The rental cost is $200 for 7 days or $266 for 16 days and the return shipping cost.Not likly to be very cost effective with the long learning curve.
May not be that more expence to just hire it out.
The rock is already hung. Just need finishing.You can do it but there is a leaning curve. The first few times I used them I hated them. I don't really know if 7 days is enough time to learn them or not. Have you looked into you hanging the rock and just pay to have it finished.
Thanks for all the great advice. Sounds like you believe an amateur can do an adequate job. The videos contained all the advice you offered except on the WD40 and the Black Lid Mud. It just said the tape machine needed thinner mud than the flat boxes and that one would need to add some water to the taping applicator.tips "sincerity"
when it comes to mud, use an all purpose mud...or green lid form HD or Lowes.
The best would be a machine grade mud like proform goldbond (black lid) or at a supply house ...Ruco ap
when mixing take a full pan of mud out of your bucket before mixing. keep adding water until you have a consistency that will PUMP into the gun easily. If you are struggling to pump the mud, the mud is still to thick. empty the gun and re mix.
depending on if you are right handed, when placing the tape on the reel for the gun and the gun is sitting on the gooseneck of the pump. the tape should spin counter clockwise and the tape should make its way to the guide hanging over to the right of the reel. Be sure and use wd40 before you begin. DO Not spray it on the tape reel. but be sure the guide for the tape has a good coat. The tape should slide right through the gun and have a good amount of oil on the very first foot....cut that portion off.....
sense you watched the video you should be up on how to use the gate valve, adjust the advance pin and replace the cutter blade if necessary. also using the creaser to kick and tuck the tape into the converging angles at ceiling height should be a snap.
angle mud should always be looser than the tape you used on the butt-joints and flats. The video probably explained all this already though.
good luck and make the video
Sounds like you believe an amateur can do an adequate job.
