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World's Slowest Drywaller

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JulieMor

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Discussion Starter · #1 ·
I think I have achieved the the status of world's slowest drywaller now. Four days ago I started rocking our master bedroom. It's about 15'x15' and I'm only doing the walls. I think I'm averaging about 45 minutes per sheet with a lot of goofing around thrown in there. Granted, there have been no sheets I haven't had to cut but I think I have mastered the snail's pace.

And I'm still not done :plain:
 
B

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#3 ·
People often ask for advice on "how-to" their drywall and I have to bite my tongue so to speak. There are so many little tricks that one simply has to learn from doing and you are in the learning phase. I cheated and worked alongside a very good drywaller and picked up much of what I know, from how to open and close a mud bucket to applying more pressure to one side or the other on my drywall knife. Throw in a few hundred sheets of 12' 5/8" drywall and I ended up much better than I started.

Do you have one of the lifting handles for the drywall? Do you have the toe lifter to push the sheets up against the ceiling? How about a rasp to clean up a cut edge and shave off a little if needed. Then there is the rotozip for cutting out the electrical boxes, but that takes some practice.

I still haven't mastered all of the cutting techniques, like holding the razor blade at the end of the tape and sliding the length of the sheet.

Sometimes when we DIY our hourly pay drops below a dollar, but we are proud of what we do.

Bud
 
A

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#5 · (Edited)
A few years ago I was finishing my basement and I was averaging three hours apiece for putting up drywall panels for the walls.

This included the cutting for electric outlets, doorways, etc.

One problem I ran into was warped studs where the panel did not contact a stud because the studs on each side protruded further into the room. I ended up fastening cardboard shims the the stud in question.
 
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JulieMor

· Cruising into the sunset
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Discussion Starter · #6 ·
Bud9051 said:
Do you have one of the lifting handles for the drywall? Do you have the toe lifter to push the sheets up against the ceiling? How about a rasp to clean up a cut edge and shave off a little if needed. Then there is the rotozip for cutting out the electrical boxes, but that takes some practice.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I have all the tools - toe lifter, compass, rasp, corner bead crimper, drywall saw, rotozip, etc. 30 years ago I was drywalling my house (I think it was about 200 sheets) and bought all the tools then (less the rotozip). What I don't have is energy, enthusiasm and youth. And strength - even the ultralight drywall is a struggle. I guess that's what happens when you hit 65. :wheelchair:

What I'd like now is maybe a corner roller and flat box for the taping. Watching the tapers, they make it look so easy. But I'll make do with my mud pan and taping knives.

What I'd really like is this:

cuz I hate sanding drywall!
 
chrisn

· paper hanger and painter
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#7 ·
JulieMor said:
Yeah, I have all the tools - toe lifter, compass, rasp, corner bead crimper, drywall saw, rotozip, etc. 30 years ago I was drywalling my house (I think it was about 200 sheets) and bought all the tools then (less the rotozip). What I don't have is energy, enthusiasm and youth. And strength - even the ultralight drywall is a struggle. I guess that's what happens when you hit 65. :wheelchair:

What I'd like now is maybe a corner roller and flat box for the taping. Watching the tapers, they make it look so easy. But I'll make do with my mud pan and taping knives.

What I'd really like is this:

cuz I hate sanding drywall!
Click to expand...
I wish I had one of them also, but I never will
 
B

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#8 ·
To AllanJ, the warped studs are taken care of well before the drywall starts. Take a look at a drywall hammer, in addition to a special hammer end, the other side is a hatchet which is used to trim high spots. A long straight board and a couple of hours (depending upon how bad it is) and a few other tricks the walls are flat, then you move forward.

JM, when I work by myself I use the carrying handle and will frequently screw a 2x4 to the wall as needed to provide a lip to support the next sheet of drywall.

I also use a Senco drywall screw gun, it's like a third hand.

"I guess that's what happens when you hit 65." I'm almost 69 and although I feel the same pain, the more I do the more I can do. Hate the winter up here as I become a shut-in. Just getting started again and it feels good. Slow, certainly, but worth it.

Bud
 
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JulieMor

· Cruising into the sunset
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Discussion Starter · #9 ·
Bud9051 said:
I'm almost 69 and although I feel the same pain, the more I do the more I can do. Hate the winter up here as I become a shut-in. Just getting started again and it feels good. Slow, certainly, but worth it.
Click to expand...
That's one of the reasons I moved to Florida. Winter shut-in took its toll and it was taking me longer and longer to recover. It took us four months from the time we arrived here to close on our house and even that inactive time took a toll on me. I've learned at this age you gotta keep moving or you lose it fast.
 
T

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#11 ·
Bud9051 said:
To AllanJ, the warped studs are taken care of well before the drywall starts. Take a look at a drywall hammer, in addition to a special hammer end, the other side is a hatchet which is used to trim high spots. A long straight board and a couple of hours (depending upon how bad it is) and a few other tricks the walls are flat, then you move forward.

JM, when I work by myself I use the carrying handle and will frequently screw a 2x4 to the wall as needed to provide a lip to support the next sheet of drywall.

I also use a Senco drywall screw gun, it's like a third hand.

"I guess that's what happens when you hit 65." I'm almost 69 and although I feel the same pain, the more I do the more I can do. Hate the winter up here as I become a shut-in. Just getting started again and it feels good. Slow, certainly, but worth it.

Bud
Click to expand...
Trim Tex also makes a product called shim on a roll. It comes in 100' rolls the same width as the stud in 2 thicknesses 1/8" and 1/16". Makes shimming out studs easy. I'm 71 and refuse to use the lightweight drywall.
 
B

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#12 ·
Hi TS, that could have its uses, but when a stud bows on one side it is bowing out on the other. Sometimes I would cut 3/4 of the way through, maybe a couple of cuts, at the mid-point of the bend and Drive a couple of nails in to close the cut, thus straightening the stud. Then a short sister beside it for strength and both sides are straight.

I had chest pain issues and had to do nothing for a couple of months. Wow did that take some effort to get me back on my feet. I have a riding lawn mower, but I told the wife I will be using the walk behind this year. Sure wish they had a gym for fat old guys.

Bud
 
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D

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#13 ·
JulieMor said:
I think I have achieved the the status of world's slowest drywaller now. Four days ago I started rocking our master bedroom. It's about 15'x15' and I'm only doing the walls. I think I'm averaging about 45 minutes per sheet with a lot of goofing around thrown in there. Granted, there have been no sheets I haven't had to cut but I think I have mastered the snail's pace.

And I'm still not done :plain:
Click to expand...

You have a long way to go to get that status. I have a sheet of drywall in the basement laundry room that was put up with 2 screws about 12 years ago. I keep telling myself I need to finish that job but, other things keep getting in the way
 
Sir MixAlot

· Drywall and Painting Pro
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#17 ·
JulieMor

· Cruising into the sunset
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Discussion Starter · #18 ·
danpik said:
You have a long way to go to get that status. I have a sheet of drywall in the basement laundry room that was put up with 2 screws about 12 years ago. I keep telling myself I need to finish that job but, other things keep getting in the way
Click to expand...
Well, I'm trying to compete with that. Since that last pic, not a single piece of drywall has been installed.

But I did get the double pocket door set. Lots of cipherin' on that one - instructions left a lot of holes...
 
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