Replies

1. 
   andybuildz | Dec 15, 2008 07:09am | #1

   My drywall company uses them all the time. Interestingly enough they sand on the second coat....and the last coat of spackle is the slick finish coat. I never have to sand a sq inch after they leave.

   The sander is worth it's weight in gold but consider the Fein Vac with the Hepa filter for whatever sander you get. You'll be able to use that vac for other tools as well. I think it's the best vac on the market. Fein II

    

    

    

   http://www.cliffordrenovations.com

   http://www.ramdass.org

    

1. 
   fred77 | Dec 15, 2008 07:21am | #2

   Thanks for the info. Any idea on the learning curve on it? Have you ever used one?

1. 
   andybuildz | Dec 15, 2008 07:27am | #4

   theres one on Ebay right now for $300 Buy It Now....looks next to new.

    

    

    

   http://www.cliffordrenovations.com

   http://www.ramdass.org

    

1. 
   fred77 | Dec 15, 2008 07:42am | #7

   Thanks for the tip. I have been watching e-bay.....eventually will find the right deal!

2. 
   alwaysoverbudget | Dec 15, 2008 07:25am | #3

   i've got the pc sander and vac,picked them up used for 225.

   once you use this you will be ticked off you didn't buy it sooner. the pc paper with the foam built into each sheet is pretty high,4-5 bucks a sheet. but if you stop at hd you can buy a foam pad for it for 5 and then buy just the sandpaper for 1.50 a sheet. really not a big learning curve,i run down one edge of the mud then the other and your done. i can sand a 8' seam in less than a minute on the wall ,a little more on clg. holding it above your head kinda sucks,but i'm a short guy,if you was 6-4 it would help. but i did a 10' the other day, 24x36 ,i was done in about 20 minutes!no ladders used.

   i do have the porte cable vac,it came with this when i bought it. iprobably would not of bought it new,but now that i have it ,it's a heck of a vac for keeping the dust down if your working in a remodel.

   you can pick up a clone on ebay for about 230.you can also rent one for 35 a day to see what you  think.  larry

   if a man speaks in the forest,and there's not a woman to hear him,is he still wrong?

1. 
   fred77 | Dec 15, 2008 07:40am | #5

   I wondered about the pc sandpaper....did seem a little pricey. I think I will probably pull the trigger and get it. Just need a little nudge to help me justify it!

   Thanks for your input.

3. 
   ruffmike | Dec 15, 2008 07:40am | #6

   Very easy to use, just keep it moving. We use them for smoothwall when the whole wall gets putty coat. They are a time saver and keep mess to a minimum.

                               Mike

       Small wheel turn by the fire and rod, big wheel turn by the grace of god.

1. 
   fred77 | Dec 15, 2008 07:44am | #8

   Good to know. The less mess and the less time sanding, the better! Sanding drywall is possibly my least favorite thing to do!!!

1. 
   DaveRicheson | Dec 15, 2008 01:17pm | #9

   I've had one for 8-9 years.

   It gets my hardy endorsement along with everyone else's.

4. 
   alwaysoverbudget | Dec 16, 2008 12:48am | #10

   heres one that hit cl today,looks like a good one not used much,maybe he'll ship?http://wichita.craigslist.org/tls/958682289.html

   if a man speaks in the forest,and there's not a woman to hear him,is he still wrong?

1. 
   fred77 | Dec 16, 2008 06:04am | #11

   I have seen some refurbished ones for 369 with free shipping. Wonder if that might be worth a look?

1. 
   alwaysoverbudget | Dec 16, 2008 06:11am | #12

   probably,i think they sell for around 500. i was ready to buy one of the knock offs on ebay and just happened to stumble onto a used one.if a man speaks in the forest,and there's not a woman to hear him,is he still wrong?

5. 
   Sasquatch | Dec 16, 2008 04:11pm | #13

   It took me about a day to get pretty good at using this tool.  My learning curve would have been faster if I had thought to use the slower speeds on the sander.  That made a huge difference.  I would definitely get the velcro attachment.  With this sander, you need to be able to change paper quickly as you work.  You don't want to be unbolting the head each time.  I use the larger PC vac with the sander and am completely satisfied with it.  It is heavy and quiet.  It also has very good wheels.  I have five vacs, and this one is my favorite.  Most of the others are dedicated to tasks or tools.

6. 
   bwbuilds | Dec 16, 2008 04:27pm | #14

   fred,

   we have a full paint crew and two drywallers working for our remodeling company and only one PC drywall sander. The two crews fight over it all the time... it is definitely worth its weight in gold in time savings alone. Get a vacuum for it though, sanding is bad enough, power sanding is a HUGE mess. Even when we sub out big jobs, our finishers always use one... apparently, it's the way to go.

    

   bw

1. 
   marv | Dec 16, 2008 04:47pm | #15

   Lots of places rent them out.  Try one and see if you like it.  I rented one for Habitat house and will buy my own next year.You get out of life what you put into it......minus taxes.

   Marv