High-Class Mud. R-777 Premier All Purpose Ready Mix Joint Compound may not be a household name, but its maker says it contains less air than better-known products and yields more working time with less tool drag. It also adheres well, shrinks very little, and works nicely with automatic taping tools, says the company. It comes in a 4.5-gallon pail or a 3.5-gallon box and costs about the same as the all-purpose compounds from the big brands. Magnum Products, 800/255-6678, magnum-products.com
