Posted by Wall ToolsThere are some tools that you will find useful as a wall finisher, no matter what kind of job you are doing. These tools usually get the most use (and abuse), which is why professional tradesmen will seek out the tools that can last. Durability isn’t the only important factor professionals consider, though. Drywall finishers want the best value, as well. They don’t want to have to replace tools constantly, but they don’t want to break the bank either.
We have been watching what tools our customers buy, and we have been paying attention to what the professionals consider ‘essential’. While each job has its own requirements, there are some tools that professionals use more than others, and some brands of tools that they tend to purchase more. We analyzed the behavior of thousands of drywall tradesmen across the USA to determine which tools they find the most valuable, and we are sharing them here, with you.
Reaching New Heights
Every wall finisher needs to reach high places, whether working indoors or out. Ladders are the most basic way to achieve this height requirement, but ultimately, it’s the least safe way to reach higher, it gives you a limited area to work, and doesn’t allow for a lot of material to be held. Overall, a ladder is cumbersome, limited, and can be more dangerous to work from.
Professional drywall finishers have two preferred tools for finishing high walls and ceilings: portable scaffolding or stilts. We pulled the most popular options from our store to share them with you, and we share why the professionals choose these tools the most.
Perry Portable Scaffolding
The Perry Portable Step Up Platform by Nu-Wave is the most popular scaffolding on the market, and here at Wall Tools, we aren’t surprised. It’s made of powder-coated 14-gauge steel, and it only weighs about 70 lbs., making it strong but easy to move. It folds compact for easy transport and storage, and the 4 ft. model is very affordable, compared to most systems. The two included steel platforms can be adjusted from 1 ft. to 3 ft. high, allowing you to work on a lot of surface area at once, and they are texture-coated, making them non-slip for safety. The best part is the Nu-Wave system comes with 4 industrial-strength casters, making getting around the jobsite even easier.
Surpro Professional Stilts
If you aren’t ready to invest in a platform system, stilts are the other choice professionals tend to make. There are many companies that make stilts, but drywall professionals need stilts that can survive the rugged conditions you work in. Surpro has built their entire reputation on making the best stilts, and they have made their brand into the most trusted name in professional jobsite stilts for decades.
The Surpro S1 Aluminum Drywall Stilts are affordable, lightweight, and use an engineered hex-shaped design in their frames, creating a strong base for you to stand on. These stilts adjust from 26 inches to 40 inches high, giving you more than 3 additional feet of reach. Comfortable leg, ankle, and toe straps are adjustable and easily replaceable, and spring-loaded shocks provide the shock-absorbing relief your back and knees will appreciate. Repair parts for Surpro stilts are easy to find, and most repairs and replacements can be done within a few minutes with basic tools.
Safety
Respirable Silica is probably the most hazardous jobsite condition that wall finishers face most often. N95 masks are an essential tool for every professional working on a construction site, but removing the dust from the air is also important. The silica dust can get in the eyes, hair, and on skin, and still presents a hazard until it is cleaned up or removed.
Dewalt Dust Collection Systems
Dust collection systems are a popular way to deal with respirable silica and drywall dust cleanup, and the professionals certainly have their favorites. One favorite removal tool is the Dewalt Wet/Dry Dust Extractor. The 8-gallon model is lightweight and easy to transport, but the 10-gallon model comes with casters, rolling handles, and wheels so you don’t have to carry the extra weight.
Both models have HEPA filters, and Dewalt uses an air pulse every 30 seconds to help keep the filter clear, and to keep you working without clogs in the system. Also, Dewalt designed their system to be used with wet or dry materials, so you don’t have to switch vacuums mid-job.
Material Handling
Finishers move a lot of drywall. Moving one sheet of drywall at a time isn’t just ineffective, it’s time consuming and increases the chances of a sheet getting damaged during transport. At some point, every professional will have to invest in a drywall cart, or some other way to move multiple sheets of drywall around a jobsite.
Magnum Tool Drywall Cart
Magnum Tool makes rugged tools that can withstand harsh jobsite conditions. It’s not a surprise that their drywall carts are the most searched for our shop. Magnum Tool makes both a residential drywall cart and an XL Commercial Drywall Cart, depending on which type of work you do most often. Both models come with swivel casters (two of them locking), and the striking Magnum Blue color makes it stand out from the usual Safety Yellow.
Honorable Mention
There is one item that isn’t a tool, but it is absolutely an item that the professionals favor. Not only is it a favorite item in our store, but our customers regularly purchase up to a pallet of these at once, so we couldn’t finish out this post without a mention.
Webb Sanding Blocks
Webb sanding blocks are the most popular sanding tool in our store. There are many options on the market for sanding, but a great many professionals still choose to sand finished walls by hand, especially on smaller jobs. When hand-sanding is used, professionals overwhelmingly use Webb Sanding Blocks. These hand-sized blocks are made of a foam core and are surrounded on 4 sides with your preferred grit of sandpaper. They are perfect for sanding inside and outside corners smooth, achieving the appearance of a flat surface, and since they are disposable, they save a lot of time from not having to change sheets of paper.
You have a lot of options for where to buy tools, so we make sure we have the best tools, the best brands, the most options, the most repair parts, and the best customer service. We want to help you get what you need so you can get the job done.
