If you make a living with a Planex, please chime in?

[wow]

I just finished my first pass at reading the Consolidated Planex Q&A tome. I still have a few questions

Between now and Thanksgiving I need to hang, tape, and finish a BUNCH of sheetrock in a bedroom addition that is my most-delinquent project. The addition is around 800 square feet, with vaulted ceilings up to 14' high. So to those of you who make a living with a Planex, would you please comment?

1. Do you ever use more than the single extension tube that it comes with? If yes, what is the practical maximum number of tubes in your opinion?

2. Do you use or recommend the harness?

3. I typically do my mudding in three passes: Bedding, intermediate, and finish. I used to have a PC7800 which I just sold to fund the Planex, so I am familiar with the process if not the tool itself. Which grit do you use for each of the three phases I mentioned above? I understand that YOU may be so good as to not need the intermediate coat...but I probably am not.

4. Any other tips you'd care to offer are welcome. My Planex is brand new, with not a spec of sheetrock dust on it - yet. I look forward to your comments helping me change that rather soon.

[big grin]

Edit: Fixed my attrocious spelling and grammar. Note to self: Perhaps best not to post when sleep-deprived?

 

[wow]

Forgot to add one more thing - what abrasive do you recommend or use to remove popcorn ceilings? And how 'dust-free' do you find this operation to be?

 

[leakyroof]

I believe Festool wants no more than 2 extensions attached to the Planex. I'm pretty sure I've read that somewhere here, or in the instructions with my Planex.

 

[Cam101]

I bought a used Planex to finish my basement. It came with the harness kit, but I never used it. If your ceilings are of reasonable height, you won't need it.

I experimented with some 60 or 80 grit paper and it's very aggresive. I would use something along those lines for the popcorn.

 

[Cam101]

Sorry, just saw the 14' ceiling part.  [embarassed] I guess you'll be needing extentions.

 

[Bikeboy80]

I have used two extensions with the harness for a higher ceiling and it really was kinda hard to control. On another project that I was removing textured ceiling on a combination of flat and vaulted ceiling up to 14' high. The best way to do this I found was working on rolling scaffolding and moving around the room using one or no extensions.

The harness is great for large flat ceilings. It is too much of a pain to use on vaulted ceilings. There is a learning curve while using it to find out a comfortable position.

For the coats I tipically use a heavyweight compound for the first coat and lightweight for the next two coats. I scrape using a taping knife between coats and use 220 Brillant for the final sand. If I need to sand the heavyweight 150 works good.

For textured ceilings it all depends on the hardness of the texture. I normally use 36 grit with outside suction to remove the high points then switch to center suction to take off the bulk of the material. Switch to 80 grit to finish removal, then skim with new compound as needed.

While removing the texture it takes care of most of the airborne dust and you are left with larger chunks that drop to the ground that don't get picked up on the first pass of knocking the high points off. After that it works very well catching just about all of the dust.

 

[Worm Drive]

I don't use the Planex everyday but, do use it as part of my trade. I usually do 2 coats of hot mud and top coat with green lid, with a light scrape in between. Have been using 240 grit with the soft backing pad. I went with 240, because that was what I used with the PC. I going to try 220 with the soft pad on the next job. With the soft pad, you can use more aggressive paper, without gouging. I bought an extra extension and harness for 10'6" ceiling, but never ended up using them. I set it all up, but it felt ackward having the sander perpendicular to the ceiling. You won't be able to reach 14' with 2 extensions. I don't think the harness would be efficient for cathedral ceilings, as it would have to be readjusted a lot. Hope that helps.

 

[tjbnwi]

The harness has a major learning curve. Save the money and purchase a few baker scaffolds. They make great finish drying racks anyways.

I have used up to 3 extensions. It gets heavy but it works.

180-220 paper with a soft pad, depending on how well you lay down the compound.

Tom