Abstract: The tool of the present invention is designed to facilitate small repairs in walls. It is useable to repair dents, holes, and cracks in dry wall, plaster, stucco, or like materials. It is also useable to install drywall. The tool has a plurality of groove forming cutting edges which are used to cut into the damaged area or the non-beveled peripheries of newly installed panels to a predetermined depth. The grooves help loosen the material. A gouging blade of the tool is used to remove the weakened material and form a trough of a predetermined depth. Edges of the head of the tool project out on either side of the gouging blade to act as a depth control agent. The tool of the present invention is used in the method of the present invention in which a plurality of grooves are formed centered on a crack, criss cross grooves are also formed to further weaken the layer of the wall material, a trough is gouged out, netting is placed in the trough, and compound or plaster is spread into the trough.