Thanks for visiting our Specialty Drywall Tools section!
Previously you have learned – on theBasic Drywall Toolspage what tools you will need to get started on your drywall project.
Here we will go a step further by listing the specialty drywall tools you can use to make your project go by faster and with more ease.
Drywall Drill– Drywall drill or drywall screw guns are drills whose sole purpose is installing drywall screws. These drywall drills have an adjustable nosepiece & variable speeds that allow you to adjust the depth of the screws. These drills can are highly recommended and immensely helpful for drywall installation. They will save you many hours and headaches over the course of a typical drywall installation job. Drywall drills range greatly in price based on brands.
Drywall Router– This power tool is, like the drywall drill, highly recommended for those looking to take some of the stress and manual labor out of drywall installation. The drywall router is simply a cutting tool that functions something like a drill, with a rotational bit that makes cutting drywall a breeze. Caution must be used when using a drywall router to ensure that you cut only drywall and not studs or wiring beneath the drywall.
Circle Cutter– The circle cutter is a simple circle-shaped tool that allows for the easy cutting of circular light-fixture boxes or other necessary circular cuts. You’ll find it is not a simple task to cut circles using a typical keyhole saw or drywall saw. If you decide to purchase a drywall router, do not bother purchasing a circle cutter as well, as the router can be used to easily cut circles as well.
Drywall Tape Dispenser– Drywall tape dispensers come in a few different styles, depending upon the type or types of tape that you are using on your project. Mesh tape dispensers can come in very handy. These look like the handheld dispensers used for shipping tape.
Paper tape dispensers are often calledBanjosdue to their distinctive shape. If you prefer to use paper tape for your entire project, these paper tape dispensers may come in very handy.
If you follow the taping instructions on this website, we recommend fiberglass mesh tape for the straight seams and paper tape for the corners (because it is easier to fold). If you purchase a good fiberglass tape dispenser, these often come with a “creaser” for applying fiberglass tape to corners. This is highly recommended, and removes the need for using paper tape at all.
Drywall HawkA drywall hawk is a portable tray that you can hold by its handle in your hand in place of a mud pan. It looks like a square flat platter with a handle on the bottom. The drywall hawk allows for easier access to the mud without the need for constant bending and digging into a mud pan.
RespiratorSome of you may prefer more respiratory protection than a simple dust mask can provide. Respirators come in a variety of forms – half-mask & full-face being the most common – and also offer a variety of different types of filter cartridges for these respirators. Particulate filters should be the only necessary form of protection for drywall installation. Full-face respirators provide added protection to your eyes from the drying, irritating gypsum dust created by drywall cutting and sanding.
Floor Light– Floor lights (spotlights) can come in very handy when installing drywall. Natural and overhead light can often be deceiving, especially when it is not evenly distributed throughout the room.
A high-wattage floor lamp can be a great help when applying and inspecting mud & tape around joints and in corners. Keep in mind that minor defects that are not immediately apparent during the installation process can become far more noticeable once a wall has been painted or lighting is upgraded.
These specialty drywall tools will help take some of the pain out of installing drywall. The drywall drill, router, and tape dispenser alone can eliminate many hours of work and aching muscles. As in any home improvement project, a small investment in the right tools and equipment can often make the difference between a fairly simple, quality job and a hair-pulling mess.