The present invention relates generally to wall repair compounds such as joint compounds, spackling compounds, and the like used to repair imperfections in walls or fill joints between adjacent wallboard panels. Particularly, the present invention relates to such a wall repair compound that comprises a dust-reduction additive that reduces the quantity of airborne dust generated when the hardened compound is sanded. The dust-reduction additive also synergistically imparts water resistance and adhesion to the wall repair compounds to which it is added. More specifically, in one embodiment, the dust-reduction additive is an emulsion comprising colloidally-protected, wax-based microstructures comprising paraffin that is chemically encapsulated by polyvinyl alcohol.

A spreading tool allows width and depth variation of the spreading blade. A plate has first openings and second openings along with a first bottom edge. A blade has slots and is pressed against the plate so that the slots each align with a respective one first opening and a securement bolt is passed therethrough, the blade slid up or down against the plate so that the lower edge of the blade extends a desired distance below the bottom of the plate prior to bolt tightening. An extender has third openings and is pressed against the opposing surface of the plate so that its openings align with the second openings of the plate with securement bolts pass therethrough. A lower edge of the extender aligns with the bottom edge of the plate and extends beyond a side of the plate.

A spreading tool allows width and depth variation of the spreading blade. A plate has first openings and second openings along with a first bottom edge. A blade has slots and is pressed against the plate so that the slots each align with a respective one first opening and a securement bolt is passed therethrough, the blade slid up or down against the plate so that the lower edge of the blade extends a desired distance below the bottom of the plate prior to bolt tightening. An extender has third openings and is pressed against the opposing surface of the plate so that its openings align with the second openings of the plate with securement bolts pass therethrough. A lower edge of the extender aligns with the bottom edge of the plate and extends beyond a side of the plate.

A method for applying a layer of curable material to a surface including the steps of: applying the curable material to the surface; positioning a trowel relative to the surface so that a plurality of first radial teeth of the trowel, extending from a working edge of the trowel, is in contact with the surface; and with the plurality of first radial teeth in contact with the surface, moving the trowel across the surface to spread the curable material across the surface at a constant thickness.

The present invention provides a modified finishing trowel tool comprising a blade having a contact surface with a planar and convex component. One edge of the longitudinal edge of the blade is configured with a protruding convex surface such that when pushed or parallel with the trowel handle a uniform concave channel way is formed along the surface of the semi-cured cementitious surface. Thus when the trowel is oriented in a substantially horizontal position along the surface and moved along its longitudinal direction, a concave indentation is created in the cementitious material. This trowel is particularly useful in forming a uniform drainage ditch along the surface of the final, cured cementitious material such as along the perimeter of a cement basement floor.

A hand tool is provided for the application of joint compound on wall board, a planar blade affixed to a handle. The blade has a concave arcuate working edge, wherein the concave arcuate curve extends the entire length of the working edge to each corner of the working edge. The concave arcuate working edge to may be used to apply a self-featured layer joint compound over drywall tape on planar butt joint or an inside corner joint. The blade is laterally flexible.

The present invention is a trowel having a blade with a rounded side edge, a straight side edge, and a notched edge between the rounded side edge and the straight side edge. The trowel may include a handle disposed opposite the notched edge and substantially parallel to the straight side edge, aligned with the plane of the blade. The blade may be made of a thin or flexible material, allowing the blade to be slightly deformed during use to create a consistent layer of adhesive. The rounded edge may be of a relatively smaller radius, allowing for a wider, shorter blade. In other embodiments, the rounded edge may be of a relatively bigger radius, allowing for a narrower, taller blade. The notched edge may be square notches, v-notches, u-notches, or other notch shapes according to user preference.

The present invention is a trowel having a blade with a rounded side edge, a straight side edge, and a notched edge between the rounded side edge and the straight side edge. The trowel may include a handle disposed opposite the notched edge and substantially parallel to the straight side edge, aligned with the plane of the blade. The blade may be made of a thin or flexible material, allowing the blade to be slightly deformed during use to create a consistent layer of adhesive. The rounded edge may be of a relatively smaller radius, allowing for a wider, shorter blade. In other embodiments, the rounded edge may be of a relatively bigger radius, allowing for a narrower, taller blade. The notched edge may be square notches, v-notches, u-notches, or other notch shapes according to user preference.

An automated sanding system that includes a robotic arm and a sanding end effector coupled at the distal end of the robotic arm, with the sanding end effector configured to sand a target surface. The system can further include a computing device executing a computational planner that generates instructions for driving the sanding end effector and robotic arm to perform at least one sanding task that at least includes the sanding end effector sanding a target surface, the generating based at least in part on obtained target surface data; and drives the end effector and robotic arm to perform the at least one sanding task.

An automated sanding system that includes a robotic arm and a sanding end effector coupled at the distal end of the robotic arm, with the sanding end effector configured to sand a target surface. The system can further include a computing device executing a computational planner that generates instructions for driving the sanding end effector and robotic arm to perform at least one sanding task that at least includes the sanding end effector sanding a target surface, the generating based at least in part on obtained target surface data; and drives the end effector and robotic arm to perform the at least one sanding task.