I need to put up dust curtains on an upcoming kitchen remodel. Tool Crib (on p. 82 of the March catalog) has both TJaks and ZipWalls. While the TJak isn’t specifically sold for holding up plastic curtains, it looks like it ought to work just fine. And, it can jack up to 400 lbs, to boot. Throw in the extension necessary to fit it in an 8 ft. ceiling, and a pair of them is only $40 more than a pair of ZipWall jacks. Has anyone used either of these tools? What’d you think?
Arguing with a Breaktimer is like mud-wrestling a pig — Sooner or later you find out the pig loves it.
Replies
What about getting some Fastcap 3rd hands, a pair of them are $70.
I just got a pair, have not tried to use them to hold poly.
I have a pair of Zip wall poles, got them about 3 years ago. They work very well for dust containment. Customers are impressed with them. A plus is that it kepts the customer and their pets out of your work area too. I recomend them highly. I've seen the T Jaks and fast caps unit as well, they do look like they would do the same thing.
andy. Got 3rdhand from fastcap. 70 lb capacity. Goes to 12 ft if you don't take a bit off the pole to use to help mount upper cabs in a kitchen. Holds plastic easily and for dust containment, superb. Here's an example.
And if you're interested, a review of the 3rd hand:
http://quittintime.infopop.cc/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=tools&Number=7857&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Edited 3/16/2004 8:13 pm ET by calvin
I have used the ZipWalls many times and they have served me well. They do not create complete airtightness but they do help conciderably with the dust and Client moral. The zippers need some getting used to. We create a door using 2 zippers, 6 mil plastic and a 2x3 wrapped in excess door length. This 2x helps maintain door shape which is helpful when you are trying to zip and unzip.
Its helpful in keeping dust from getting into the rest of the house if you also have a fan in your work area blowing air outdoors. You know. It's the negative pressure thing.
Never used/ seen the Tjaks.
F.
I have been using the ZipWall poles for a couple years now and would reccommend them for ease of use. I also have a few of the Fastcap third hands - haven't had to use them, but they seem like they would work ok, and multi purpose
Think the ZipWalls are better for their ease of use. I also just saw a new accessory for the ZipWalls in a magazine ad. They are 5 foot long bars with foam rubber that give and even better seal. They also have some type of spring clamp to press the bars against the side wall as well.
A vote for ZipWall.
Thanks all. I just saw the 3rd hand. Decisions. Well, no matter which way I go, Uncle Sam subsidizes my choice now. Gotta love self employment.Arguing with a Breaktimer is like mud-wrestling a pig -- Sooner or later you find out the pig loves it.
Andy, Andy, Andy, Andy, what are you thinking?
Just give them all a call & tell them it's Editor Andy from FHB & you wanna do a road test on the product.
Didn't you save any business cards & whatnot?
Go for it guy.
You can always submit the article after the job?
Joe H
3rd hand by "FastCap" hands down! I just got four of them and they are fantastic for temp plastic walls. I used another system that I had made out of extendable painting poles (those yellow fiberglass poles) but the 3rd hands are excellent and can be used for unlimited uses, only to be limited by your imagination. The cost is very reasonable compared to the other systems. I think four 3rd hands are about the price of one of the other "systems" They are well made for the price, which is surprising. You can't go wrong with these. Move over Zipper!
"Don't take life too seriously, you are not getting out of it alive"
Edited 3/16/2004 10:16 pm ET by Gary R
Chris Green sent me a T-jak to review for the old rag you used to write for, and it works well for some applications. It was advertised that one person could hang rock on the ceiling...that ain't gonna happen...thus the review didn't get published. But for holding things up, it works well. Sturdy and simple. I didn't know they had an extension. All you really need is a looong piece of all-thread, or an all-thread coupler. 'Course the coupler is going to create a possible hinge point, but for lighter duty work that shouldn't be a problem.
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
The craftsman formerly known as elCid
There's an angle I didn't consider. I've got to get better at this!Arguing with a Breaktimer is like mud-wrestling a pig -- Sooner or later you find out the pig loves it.
I have the zip wall. The chick selling it at the Home building show was too good to resist! They do have one cool feature, and thats the interlocking pad that clamps the plastic to the pole.
They work well. The 3rd hand may have some other uses though, which makes it more versatile....until you need both uses at the same time! So, buy both!Jake Gulick
[email protected]
CarriageHouse Design
Black Rock, CT
Skip all the over engineering and use TAPE. These things don't seal and also you must have positive pressure i.e. put a fan blowing into work area. You can really dust out a clients' house without knowing it.
i've got the 3rd hands, and they're far more sturdy (and less $) than the zipwalls. i also use them to pin sheet goods to the wall in my box truck, or divide loads, like ratchet bars, and will hold high work in place while you check the fit and nail it off. they have nice rubber ends that prevent slipping or marring, too. if you've never used zipwalls, you'd be surprised how flimsy they are for the cost. the reason they are advertised to hold up plastic sheeting is that it is their likely weight capacity.
aha, CUT THE POLE! duh! the angle they need to be on to postition wall cabs always makes me nervous, esp. on slick floor, shoulda thoughta that, thanks!
There's a line drawn the on the pole. You cut there and they work for the 54" wall cab ht. I think you lose maybe 6-8", going on memory, it's cold, dark and snowing. You might check out the larger base they offer for about 5 bucks.Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
we bought 3 pair of the fascap 3d hands .. think they're rated at 70 lbs
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
I bought a pair of 3rd hands a couple (3?) years ago and they're great for dust containment walls. Go up quick, have a clip that goes over the foot to hold the plastic...very impressed.
A few months ago I started the first of three consecutive jobs that would require dust curtains and had it on my shopping list to get a few more. They've changed. The newer models...I think they are red (the older ones are blue)...have a series of holes drilled into the outer pole and spring loaded ball catches in the inner pole so they have positive locking support evry foot or so (maybe every 6 "?).
So anyway, my point is, if you have a choice get the newer type, with the spring loaded catches, as opposed to the older ones that rely on a hand tightened knob to hold the telescoping poles wherever you set them. I don't think the price changed much - that company is based right up the road from us and we get their stuff pretty cheap around here.
Keep an eye on their new produsts, too. That guy is always developing something new that's handy as heck, dust masks, glue bottles, colored (wax) putty, all kinds of stuff that makes life easier for the everyday carpenter. Lot's of innovative thought behind that company.
yes... we have the red ones (3d hand)... i bought 2 pair... and went back and bought 2 more.. our primary use is making dust curtains.. but they're pretty handy for lots of things..
on another note..
went to HD... no ridgid miter box stands ( and no one who knew anything )..
went back yesterday.. went to the Pro desk ( hey, sometimes people mistake me for one ).. and a helpful
WOMAN
told me a shipment is due in 10 days.. i put 2 on my HD account.. and she'll call me when they come in... so stay tuned..
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
jim, just used a 3rd Hand with my PLS2 laser clamped to it. Made hanging that crown and picture mould pretty clean and easy. Last week, to prop brace some FRP panels. Like was said above, only limited by your imagination.
another thing to try to stuff into the van.
And, spring training half over. ...............Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Okay... I've been doing a boat load of drywall work lately and have come up with two things that work well for controlling dust...
1. An air cleaner (mine is a JET), which has done much more than I could have ever imagined to control dust. (As is evident when I clean out the filters and see the amount of crud that comes out). Not necessarily a cheap solution however (mine was $200).
2. Pertinent to this posting... Zip-walls... gee, just a little too expensive for what you get. I went and found a local hardware store that was clearancing out some decent paint poles of the 4' length (extending to 8'). The poles have the twist and lock feature for adjusting the length. Anyway, the handle end was rubber tipped (perfect for keeping a hardwood floor from being marred), and the other end... what to put on it... how about a drywall sanding head (for a pole sander) which has a rubber backing. This setup works great, and the poles... 4 for $10 each, and the sanding heads about $7 each. Needless to say, it's a LOT cheaper than zip-wall...