Effortless Mud Dispenser
The back-saving cordless mud pump from Graco can be programmed to dispense an exact amount of compound to fit the tool you're using.
I’ve slung a lot of drywall mud in my day. I started out shoveling mud onto my hawks and into my pans with a 6-in. knife. I then upgraded to banjos, then bazooka-style tapers that require a hand pump. I used that same pump to fill the various flat boxes I eventually acquired. So, when I came across the new Graco PowerFill 3.5 Pro Series, which as far as I know is the only cordless mud pump out there, I knew it was time to graduate to the next level.
This mud pump has an adjustable stabilizer that allows you to work with various-size mud buckets. The high-rise fill tube is a back saver and can be positioned right over the bucket to catch dribbles. The pump is powered by a DeWalt 20v battery and will transfer up to 55 gal. of mud on one full charge. You operate the pump by holding a button or by using the Precision Fill feature, which allows you to program the pump to repeatedly dispense a specific amount of mud. It also has a continuous pumping mode for unloading bulk mud (or for cleaning the unit). At the end of the day, you can remove just the power head and leave the stand, fill tube, and intake assembly in the mud overnight.
I spent a little over $1500 for my Graco PowerFill 3.5, which included a battery and charger. That’s a little spendy, but I typically work with other finishers, and I’ve noticed a savings just on time spent waiting at the bucket in the refill traffic jam. You can buy one online or at specialty tool retailers.
— Jeremy Wendstad; drywall Contractor in Lakeville, Minn. Photo courtesy of the manufacturer.
From Fine Homebuilding #323
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