Planex....who has one?

[Per Swenson]

Hi all,

See, its like this.

No matter what the media tells you the economy here in the North eastern Megaloplis

called the Tristate area is pretty much in the dumpster.

The people with money are scared and the people with out can't borrow any more.

Houses are devalued ... awe heck, you know.

In other words luxury items like mahogany bars just aren't flying out of the shop.

This might account for my sabbatical here on the FOG.

So what do we do?  Flippin anything.

Paint yer house Mam?  Why sure!

New drywall in that overly mortgaged lump you need to sell now? You betcha!

So?

Am I gonna buy a Planex?

Come on fellas, you tell me.

Per

 

[brandon.nickel]

So, where do you expect to get it from, Per?  Last I heard, it was hard to come by in these parts...

Or you could just buy one of these and let us know what you think of it:

http://www.all-wall.com/acatalog/Porter_Cable_Jumbo_Pro_Pack.php

 

[Per Swenson]

Get one?

Brandon,  Ver der is vill der is vay.

As for the P/C,  I rented it twice.

Wasn't very fond of it.

That could also be chocked up to inexperience.

Per

 

[brandon.nickel]

That's a hell of a delivery charge (assuming you're going to pick it up), plus it probably won't fit in your carry-on bag.  And you'll have to custom-make a power cord with two extensions and find circuits on different legs of the power supply.  Then it'll only run 20% fast...  Do-able, but not particularly easy.  I used to have to do that to run high-end video projectors in temporary setups.  Most places don't have 240V available, but with the right set of cords and a little ingenuity it can be done with a pair of 120V outlets.

 

[Dan Clark]

I have several drywall sanders.  This "dustless":http://www.all-wall.com/acatalog/FibaTape_Dustless_Pole_Sander.php and this "dustless" one:http://www.all-wall.com/acatalog/Marshalltown_DuraSoft__Drywall_Vacuum_Sander.php.  Neither work particularly well. 

What has worked well for me is the Radius 360 for bigger areas:http://www.all-wall.com/acatalog/radius360.php and these angled sanding sponges:http://www.amazon.com/3M-Company-CP-040-Sanding-Sponge/dp/B00004Z4AV for the corners and some tough areas.  I screw the Radius 360 onto a Wooster Sherlock pole and go for it.  (I have 1'-2', 2'-4', and 4'-8' versions.  Love 'em.)

Now I hate dust (I'm a Festoolian, you know) and I have a mild dust allergy.  And I've tried a bunch of methods including wet sanding.  The problem I found was that for sheer speed and results, the Radius 360 plus a bunch of sanding sponges with grits ranging from course to fine work the best for me. 

I wear a good dust mask, seal off the area, and sand away.  Then I sweep up most of the dust off the floor and on the walls, and follow that will a vigorous vacuuming with my CT22.

IMO, if your hanging and taping a hundred sheets, tools like the Planex and Porter Cable sanders are great (as are auto-taping tools, stilts, and other high-volume paraphanalia).  OTOH, if you're hanging and taping a room or two, a good set of knives, a decent step up bench, a couple of corner flushers, and some simple sanding equipment like the Radius 360 and sponges are a better choice.  It's not everyone's cup of tea, but it's worked for me.

Regards,

Dan.

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Per,

Sorry to hear of the downturn in your business.  I wish I could offer some help.  Your craftsmanship is exquisite!  It seems like "tristate" is a term commonly used in many areas.  I used to compete in a Tri-State trapshooting tournament: OH, PA and WVa.

Dan Clark,

I thought you are a DIYer working on your own house -- how many rooms are you doing?  I have done >half of my ~2600 sq ft house, patching old plaster, fixing nail pops on old drywall, restoring bunged up corners from prior owners, blending in drywall to the old plaster walls and ceilings in a few rooms where walls, etc. have been moved, and repairing cracks and recoating the about 1200 sq ft of plastered ceiling.  I used silicon carbide sanding screens on a "Dust Dog" from Hyde Tools, Stock No. 09165, hooked up to my Fein Turbo II vacuum (with disposable filter bag).  A good bit of elbow grease was required, but this simple system worked decently in capturing most of the drywall dust and quickly producing a relatively flat surface.  The ceiling was a challenge - I am not a plasterer nor an artist, but it came out quite well.

Dave R.

 

[Dan Clark]

Dave,

The walls I was working on had to be dead flat.  I found the standard screens left too many divots.  The Radius 360 floated over the higher spots and leveled them nicely.  I hate the dust, but I found it to be much faster.  YMMV.

Dan.

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Aaahhh, a true perfectionist.  Then the sander you want makes sense to me.  For me, using a screen on a dead flat holder (such as that sold by Hyde) and taking care to move it in a varying pattern can come pretty close if you're careful.

Dave R.

 

[Per Swenson]

Thanks Dave.

Simple really.

A good tool is a good tool.

In my one, two, sometimes thee man operation,

a great tool means the difference between profit and

squeaking by on gubbimint cheese.

Dan, I pay some one to sand for me.

They are usually family or south of the border cousins,

so it doesn't amount to much.

But over time...... a barely competent off the books guy

around here gets 800 bucks a week. Under the table, Cash.

So.......

I just happened to get e-mailed the PDF of the planex.

Looks perfect.

I'll sand myself, pay for the tool

with someones salary....

It will sell in this country. And I'll bet it will come to this country.

I would like to hear from a drywaller or renovator who has one.

Per

 

[Brice Burrell]

........Dan, I pay some one to sand for me.

They are usually family or south of the border cousins,

so it doesn't amount to much............

Per

I hope that dosen't mean what I think it means.

 

[Per Swenson]

Brice,

Comp and liability in Northern NJ is 35 thousand a year,

for a skeleton crew.

How much in Pittsburgh?

Per

 

[Dixon Peer]

Brice,

Comp and liability in Northern NJ is 35 thousand a year,

for a skeleton crew.

How much in Pittsburgh?

Per

One year, Peer Construction paid $40,000 for liability insurance.  Now our worker's comp. insurance is running "only" $18,000 annually.  I shouldn't get myself started on insurance premiums...it could go on for a long time.