I have some drywall work ahead of me, along with a big learning curve. I’m thinking of buying a Radius 360 pole sander because it seems like a good idea.
http://www.all-wall.com/acatalog/Radius_360__Drywall_Sanding_Tool3.php
They sell various grits in packs of 25 and it isn’t so cheap… about 20 bucks a pack. Question is, what grits to buy? In sanding out regular joint compound, which grit gets used? A coarse grit at first, then finer? Or does a single fine grit (finest they sell is 240) do the trick? Do you use a different grit for topping? Advice?
Thank you!
Replies
rent a porter cable
I was thinking about getting one of those too...if the discs (I didn't even look yet) are the same as screeds they last a real long time and to me worn out ones work better because they don't leave scratches in the spackle. I'm wondering if you can cut your own pads but like I said...I haven't really investigated it taht much yet...next spackle job.
"Even if embryonic stem cells are absolutely good for nothing at all how can anyone in good conscience be against using them for research given that they are going to be destroyed anyway"? J.Hayes
http://www.john-lennon.com/imagine-neilyoung.ra
http://WWW.CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
I'm not sure I know what you mean. A Porter Cable what...? Does Porter Cable make some sort of drywall sander? Am I correct in assuming that I'd use the finer grades (220 or 240) to sand joint compound, no matter what contraption I'll end up using? Thanks.
BB is talking about an electric sander thats attached to its own vacuum. A lot more expensive than that pole..over $600-700. Its a different animal entirely.
And a fine grit is best if you use sanding screeds. too course and it scratches the drywall compound badly especially with the normal rectagle shaped sanders because you usually sand in a straight line. I try to avoid doing that which is why I'm guess that disc sander is good. I like worn out screeds better'n new ones (to a degree).
Try Grabber.com for drywall stuff. Thats who I use. I also noticed them on ebay when i was selling my stilts.
"Even if embryonic stem cells are absolutely good for nothing at all how can anyone in good conscience be against using them for research given that they are going to be destroyed anyway"? J.Hayes
http://www.john-lennon.com/imagine-neilyoung.ra
http://WWW.CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
to add..."screeds" can and should be banged off when clogged after a bit of use and when they're really spent you can just turn them over and use the other side.
"Even if embryonic stem cells are absolutely good for nothing at all how can anyone in good conscience be against using them for research given that they are going to be destroyed anyway"? J.Hayes
http://www.john-lennon.com/imagine-neilyoung.ra
http://WWW.CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
I'll second that "rent a PC sander" idea. PC power sanders are great -- minimum dust, fast, smooth, and the head swivels pretty nicely so the job is pretty low on the "sucks" scale. Hand pole sanding, on the other hand, is pretty much at the top of the "sucks" scale. ;-)
If you are new to drywalling, the biggest mistake newbies make is to just glop on the first coat or two, thinking "I'll just sand it out later." Big mistake. Your first coats should be smooth enough that you don't really have to sand -- just knock off a few bumps so the subsequent coat goes on nicely. Sanding should only be relied on to smooth out the final surface and feather the edges -- not level it. You use your dw trowel/knife to make it level when you are putting it on.
Renting the PC sanders can get expensive -- about $60 per day here. But, if you do your mudding properly, you really only need it for your final sanding and you can do a lot of joints with a PC in a day. I don't do a lot of dw, but there are two tools that, for me, are always worth the rental -- a lift and a PC.
Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA
Renting the PC sanders can get expensive -- about $60 per day here.$20 for the weekend here, If I can ever find a good deal on one, I'm buying it
Edited 7/9/2007 7:07 pm by brownbagg
Whoa! At $20 for two days, it's really a no-brainer! That's almost as cheap as owning your own.
Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA
It $20 a day but since they are close on sunday, sundays are free
I've got one and use it all the time. (PC Sander)Funny thing is, I stumbled onto it when I was buying a Fein vac at one of the Woodworking shows 7-8 years ago.Another guy at the Fein booth was there and the PC sander came up in conversation and he mentioned he had one, and his guys couldn't figure out how to use it properly. He said he liked it fine, but had no need for it and the 6-7 boxes of PC foam sanding discs and he'd sell it to me for $225. I probably paid less for the whole package than it would have cost me for just the pads.I don't do a lot of large DW jobs, but I really like to use it for the smaller jobs. I'm doing a little facelift on a crappy basement bathroom now with some drywall repairs and full painting everywhere, andthe PC excels at not only sanding DW repair areas, but also for "prepping" older painted walls by knocking down some of the inherent texture that you find in previous half-butt paint jobs.For new drywall, you do have to have a light touch to avoid fuzzing the DW paper or burning through the tape, but that's easy to master and there is absolutely NO DUST and the walls are very clean afterwards.Not sure if I'd buy one for $479, but it's good to own one - it gets alot of use over here.Julian
Thats $479 WITH the vaccum..right?
"Even if embryonic stem cells are absolutely good for nothing at all how can anyone in good conscience be against using them for research given that they are going to be destroyed anyway"? J.Hayes
http://www.john-lennon.com/imagine-neilyoung.ra
http://WWW.CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
guess thats just the sander..sorry
http://cgi.ebay.com/PORTER-CABLE-MODEL-7800-DRYWALL-SANDER-FINISHER-120V-NR_W0QQitemZ160137377297QQihZ006QQcategoryZ43594QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
View Image
PORTER CABLE MODEL 7800 DRYWALL SANDER FINISHER 120V NR
Item number: 160137377297
View Image
View Image
View Image
You are signed in
Watch this item in My eBay
View Image
View Image
View Image
View Image
This item has been added to My eBay for Guests.As a guest, you can:View Image Track up to 10 items on this computer in My eBay Receive an email reminder for this item a few hours before it ends
View Image
View Image
View Image
View Image
View Image
View Image
View Image
View Image
View Image
View Image
View Image
View Image
View Image
1 of 5
View Image
Supersize
View Image
View Image
Starting bid:
US $259.99
View Image
End time:
<!---->Jul-22-07 11:13:40 PDT<!----> <!---->(6 days 23 hours)<!---->
Shipping costs:
US $53.23UPS GroundService to 11724, United States(more services)
Calculate
Ships to:
United States
Item location:
Denver, CO, United States
History:
0 bids
"Even if embryonic stem cells are absolutely good for nothing at all how can anyone in good conscience be against using them for research given that they are going to be destroyed anyway"? J.Hayes
http://www.john-lennon.com/imagine-neilyoung.ra
http://WWW.CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Looks like they are up to $500 just the sander and a 13' hose at Amazon.If mine was stolen, I probably don't love it enough to replace it at that cost, but I might buy a used one for $200 or so...JT
Its the kind of tool you DO see in Ebay pretty often at a good price. People buy them and use them a few times then sell them when their drywall or whatever careers are over....lol. I think specialty tools like that sell at pretty reasonable prices...Its stuff like the Fein Vacs and Multimaster that you never find good deals on.
"Even if embryonic stem cells are absolutely good for nothing at all how can anyone in good conscience be against using them for research given that they are going to be destroyed anyway"? J.Hayes
http://www.john-lennon.com/imagine-neilyoung.ra
http://WWW.CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Andy I have a PC sander that was used on one job (yes it was worth the cost). Make me an offer. Only have one slightly used disc but everything else is there, including the box. I don't have the vacuum, just the hose and sander."Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
Thanks Eddie but I don't really need it. MAtter of fact I've been selling some tools on Ebay that I haven't used in a long time. Need clear out some merch so when I move there's that much less to worry about. So far I got rid of my drywall stilts and Bosch cordless jig saw (tool only) and Beismier fence and sold my DW laser level yesterday. Try Ebay...I've been having luck with it selling stuff. My sanding pole is really all I've needed "so far"...I'm pretty decent at spackling after all these years.
Thanks again though.
"Even if embryonic stem cells are absolutely good for nothing at all how can anyone in good conscience be against using them for research given that they are going to be destroyed anyway"? J.Hayes
http://www.john-lennon.com/imagine-neilyoung.ra
http://WWW.CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Just my opinion, but I try to keep things a simple as possible. Right now I use a cheap green plastic rectangular one. Not even on a pole. I'm not doing a lot of drywall finishing though. A pole sander would be a step up from that. I like to have more control so I get on a ladder and get closer. I also use lights and glasses to see what I'm doing. White walls can drive you batty after a while so lighting the area you are working on from the side will help.
When most people start out they sand to much. The object is to not put so much mud on that you have to sand a lot. Fill up the area to level and then walk away. When it dries you can scrape off some high spots with your 6" knife and put another layer on without sanding.
I use 80 grit because I'm lazy and I'm not going for super smooth walls. The 80 grit leaves some lines in the mud so you might try like 120 for the finish.
Do a search on my name with Radius 360, I've got a trade thread set up for those disks. I have a big pack of the 180 grit, and am trying to trade them with others so I can get a variety of grits.
Another option - I think Sherwin Williams stores have 5 packs available.
Personally, I'm looking to get some coarser grits.
I love my 360!
Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
Parenting has always been a mix of sage life advice and inexcusable laziness.
The guy I use for all of my major taping jobs has one of these disc sanders, and he swears by it.
So much so, that I bought one for the times I am forced to do it myself. And I think it is a quantum leap better than a conventional rectangular sanding pad.
I use 80 grit for the first pass, and 120 grit for the final.
********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
what popawheelie said:
"When most people start out they sand to much. The object is to not put so much mud on that you have to sand a lot. Fill up the area to level and then walk away. When it dries you can scrape off some high spots with your 6" knife and put another layer on without sanding."it's waaaaay easier, cleaner, downright better, to add a few thin layers, knock off the little globs and ridges with a knife, then only final sand the whole thing. as bart simpson would say- "sanding sucks."m
I agree with the other posters. Thin coats of smooth mud are better. Sanding is the pitts try to eliminate as much of it as you can.
The radius 360 looks like it works well and has gotten good reveiws. However the things that really helped my drywall work was to pitch the cheap plastic mud pan in favor of a 14 inch stainless pan. Much easier to clean, no curlies of plastic in the mud and the extra length allows me to keep crumbly mud and junk out of the cleaner mud in my pan.
Other improvements I have made was also to chuck the old sander to the curb and purchase a vacuum sander, virtually dust free. I could sand and then roll on the primer right away. No clean up on the floor, no mess. I still ran the shopvac over the wall but it was just because I was used to that.
THe sander I bought was made by Hyde tools and I bought it on amazon. It was about 60 bucks.
Another improvement in my technique came from using a 4 inch knife to imbed my tape in the compound I think the 6 inch knife allows to much to remain on the wall. I would rather imbed the tape with the smaller four inch kniofe then apply a thin, thin, thin, coat of mud over the tape. I feel like I have more control over the process. The mud dries a little bettter too, sucking in the tape good and tight.
Webby
Edited 7/9/2007 6:50 pm ET by webby