How to Use putty knife in a Sentence

putty knife

noun
  • Use the putty knife to spread it onto the wall for a smooth finish.
    Sara Rodrigues, House Beautiful, 15 Feb. 2023
  • Scrape off any loose bits of paint with a paint scraper or the tip of a putty knife.
    Washington Post, 7 July 2021
  • If the pots have a white build-up of salts, scrape them off with an old, dull knife or putty knife.
    Lynn Coulter, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Oct. 2020
  • First, use a utility knife and a putty knife to cut and scrape away the old caulk.
    Brett Martin, Popular Mechanics, 12 Sep. 2017
  • Debark two logs with a putty knife if the wood is seasoned, or a drawknife if the logs are green.
    Roy Berendsohn and Mike Cunningham, Popular Mechanics, 3 Oct. 2020
  • Press the mixture into the crack with a putty knife and level the surface.
    Washington Post, 19 Apr. 2021
  • Next, use a narrow putty knife to apply a thin coat of joint compound to the crack.
    Joseph Truini and Merle Henkenius, Popular Mechanics, 18 Aug. 2020
  • Next, use a putty knife to scrape loose any caked-on grass clippings from the underside of the deck.
    Timothy Dahl, Popular Mechanics, 11 Sep. 2019
  • Then, scrape off the glue with a pocketknife or putty knife—be careful not to scratch the surface.
    Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 24 June 2019
  • Wait about 20 minutes, then scrape off the glue with a pocketknife or putty knife.
    Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 24 June 2019
  • Apply the adhesive to the sawdust and mix with a putty knife.
    Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 20 Nov. 2018
  • Rake remaining chunks of caulk from the joint using the hook end of a painter's five-in-one tool or a sharp putty knife.
    Norman Becker, Popular Mechanics, 20 Feb. 2018
  • Disconnect the spark plug lead, tip the mower over, and clean the underside of the deck with a wire brush and a putty knife.
    Timothy Dahl, Popular Mechanics, 29 Sep. 2017
  • Rake remaining chunks of caulk from the joint using the hook end of a painter's five-in-one tool or a sharp putty knife. Step 5.
    Norman Becker, Popular Mechanics, 21 Apr. 2021
  • Squeeze the mortar into the joints and use a putty knife to smooth the application.
    Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 24 July 2021
  • After allowing the stripper to do its work, use a putty knife to scrape away the residue.
    Laura Fenton, Washington Post, 31 May 2023
  • Using a putty knife, fill all nail and screw holes with putty.
    Chelsea Evers, Country Living, 12 Dec. 2019
  • Start by scraping off any blobs of paint with a flat edge such as a putty knife or butter knife.
    Arricca Elin Sansone, Country Living, 22 Oct. 2020
  • On a scrap piece of plywood, mix two-part epoxy and use a putty knife to spread it on the back of each plywood mounting block.
    Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 16 Jan. 2021
  • Use a putty knife to scrape off any blistered or peeling paint.
    Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 18 Dec. 2020
  • First, test a wallpaper seam with the tip of a metal putty knife, taking care not to gouge the drywall with the knife.
    Country Living Staff, Country Living, 7 June 2019
  • When the walls are dry, patch any holes or cracks by applying joint compound with a putty knife.
    Jennifer Barger, Washington Post, 10 Jan. 2023
  • Take the wide putty knife and smoothly spread the compound across the screws and patch, extending about 3 to 4 inches beyond the edges.
    Bradley Ford, Popular Mechanics, 2 May 2022
  • Apply the mastic with a caulk gun, but smooth over the bead with a gloved hand, a brush or a putty knife to ensure the material fills the gap.
    Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 21 Oct. 2022
  • Load spackling paste/compound on putty knife and draw it firmly across the crack, pressing in.
    The Editors Of House Beautiful, House Beautiful, 11 Feb. 2015
  • Scrape the area free of any leftover adhesive or thinset with a stiff putty knife.
    Sal Vaglica, USA TODAY, 8 May 2022
  • Use a stiff putty knife to knock off loose chunks of the coating, which appears to be thicker than regular paint.
    Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 19 Oct. 2020
  • Once the ports are glued in place, use a putty knife to spread a thick coating of epoxy sealer along the crack, including over the base of each injection port.
    Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 12 Oct. 2020
  • Use a 4- or 6-inch-wide putty knife to spread all-purpose drywall compound over the patch and 3 to 4 inches beyond it onto the wall.
    Bradley Ford, Popular Mechanics, 2 May 2022
  • Scrape off the excess using a putty knife if necessary and give it a good scrubbing with a grill brush or with some mild dish soap and sponge.
    Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 23 May 2018

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'putty knife.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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