CT36+cyclone VS. AC36 and also a Planex question

[elfick]

Two separate but related questions...

First, I'm a DIYer about to renovate a 210ft2 kitchen and a 700ft2 garage/shop. Given that I will probably never make money with it, at what point, if any, does it make sense for me to splurge on a Planex?

Second, is the AC36 an absolute requirement or would a CT36 plus cyclone get me through? Has anyone done a comparison?

Thanks!
-Lee

 

[Jaybolishes]

Whether or not to get the planex is really a question of how much your time is worth.  For me, getting the planex meant I'd finish my personal work much faster so I could spend more time making money at what I do.  The planex will make your sanding time ridiculously reduced. But if you don't see yourself ever using it again, it's an expensive purchase for one project.  If you have lots of time to spare, do it the old fashioned way.  If you really need it done fast, boy the planex is amazingly fast.

  If you use a cyclone with the vac, you won't neccessarily need the ac36 which has a function to knock the caking drywall dust off the filter.  I highly recommend getting a cyclone, as 95 percent of the dust stays in the cyclone.  If you don't go with a cyclone or ac36, you will constantly lose suction and have to take the lid off and beat the cake off the filter manually.  I'd spend the xtra on the ULtimate Dust Deputy if you can.  It has made a huge difference for me.  I used the ac36 and cyclone together, and it's the best thing possible for drywall.

 

[Saskataper]

I would say for that small a job one of the ETS sanders would be the better investment. I have heard good things about them for drywall but have yet to try one. 

As far as the ct36 goes you will be fine. I recently used my midi with the planex to sand a small basement and it worked fairly well, I'd did have to stop occasionally to let the self clean bag collapse to get rid of the caking but it did the trick. If your 36 has the HEPA filter I would change it out for the high efficient filter as the HEPA filters aren't recomended for drywall dust.

The Autoclean is a must for my work as I am sanding thousands of feet of drywall for hours on end.

 

[jacko9]

First question I would ask is, Are you experienced as a taper?  I'm a DYI'er and I learned along the way remodeling my same size house and garage.  If the Planex had been invented, I would have bought it in a heartbeat!

I recall coffered ceilings, angle walls, angle ceilings that drove me crazy and the house was filled with dust.  I burned out the bearings on my Sears 15 Gallon shop vac and probably did a number on my lungs.

I would suggest that you buy the Planex and Vac and then sell it after your project.

Jack

 

[packratpop]

I hate finishing drywall and I found the perfect solution for me. Hired a plasterer that had learned his trade in the UK. I asked about sanding and he was insulted. He said only amateurs sanded! I have to say he did a wonderful job. I did have to hand sand a few spots but otherwise I got a ready to paint finish. Had to give it to him he was a craftsman. Just a thought.

 

[Saskataper]

Plaster and drywall are two different trades. Veneer plasters don't require sanding from what I understand, but they are coating the entire surface a couple times and they use a different type of board. If someone tries to tell you they can tape and finish drywall without sanding they don't know what they are doing.
I can finish to the point that joints are only noticeable because of the texture difference and some visible edges. but it still needs to be sanded.

 

[packratpop]

I hear ya saskataper. Respect your opinion. Like I said I hate the stuff and cant finish it worth a darn. All I know is he used something that dried fast and he left me with a finish that really didnt need sanding. He did one coat then the next day finished it. Regards.

 

[Saskataper]

I would highly recommend getting a professional in to do the drywall work, it's not really a DIY job. I gone into way to many jobs to fix what someone thought they could do themselves and have to charge more than I would have had I done it the first time. If I want a good laugh I'll search for drywall how to videos on YouTube it's just amazing how bad most of them are.
If you still want to DIY I can give you pointers but don't say I didn't warn you.

 

[fshanno]

As far as the Planex goes I don't know.  I probably wouldn't for that small a job unless I had some idea that I had a lot more to do in the near future. 

You're going to have to find it and buy it and learn to use it and then take the time to sell it if you aren't going to use it again. 

I assume you've Googled "drywall sanding kits".  All kinds of cool hand sanders out there with and without vacuum capabilty.  Rectangular ones, round ones, even triangular ones.  Telescoping poles of all sorts.  All far far less than a Planex.

But I do have a suggestion about the project.

Have you thought about putting slatwall in the garage shop?  It would be awesome to have slatwall from the ceiling down to the 4' level.  A wide variety of finishes at about $60 a sheet.  You could hang everything from it, including shelves and cabinets.  And everything would be totally reconfigurable. 

 

[elfick]

Thanks for the replies everyone!

I'm definitely planning on getting a DTS or ETS regardless of whether I get the Planex. I'm leaning towards the DTS for getting into corners.

I have some experience taping, at least enough that I'm completely comfortable with the process. I've certainly done enough that I got to learn from plenty of mistakes. [embarassed] I just don't have the speed or dedicated tools of the pros. I usually only finish to a level 3 or 4 though and I'm considering going to a 5 on the parts of the kitchen that aren't going to have backsplash.

As for the garage shop, I already have a few random french cleats and I'm happy enough with them that I've decided to do a full cleat system. Two or three tiers around the whole garage.

Thanks again everyone! And Saskataper, I'd certainly be happy to take any pointers you are willing to offer!

 

[Saskataper]

Check this video out, this tape is excellent and I use it for everything now.

 

[fshanno]

Thanks for the replies everyone!

I'm definitely planning on getting a DTS or ETS regardless of whether I get the Planex. I'm leaning towards the DTS for getting into corners.

I have some experience taping, at least enough that I'm completely comfortable with the process. I've certainly done enough that I got to learn from plenty of mistakes. [embarassed] I just don't have the speed or dedicated tools of the pros. I usually only finish to a level 3 or 4 though and I'm considering going to a 5 on the parts of the kitchen that aren't going to have backsplash.

As for the garage shop, I already have a few random french cleats and I'm happy enough with them that I've decided to do a full cleat system. Two or three tiers around the whole garage.

Thanks again everyone! And Saskataper, I'd certainly be happy to take any pointers you are willing to offer!

I've cleats all over the place.  Some homemade, two different kinds from Rubbermaid, some slatwall, some peg board.  It's a mess.  I've got surface mounted sub panel and a bunch of conduit screwed to walls and the ceiling, mainly for 220v which my garage didn't have.  I wish I had the time and money to just start fresh like you're doing.  Strip it down to the studs, rewire, re-insulate, the works.  Oh well.