Columbia Facebook page

Tim0282

Wowzer Rickster!!
This is getting interesting!

Saul_Surfaces

I'm in Rick's camp. Columbia is sporting enough to set up a thread on DWT and show some interest in us (DM monitors DWT--they've proactively contacted me with support based on my posts in other threads, but I digress).

Ames in a way plays the same role as a the big drug companies, they kept prices high as long as they could, bought out competition, and now that their competition has a clever idea, they're on it like a fly on $hit.

Mudstar

Well Rick,

Your statement "How a $300,000,000.00 company can screw itself into the ground is beyond the belief of any serious business person" which I see as a way of rooting something into something solid, is an oxymoron based on your "nuclear rant" .

I will say if you ever worked for any length of time with a taper you would know that most, not just tapetech, are of the same weight and ergonomics.

Also any one smart enough knows if you push to hard not knowing ones limits and abilities can lead to injury, that's inevitable. Maybe because of numbness due too alcohol or any type of drug would account for that, just saying and I have known people that have had similar injuries, that, have been on alcohol or a drug pharmaceutical and illegal when working with this tools.

So by bringing into this thread your "nuclear rant" about this court case in irrelevant fact of injuries cased by this tools but your statement "Ames, get your A$$ off of Columbia's thread. Have the decency to at least start your own." is well stated and in context of the thread that began

I'm not affiliated or use tapetech tools but do know that they must be pretty much the same as the rest

Then there's Columbia.....!

rhardman

I'll end my rant with this...
My friend, I think you missed my point or maybe I didn't say it properly.

In my opinion, Ames has never been for the contractor. My dad was offered a demonstrator/sales position for them in the 60's because he was so good with the Bazooka in the Bay Area where they started. I know the tube and I know it's advantages. It's a good product.

Columbia, DM and the other mfrs are doing a great job with a proven technology that the contractor wants. They have innovated, created new ideas and functions for the tools (which I said I appreciated Bob and Stan Ames for) and made them better for the contractor in almost every conceivable way.

Ames had the money to do all of this. They could have solicited new ideas from the industry and implemented them into the designs. Instead they provide the same tool they have for years without any real innovation. Their new mud pump is cute, but more a marketing gimmick than anything else. Why would they offer a retail price of nearly $1000.00 for it when they're buying all their parts from China? Their cost is pennies compared to the retail. They don't really want to sell the new pump which is why they price them so high. It was made to create marketing buzz. They just want to say that they are innovative. In the 70's I spoke with an industry leader that told me their cost on a bazooka was under $100.00. They rent it forever so I don't have any sympathy for these tyrants.

Did you see the arrogance in the Ames comments above stepping on Columbia's thread? It's in their DNA to believe they are superior to the rest of the industry.

I'm done now, this is Columbia's playground and I hope I have conveyed the proper respect to them and the other "for sale" automatic manufacturers. They are for the contractor. As opposed to Goliath who bends their customer over demanding monthly rentals as the only option between 1962 and...well I guess they still do...

Ames can do anything they want. I doubt any of them have ever taped a seam so they will never understand how their customer thinks or what they need to do.

Rick

Mudstar

that was my point

Columbia

Capt-sheetrock

Thanks for typing that, you saved me a bunch of time

Capt-sheetrock

I bought a columbis 3 1/2" anglehead (from all-wall). Used it for near three years. It started giving me a problem. I ordered parts to re-build it, it got worse. I called all-wall, they keep a record of all your transactions and do ALL they can for you. They called Columbia for me, then Columbia called me. The anglehead I had was a factory defect (all-wall told me so). Columbia payed the shipping both ways and re-built it for me AT NO COST. They then called me to make sure it was right,,, and it was two years out of warranty.

In comparison, I have a Graco Mark IV that has a defect part on it (the chrome plateing is flaking off and screwing up the pump), their response was,,, ITS OUT OF WARRANTY,WE CAN"T HELP YOU

See a differance here???

Try sending an e-mail to TT,,, HAH Once you by a TT, you are on your own.

See a differance here?

If you own ANYTHING but a columbia, you'd better buy it from all-wall or Al's taping tools, cause the manufacter don't know you.

TT won't even let all-wall fix their stuff, so if you buy a TT from all-wall, you have to send it back to all-wall, they have to send it to TT then TT sends it back to All-Wall, then they send it back to you, a month to get it fixed. Columbia fixed my anglehead and had it back to me in under a week at no exspense.

Your right,, Ames, get the F off this thread, you suck !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tim0282

So Capt.,
I take it you didn't go to WalMart this afternoon and buy a Tape Tech set.

Capt-sheetrock

Well actually I tried too, but alas, it was on back-order

Tim0282

Not too surprising...

taper71

Well I have heard a few contractors around here that say they only own Tape tech tools because when they break down they rent ames 'tools to swap out the parts. I really am not sure on how true that is or even if the parts are interchangeable but ,I am not familliar with either brands because all my tools are Columbia ( and always have been )minus the north star box handle, and apla tech cannon ( for angles) . I have had my new set for over 5 years and my angle heads get sent into Columbia for repairs every time they wear down and always come back perfect. I have no problems with Columbia tools and really hope they don t go bankrupt because there tools last and I dont need to replace them every 6 months or a year like some others manufacturers out there who rape us for our hard earned money. Again I am not saying this from my own personal experience, just from what other contractors have told me of the other companies because Columbia always has treated me good so they will always continue to get my buisness.

ColumbiaTechSupport

Thanks Taper71 glad to here you and all the others on this thread have enjoyed their experience dealing with us, we work hard to ensure that our customers are treated with respect.

Don't worry about us going bankrupt or selling out, I assure you that will never happen.

Tim0282

You guys are making me feel left out not having Columbia! I know what my next purchase is going to be.

Orygun

taper71's observation was probably refering to the wear parts, cables, shoes,seals and blades. These parts are interchangeable with Columbia as well.

I've used all brands of tools. BTE too. There is little difference between manufacturers than price and service.Premiere and BTE being a design exception. My own set consists of Tapetech, Premiere, Tapeworm, Columbia, a short red pump of unknown manu., BTE, Drywall Master and some of my own design.

IMHO- A true 'journeyman' can use any tool, bead, tape, knife, mud, application method, in any environment and get universally acceptable results.

It's what "we" do.

It comes down to SERVICE.

Heard some good things bout those Columbia guys off DWT. Hope they don't get too big for their britches.

Orygun

Sorry mistype.

walltools

LOL! Too funny. That's the truth though. You have to block those friend requests.

__________________
Brandon Hunter, President - Wall Tools

877-WAL-TOOL / www.walltools.com

walltools

We have had tremendous success with Columbia Taping Tools. Our customers are loyal and love the brand, and we know that we can count on Columbia to keep them that way. Go Columbia! www.walltools.com

__________________
Brandon Hunter, President - Wall Tools

877-WAL-TOOL / www.walltools.com

Tim0282

I should have said my next purchase would be a set of Columbia tools from WallTools! Just came back from looking at your sight. Kinda need to order a new PC 7800, too. I have three that are between eight and twelve years old. They aren't as dustless as they used to be... Still great sanders, though.

Capt-sheetrock

Funny thing bout them,,, I have three, one bought in 1997, and ya know, it has the least amount of repair than the newer ones. It had a "hose" that was acutully greenfield conduit, covered in heat-shrink. It went out in 2004 and I had to replace it with the newer rubber one they use now. Out of the three I have the old one still has all the original parts (cept that hose and of course bushings) While I have spent way more on the newer ones. The new ones will cost ya a cable and hose per-year. The old one (97) still has the original cable in it. Go figure.

On a side note, if your motor goes out, its 150 bucks to replace,,, UNLESS you buy a porta-cable screwgun for 89.00 , take the nose and handle off it, LOL, it will sit right down into the mounts.

JustMe

About your new 6' taper on Facebook: Compared to your traditional length taper, how well does it handle when it comes to lower stuff, like say 4' high horizontal flats and 8' high ceilings?

I imagine it's also carrying more mud in the tube than your traditional one(?) If so, how much further can you go with it than with your existing taper? ~1/5 further? Or ......?