Advice on automatic taping tools, please!

D's

If you're just getting into finishing tools and only use them on a half dozen of jobs a year I would start of with Better Than Ever Tools. You can get a kit that comes with a Super Taper that applies mud to tape, corner rollers, corner flushers, and applicators. These were my first tools and they worked great for a couple of years while I grew from doing renovation work to new construction. They are a fraction of the cost of "auto" tools (Columbia, Tape-Tech, Northstar, Drywall Master, all good), take up less room, and are easier to clean and maintain. That being said if you're going to be drywalling full-time with helpers/staff, autotools are well worth the money. E-bay is a great source of used tools (look under drywall taping tools category) and there's plenty of You-tube videos showing each tool type in action.

You should still have an array of hand tools (pans, knives, hawks, trowels, corner tools) because they still get used on most jobs, will provide you with the basic skills to master the more specialized, and still work when your autotools break down!

Good luck,
D'S

PS apologies for the earlier attempted hijack

Wallers

I use a Northstar tube, pumps, and 3.5" angle head to tape. I use Tapetech 7" and 10" boxes, and depending on the job I might break out my 12. I don't know if I just got a bad set or what, but my Northstar blades on the boxes seemed to be very soft metal and after 3 days of owning them they had nicks in them. I replaced the blades with Tapetech blades, they worked great til I wore them out and sold them. I also use a Tapetech 3" on my angle box.

fr8train

I own a Drywall Master taper and Columbia 10 & 12" boxes. I also run Ames tools on a daily basis. From what I can tell, the tapers are practically identical, although I do like the power assist springs on the Ames Boxes. I get great results regardless of which tool set I use.

I think a lot of the guys on here will agree that a quality set of tools is as good as gold, no matter what company they come from. The final experience and the final quality comes with proper adjustment and just the know how to run them properly. That being said since I have never used any of the other brands I cannot and will not pass judgement on them.

FOR THOSE ABOUT

Tape Tech All The Way...another hint though...you're not going to be able to go out and purchase those and learn how to run them watching the video. Last set of tools we picked up was from a painter who bought them thinking "automatic". He watched that video several times with his partner and all they succeded in doing was getting frustrated. As both stilts and Capitan have pointed out faster is not always easier and those things will just sit and collect dust if you don't learn not only the basics but the tricks that go along with them to make them "easy". I cleaned the "tools" for a year back in the '70's before I was ever able to begin learning to run them.

roominaday

I do renovations and some NC. I use Can-Am or the Better Than Ever applicator tubes and flushers for my angles. I have both sets. You need a 4 wheel roller to set the tapes if using the tube. I flush with a 3" and re-coat with the tube and a 3.5", however I am learning that this is backwards and to use the 3.5" or 3" 1st, then the 3 or 2" next. I will also use a fuzzy roller to apply mud in the angles on smaller jobs, roll and flush, or wipe and coat each side once dry by hand.

I use a 10" and 12" NorthStar boxes, pump and adjustar handle on larger jobs. I coat all butts by hand as there are usually not too many and I have not learned or tried to "box" them yet.

I would like to order a 3" nail spotter and PC sander next - this will save me some time! The sander will get used lots on my residential repaints!

I will graduate to a corner box and angle heads soon.

Make sure you at least buy a set made in North America!

__________________
Jeff Huff
Room In A Day
www.roominaday
www.facebook.com/roominaday

rhardman

Any experience and/or opinions of the Drywall Master and CanAm boxes?

Thanks.

pipercub17

i run can am boxes thay seem as good as the rest of them out there

Capt-sheetrock

I have a DW 7" box, it works great,,,, they are plain looking without any bells or whistles,,, but they PRODUCE!!

Never used a CanAm