Replies

1. 
   Huck | Nov 14, 2008 04:58pm | #1

   Cool!  Magnets?

   View Image â€œGood work costs much more than poor imitation or factory product” – Charles Greene
   CaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
1. 
   Dreamcatcher | Nov 14, 2008 05:04pm | #2

   Watch the video...http://www.goldblattbladerunner.com/wimpy/index.htmlAny rockers or mudslingers out there use one of these?Cost is $80 online or get a $10 rebate if bought at a local distributor.Be a nice stocking stuffer.....FM:TMGK

1. 
   ruffmike | Nov 15, 2008 07:10am | #9

   I've seen some hanging on the wall at our suppliers. I don't think they are selling. I don't think it would hold up in production work.

   Been in drywall 'bout 30 years and bought lots of toys and gimmicks.

   Pencil, tape, axe, knife, keyhole. Keep it simple. Dewalt drywall router and a screwgun.                            Mike

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

2. 
   unTreatedwood | Nov 14, 2008 05:34pm | #3

   my best friend is the buyer for a large NE PA lumber retailer. He started offering this almost 6 months ago. He swears it saves time and increases the quality of cuts. I don't do enough drywall to warrant the expense, but it looks like he is right about the quality. I'll have to ask how sales have been.

   "The nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth is a governmental program"  -Ronald Reagan 

3. 
   AitchKay | Nov 14, 2008 10:16pm | #4

   That's what I'M talkin' about!!

   AitchKay

4. 
   jonblakemore | Nov 14, 2008 10:31pm | #5

   Looks interesting, but I don't think you will see this in the pouches of any pros anytime soon.

   Most drywall around here is delivered to the site and stocked in the appropriate rooms. The boards are leaned against the wall studs and the hangers work off of that "pile". The extra time it would take to do rips (one would have to block the sheet out what looks like 1-1/2" or so) would likely negate any benefit.

   Crosscuts are typically done with a 48" T square and the user would have to subtract half of the width of the blade runner.

   Like I said, it's interesting, but I can't imagine it will take over. I have been wrong before, though.

    

   Jon Blakemore

   RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA

1. 
   DanT | Nov 14, 2008 11:11pm | #6

   I think your point is well taken in terms of large production jobs and new construction but for those of us that do a lot of small jobs and often are fitting into existing spaces I think it might be a benefit. 

   I like the ability to do cut outs with it as that is always a multi cut time consumer.  The occasional curve is a nice idea, assuming you know what the curve truly is.  DanT

2. 
   DaveRicheson | Nov 14, 2008 11:25pm | #7

   I couldn't agree with you more.

   Even on small jobs I stock the boards on edge. The only other time I'm going to handle it is as it goes up or to my lift if I'm working alone.

3. 
   Jer | Nov 15, 2008 04:46pm | #10

   I'm always skeptical of a new gimmick tool, but Goldblatt is a very trusted name in the drywall industry...certainly one of the biggest. Give it timeUnless I'm mistaken, it looked like there was a place to stick the end of your tape that correlated with the center where the blades cut.I do very little rocking anymore, most of which is for plaster repairs so the cost of such a tool wouldn't be worth it. It will be interesting to see if it catches on though.
   Remember when the MM first came out? or cordless tools, laser levels?
   I remember 30 years ago telling Grandpa, who had been a plumber during the 20's & 30's about PVC pipe and him balking at it calling it a gimmick saying it will never catch on."We'll see", said the Zen master.

4. 
   Matt | Nov 15, 2008 07:04pm | #12

   That is pretty amazing!  Can I borrow your credit card? ;-)

   I wondered the same things you did re the actual mechanics of making the cuts.  In the video it shows the guy lifting the sheet to complete the cross cut on a vertically stocked piece.  I think it goes to what Ruff Mike said.  You want to lift the stuff a minimum # of times.  Not as bad for rips of vertically stocked material - which is how my gues want it stocked.

   I think it would be great for people who are doing it on an ocaisional basis though.  Looks like it would result in cleaner cuts.  Mine are always a little off - the few I do.

   Q - it says it's great for cricles or whatever.  When you are cutting an arc or a circke don't you hae to cut through the gypsom too? 

   Wonder how much it costs?  And, when are they going to make us laser cutters so we don't have to mess with things that have blades anymore

1. 
   frenchy | Nov 15, 2008 07:18pm | #13

   any lazor  that would cut sheetrock will also do a nice jub of cutting off fingers..

1. 
   Matt | Nov 15, 2008 07:27pm | #14

   No - you don't understand...  The tool would be controlled by me via ESP as I sat over by the window on my lunch box. ;-)

1. 
   frenchy | Nov 15, 2008 08:56pm | #15

   Why not go all the way? robotically controlled?

2. 
   jonblakemore | Nov 15, 2008 09:01pm | #16

   Some of the drywall guys I know do act like robots on Monday morning after a hard weekend. 

   Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA

3. 
   mhole | Nov 15, 2008 10:59pm | #17

   Most i know don't waiy for the weekend.

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

   Or lunch for that matter.

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

   ;)

5. 
   PeteDraganic | Nov 15, 2008 06:41am | #8

   that IS cool

    

   I refuse to accept that there are limitations to what we can accomplish.        Pete Draganic

    

   Take life as a test and shoot for a better score each day.          Matt Garcia

6. 
   frenchy | Nov 15, 2008 06:17pm | #11

   I want one and I'm nearly done with my drywalling.

7. 
   Jed42 | Nov 23, 2008 07:26pm | #18

   My God, it costs $80!

   Man, I wish I could justify that.

   No Coffee No Workee!
8. 
   MikeMicalizzi | Nov 23, 2008 09:34pm | #19

   That's a neat tool.

   Pretty wild concept, a little pricey though.

   So is there no need for a pencil, knife, and T-Square?

   I guess if you're gonna try to make cuts like the guy in the video, it looks like you have to train yourself to hold the tape measure like he does also.
   And it looks like you'll always been in need of a factory edge for that little trick.

1. 
   Ted W. | Nov 23, 2008 10:31pm | #20

   Now THATS innovation!

   What I especially like about the promo video is they don't use a total moron to do the traditional method of cutting, as so many gimmicky products do. Every move he makes is practically identical to me cutting drywall.

   It's obvious that the bladerunner has it's limitations, but then what tool doesn't? If I did more drywall, I could see justifying the change of method - stacking the dw on horses instead of leaning it against a wall. Of course, then I would have to plan on working around it when doing the ceilings.

   Next time I do a job involving lots and lots of straight cuts, I think I would make the investment. If it saves me 2 hours, it's more than paid for itself. See my work at TedsCarpentry.comBuy Cheap Tools! BuildersTools.net

   Please update your profile! Since many issues are dependant on the region in which you work, we look at your profile to see where you are writing from. So at the very least, tell us were you're writing from!