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Fibafuse

92K views 120 replies 35 participants last post by  icerock drywall 
#1 ·
Heard some issues with fibafuse paperless tape cracking. Wondering if it's just application error and if anyone uses it or prefers to use it over paper?
 
#86 ·
Unless what you mean is that you don't think any additional strength would make a difference because, when done right, paper tape is plenty strong? I would agree with that completely. The difference then is that it is easier to do FibaFuse correctly because you can push more mud right through the top of it.
 
#87 ·
As I stated earlier, I think FibaFuse is superior to tape for the initial bonding of materials because the compound works around the fine mesh and creates a mechanical lock. Most everyday compounds do not lock onto paper tape nearly as well. The one exception in my experience is USG green top with paper due to the adhesive qualities of green top mud. I think my initial concern with the FibaFuse strength is from taping in angles and drops with a hand tool. I cut the tape on a few occasions without doing anything unusual. If light pressure with a 4" knife can cut the fiber mesh, it leaves me to wonder about shear strength later on. I guess the only way to see is to wait a few years and see how it stands up with over time with settling, humidity cycles, temp cycles, and wind buffering. It may end up being superior to paper?
I think FibaFuse is a great product for production finishers just for the faster drying time alone. For repair work......not yet. The spline of the tape is just a little too stiff for my liking when taping over texture...... requiring more mud buildup and a wider "bust out" of the repair.
 
#98 ·
Just got my first couple rolls of fibafuse (ordered from Amazon; still no sign of the sample). Very cool stuff. I've only used 10 or 20 feet so far on a couple window returns around a replacement window project, and only with USG green mud so far, but I'm generally liking it.

I will definitely confirm that you need to handle it carefully and/or with gloves. I forgot what I had in my hand and tucked it under my arm when carrying several things and I've regretted it for a couple days. Fiberglass in your skin sucks.

Just took delivery yesterday of 45 sheets for my own basement (honestly, the truck boom forklift thing is pretty much the greatest development ever), so I will have plenty of opportunity to get to know it very well. I just need to hang the rock first. :)
 
#99 ·
if your going to put mud on the wall then lay ff over it and then wipe it your not going to like it....you will need a mask as well as gloves and hope you don't get it in your eyes!
http://www.drywalltalk.com/f9/fibafuse-tools-4522/
if you run ff in your banjo, the mud sticks the fibers.
After all the posts out there on ff is itchy , still people dry tape with it:wallbash:
 
#100 ·
Hey Icerock, where do you buy your Fibafuse? I can't find it locally. I ordered a couple rolls in February from Amazon. But now I'm out and they no longer seem to directly stock it (you can get it through Amazon but sold and shipped by a 3rd party) and I haven't seen the wider rolls available anywhere.

I really underestimated how much I would need on my basement project (crazy plumbing and HVAC boxes everywhere) and had to do the last hundred feet or so with regular paper tape. The fibafuse spoiled me and I found myself needing to relearn how to do paper tape and wishing I could go get another roll somewhere in town. Now I don't want to use anything else. I got the Homax banjo and while it wasn't as smooth as I had hoped (seems to be more drag with fibafuse than paper tape and it always seemed to require more effort to run it than it should) but it was still much easier than paper tape. I was taught with all hand tools and don't do enough to justify automatic taping equipment, so I just picked up a corner trowel at Home Depot and it worked great.

I've also done a few patches with it, California style, like you demonstrated. I'm completely sold.

Anyway, I have more jobs to do this coming week and I'm all out, so I need to find somewhere to buy regular and wide rolls. Thanks!
 

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#105 · (Edited)
Fiba Fuse does not work well in the BTE Super Tapper. The mud needs to be thinned to much to allow you to pull the FF through the tool.

I'll continue to use the FF for hand work. In the Super Tapper paper is the way to go.

The HD's here carry FF in the 2" wide rolls. I wish they had the wider rolls. If FF wants to send me a 36" roll, I'll gladly accept it.

Tom
 
#115 ·
Fibafuse Rocks

Sorry for the title. I couldn't resist. I had a roll of this in my truck for a couple of years and finally gave it a try because of this thread. For my patch business this is a game changer. No more mesh for me. I really like the way the mud can be pushed through it to fill small gaps. It's like a hot mud prefill covered with paper tape in one coat. It finishes smooth and is super thin. I have been using the ultra thin mesh, but I think fibafuse is thinner after sanding. The fibafuse edges are easier to kill than mesh tape edges.

I liked it so much I ran it through the banjo over new board on a ceiling and a wall. It worked really well. My mud in the banjo was a little thick so I tore the fibafuse a couple of times pulling it through the banjo. I am sure thinning the mud would have cured that. The corners are easier for me to pick than paper tape.

I only do small jobs and repairs. At this point I am replacing mesh and paper tape with fibafuse. Thanks to this forum for helping me know enough about it to give it a try.
 
#119 ·
Great for tight joints not good in corners due to sharp knives which cut it easily. I had a client that removed a backsplash and did a number on the board so I filled and taped with the fiba fuse and it turned out great and that was just one of the many times used. Now my opinion on fiba mesh tape is that it sucks and falls apart then gets pulled through the bed coat I try and get my mesh tape from ames its the good stuff.
 
#120 ·
I did notice that it is easy to cut the inside angle if I don't keep my knife perpendicular with the wall. I ran it through a banjo, rolled it with an inside corner roller and finished with a corner tool. I have used it on inside corners and a finished with only a 6" knife by keeping the knife at least 45 degrees to the corner so it did not cut through the inside angle.

The FF sands flat and smooth with little effort after drying, but I am concerned that I might be removing the FF with the sanding.

I have been using the fiba tape ultra thin mesh for the last several years because it is woven much more tightly than other mesh.
 
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