Are Automatic Drywall Tools Really Worth The Investment?

Automatic finishing & taping tools require a significant amount of upfront time and money investment, and that can make some professionals hesitant to make the switch. The biggest question we hear is, “Are they really worth the cost?” We don’t use these tools every day – but our customers do. So, we decided to ask what they think.

We asked the experts for their opinions, and we’re here to share their thoughts with you. We sent a short survey to industry experts to ask what they really think about automatic taping tools, and whether they are a worthy investment. Read below to see what the professionals think, which tools they thought were worth the money, and what hard-learned advice they give for newcomers.

Question: What Automatic Drywall Tools Do You Use?

Our biggest question is which automatic finishing tools do professionals use the most? So, we provided a list of automatic and semiautomatic tools and asked the respondents to choose the ones they use in their business.

Answer: The most used tools are clearly flat finishing boxes and corner rollers and flushers, with almost 90% of respondents selecting them. However, we were surprised to find that more professionals choose to use an automatic taper (67% of respondents) instead of a banjo (only 50% use one).

What Automatic Drywall Tools Do You Use? Automatic Taper 66.7%, Banjo 50%, Flat Finishing Boxes 83.3%, Corner Boxes 73.3%, Corner Rollers or Flushers 86.7%, Mud Pump 83.3%, Other 30%.

Question: Which Tool Has The Greatest Impact On Your Workflow?

We want to know which tool you couldn’t live without, so we asked, and your responses were somewhat expected, and somewhat surprising.

Answer: Flat finishing boxes were the clear winner for the most important tool, and they were chosen by 73% of survey responders, but the results were tied for second place. The automatic taper, corner rollers & flushers, and mud pump all received 56% of the votes to be the second most important tools.

Which Tool Has The Greatest Impact On Your Workflow? Automatic Taper 56.7%, Banjo 20%, Flat Finishing Boxes 73.3%, Corner Boxes 50%, Corner Rollers or Flushers 56.7%, Mud Pump 56.7%, Other 20%.

Question: Was It Difficult To Learn How To Use Automatic Taping Tools?

Learning how to use a new tool is not always straightforward, and some can even require formal training to use properly. We asked the professionals what they thought about how difficult is what to learn how to use their automatic taping and finishing tools.

Answer: More than 70% of the professionals that responded felt that they were easy to learn how to use. 25% of responders thought they were easy enough to just pick up and go, and only 3% felt they were not worth the time to learn.

Was It Difficult To Learn How To Use Automatic Drywall Tools? It was easy and mostly seamless 25%, It took some time getting used to, but overall easy to learn 71.4%, It took a long time but it helped my business 0%, It was unsuccessful and hand finishing is my preferred method 0%, It was easy to learn but in the end I choose hand finishing 3.6%

Question: In Your Opinion, Are Automatic Drywall Tools Worth The Cost, And Why?

We wanted to hear your raw, unfiltered opinions, so we asked an open question to get your honest opinions.

Answer: According to 95% of the professionals that responded, automatic taping tools are most definitely worth the cost investment, but only if you intend to put them to good use for a significant period.

DrywallDoctor71 said:

“They are definitely worth the money. Tools help you put out more work which makes you more money “

Lincoln Epps said:

“Yes, very much so. They are a must they save so much time and energy. “

James Becker said:

“Yes you’ll never be as good or as fast if you know what you’re doing with the tools “

Question: What Advice Would You Give To Someone Thinking About Purchasing Automatic Tools?

Answer: Our professionals gave some great advice, and we picked out a few of the best pieces for you here.

Scott Russell said:

“I rented too long. Should have bought them sooner”

Jorge Luna said:

“That you don’t need a whole complete set to start working or to use every tool you can start with one mud pump one handle for your flat box a couple of angle heads lots of little things that will save you money instead of buying a whole set you can get basic stuff and work your way up “

Bottom Line – 10/10 Definitely Recommend

With over 95% of our survey responders agreeing, its widely accepted that automatic drywall finishing and taping tools are definitely worth the cost. Out of all the responses we received, only two of the seasoned professionals say that they’ll just keep their hand tools.

What do you think? If you’re ready to start shopping for a new automatic taper, then check out our Ultimate Automatic Taper Comparison Guide (linked below), or browse through the thousands of products in the Wall Tools store!