices hang poorly.
4. Be carefull when angles/corners bedding if your knife has a sharp edge. FibaFuse will cut pretty easily. I round my knife edges over so I didn't personally have a problem.
5. While taping angles and drops, I found that I could not just snap cut the tape against my knife edge while working it into the corners. I ended up using scissors.
6. Fibafuse is better than paper tape when knifing into the very end of corners. It does not tend to slide. No fussing at all.
7. I personally do not recommend FibaFuse for any repair work over textured finishes. Trying to get the tape to lay down over knockdown or heavy grooved plaster is a pain. Mesh tape is more loosely woven and will follow small contours easily if it is tacky. FibaFuse tends to follow the spline of the tape which is too stiff. This means that it will require more compound to hide the repair. Mesh tape requires less compound due to it's flexability.
8. Works about the same from machining tools as paper.
9. I do not see FibaFuse creating a stronger joint than a paper tape used with USG green top. The shear strength of paper tape is pretty pretty darn good when it is used with green top considering the adhesives that USG puts into the product. I do see FibaFuse being a plus with all other drywall compounds because it gives the compound a chance to leach through the tape and cause a chemical interlock while it is drying. This has to be a positive.
V/R........ John