Recommendation on a Drywall Lift

[Augus7us]

Hey Gang,

I need a drywall lift to do some work in the shop and in the basement of the house.

I would preferably like to find one that is budget friendly and will go up to 12' so I can use it to install my metal ceiling panels also.

When I look at CL or ebay they all seem to be the same with different mfg stamped on them and varying prices. So I was hoping someone here found a good deal on one that will get the job done. Thanks!

 

[vavet]

I came to the same conclusion - they're all about the same. And they only go up to 11-1/2 feet. There are some that have an extension to reach 15 feet. If you want to reach 12 feet, you'll need one with an extension kit.

I tried to sell mine to the contractor who ultimately finished my drywall job in my garage. He was not interested because he said they didn't use them. They slowed him down. When you have a few people who know how to hang 12 foot sheets of drywall, they just get after it. The lifts are for us amateurs.

 

[strutaeng]

Hey Gang,

I need a drywall lift to do some work in the shop and in the basement of the house.

I would preferably like to find one that is budget friendly and will go up to 12' so I can use it to install my metal ceiling panels also.

When I look at CL or ebay they all seem to be the same with different mfg stamped on them and varying prices. So I was hoping someone here found a good deal on one that will get the job done. Thanks!

Yeah, they are all about the same, probably welded together by kids across the pond. I bought the basic one from NT for my 8' ceilings. Used 5/8x4x12 sheets. I installed about 20 sheets walls/ceilings with a helper and lift over 2 partial weekends.

Had another 100 sheets in a 17' ceiling and hired pros for this. 8 guys working in pairs or 3s working on 2 scaffolds did it in one day, walls and ceiling. Pros. did not use the lift. It's just sitting in my backyard...

 

[Dodgeman]

I'm planning to hang corrugated metal on my ceiling and been shopping around for drywall lift deals. I plan to go with Harbor Freight's. I think $209, then using their 20% or 25% off coupon, making it about $160ish plus tax. But I think it's max height is 11'6". You'd need an extension kit. Might check them out.

 

[rburke65]

Rental companies do have ones that go to ..?..15’, but...not at all stores. A local rental had to get me a talker lift from his other store.

 

[finn]

I ordered one off the Internet that had an optional 15’ mast.

Best $159 I spent (probably gone up considerably with the tariffs and inflation).

Used it to hang two garage heaters, the steel got the 13.5’ high ceiling in the garage, and six rooms in a house.

Then I loaned it out.

Unfortunately, it found it’s way home!

Hopefully I am done with it for life.

 

[n20junkie]

I bought one years ago. I agree that it’s money well spent!

 

[Stuart in MN]

Unless you have plans for a bunch more drywall work in the future, I'd rent one instead of buying one. Otherwise you'll have this big old thing sitting around and getting in your way for the next 20 years.

 

[kaymccampbell]

I bought the HF one. Sold it for half what I paid. Cranked a lot of 5/8 x-rated up in the shop. The height limitation never came into play, but I imagine that 15 minutes with a welder would stretch it the extra 6".

 

[MushCreek]

I looked into renting one, but if you're like most DIY'ers, you'll need it for a number of days. For me, it would have cost more than buying a cheap one. Around here in SC, they come up on CL for $100-150 regularly. As for me, I made an attachment for my cherry picker engine hoist to do my garage. Worked pretty good, and dropped all the way to the floor for loading the heavy 5/8th's sheets.

I just did a tin ceiling in my 22' high great room, and just put up the 10' sheets by hand, up on scaffolding. They're a lot lighter than drywall, though!

 

[ddurrett896]

I got that Northern one for $100.

They sell for $160 and drop to $130-$140 on sale plus a coupon gets it down. Will use it and sell for at least $100.

 

[CraigStu]

I rented one 5 yrs ago and will buy if ever need one again. Having that 'one day' rental and working by myself had me hurrying a lot more than I would have liked. It could have been a much less frustrating job if I'd been able to move at my own pace. A lot of those rental places open at 630 or 7 am so picking it up was fine. Getting it back there the next day so I didn't have an extra charge wasn't much fun.

 

[onlyn8v]

Ask around, ask friends. It worked for me, most guys after using don't ever want to see it again. That is the main reason I decided not to buy one

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Ask around, ask friends. It worked for me, most guys after using don't ever want to see it again. That is the main reason I decided not to buy one

I bought whatever was cheapest on E-bay (actually I split the cost with a friend). Cost about the same as a couple days rent. People keep borrowing it and it always comes back (try that with other tools). I have used it quite a bit and never feel pressed for time.

 

[rburke65]

I got that Northern one for $100.

They sell for $160 and drop to $130-$140 on sale plus a coupon gets it down. Will use it and sell for at least $100.

I’ll bet you didn’t get a ‘high lift’ unit for a $100....

 

[Ohmthis]

I’ve got the HF one. I’ve had it for several years and I find tons of things to do with it besides drywall. I do HVAC, and have used it to lift duct work, hanging furnaces, ducted mini split units and other stuff.

 

[Burl]

I’ll bet you didn’t get a ‘high lift’ unit for a $100....

I got a 15' high one on the net for 120 shipped on black friday. Did my garage over the winter and sold it about a month ago for an extra $40. Those things work great !!

 

[CTyankee]

Unless you have plans for a bunch more drywall work in the future, I'd rent one instead of buying one. Otherwise you'll have this big old thing sitting around and getting in your way for the next 20 years.

I'd have to disagree...even if it would only see usage for one job. As others mentioned you get to work on your schedule and not the rental place. As to taking up space, they actually fold up nicely and don't take up much room at all. But if your done..put it up on CL/FB at 1/2 the purchase price. Heck, IMO for pretty much any HOer, it would be worth buying even if they threw it anyway when they were done. It's not like you're getting your rental money back either. YMMV.

 

[Augus7us]

Thanks for the replies guys. For my purposes renting is not an option. Its going to take too long and I want to use it in the house once I'm finished with the shop. After that I'll sell it.

You guys confirmed my suspicions that they are all really the same. I found one on ebay for 220 shipped that goes up to 16'. Best deal I found so far.

 

[Notgrownup]

I bought a HF for $100 on CL and sold it for $100 on CL.