Are drywall sanders with vacuum attachment any good?

[roc_on_the_rocks]

Hey folks,
My attached garage (21' x 26' x 8') is all drywalled but I'm planning to paint it and fix several drywall dings in the process, including an ugly seam on the ceiling. Predicting a lot of drywall sanding, I am considering buying one of these drywall sanding devices with a vacuum attachment, like this by Hyde:

Dust-Free Vacuum Pole Sander Kit (with pole)

Does anybody here have any experience with them?

Thank you.

 

[jkeyser14]

Yes, they are awesome. Edit: I replaced the sanding sponge on mine with one that had the grooves cut in it. It helped prevent buildup of drywall dust in the abbrassive and helped it capture more dust.

 

[topcok88]

Hard to go wrong with a Festool Planex LHS 225 for $1,210. If you want the best available for dust collection that is the one for you.


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[Leaflessshadetree]

The sanders work good. Unfortunately many vacuums don't do well with the fine dust.

 

[stonesfan68]

The sanders work good. Unfortunately many vacuums don't do well with the fine dust.

Yes, make sure that you get a high/fine dust filter for the shop vacuum or you'll be frustrated in a hurry.

 

[acer66]

works well for me on small jobs and yes on what was said about the vacuum.

 

[DTE]

I always run a dust bag in the vacuum and that helps a lot.

 

[k1rodeoboater]

I bought a WEN electric pole sander for about $100. Best money spent. Pair it with a shop vac bag and a hepa filter and it's amazing.theres virtually no dust.

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[jdsac]

Read the replacement filter packaging- most say not for drywall dust. I just wrap a damp towel around the filter- doesn't catch all of the dust, but most.

 

[Git]

Another option - just skim coat it

Remove any loose material, get a 5-gallon bucket of mud, thin it out a bit and apply it to the wall with a paint roller. Trowell it out, prime and your ready to paint and think how your going spend that $1,200 you just saved

 

[DieselNut88]

Porter Cable makes a good one.

 

[landlord30]

Make a water trap out of a 5 gallon bucket to keep vacuum from clogging.

 

[hefnerconstructionlc]

Rent the porter cable one, and hook it up to a shop vac with a bag. Works great.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Porter-Cable-Drywall-Sander-with-Dust-Collection-7800/100609443

 

[Daedalus]

I have done my share of drywall. I find it much easier to use a hand sander while standing on a platform to reach the ceiling (assuming the ceiling is not too tall), rather than a sander on a pole.

For dust, I have had great results with this thing, and just loaned it to a buddy today for a kitchen remodel. I just wish the lid was not quite so flimsy.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005A1K8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Higgins]

Porter Cable makes a good one.

Ditto on the PC drywall sanding systems. Had the older system we used on all our home and garage projects.
Now in storage waiting our next home project!

 

[BigGarage]

Hey folks,
My attached garage (21' x 26' x 8') is all drywalled but I'm planning to paint it and fix several drywall dings in the process, including an ugly seam on the sealing. Predicting a lot of drywall sanding, I am considering buying one of these drywall sanding devices with a vacuum attachment, like this by Hyde:

Dust-Free Vacuum Pole Sander Kit (with pole)

Does anybody here have any experience with them?

Thank you.

I have experience with the pole mounted sander. I did a 9 ft. high ceiling a few years ago in my 2nd floor half-bath. I sure wish I had one of these with vacuum.

I looked like Casper the Ghost when I was done and I had a high power whole house exhaust fan running at the bottom of the stairs. Coated the hell out of the carpet (and me).

Dennis

 

[Spulen81]

I have that exact hyde pole mount and the hand held sander also. Both work awesome, just make sure you have a separator or you may burn out your vac pretty quick.

Like some others I made a water filter with a 5 gallon bucket and some screen. I also use this for sucking up bugs on the house and sand blasting.

 

[Bretny]

Gesus what did you put that mud on with a shovel? If you need to do alot of sanding your doing it wrong. Less is more in drywall. Also adding another coat to a low are is alot easier than sanding down a **** job.

Use a sanding sponge dry when your done making it flat.

 

[SGKent]

I remember the first time I picked up drywall sanding dust with my old vacuum. The dust went right thru the paper bag and made a cloud. No wonder my lungs aren't as good as when I was a young man. Make sure the bag is made for gypsum dust.

 

[johnnyradiant]

Spend time filling so that the first 2 coats need hardly any sanding. I try to get to where I'm only knocking off the odd high ridge with a trowel before the next coat, with each coat getting wider as I go.

Use a 5 gallon bucket water filter. If it's a shop vac capable of taking the dust odds are a bit is escaping, and either way you'll get more life out of the vac if it incorporates the bucket filter.

Unlike Daedalus I prefer a pole for most all of the work walls & ceilings. By hand for some of the final work is sometimes easier or sometimes necessary, but I at least start with a pole sander. I find the light weight plastic sanding heads tend to flop around a little too much compared to a heavier more expensive model. Rending a professional electric one would be nice but in the hands of little to no experience you could find yourself re-filling if not careful.

Don't sand the paper surface of the drywall.

When sanding ceilings I prefer to get the room as still as possible so the dust settles down rather than blown around, walls are dependent on the actual job, but still air for them too. A good, proper fitting mask that is actually on your face and not stored someplace is essential.

They make some mud that has less floating dust. The product name common around here is Dust-Away. It has more tendency to drop straight down. It does not yield the ultra fine finish as the regular top coats but is comparable to the all around muds. On reno's it works good for me to get to the finish stage then I put a skim coat of top coat on and do a light sanding on surfaces that are critical. A shop is not critical to me.

 

[The Cobbler]

I have a Princess Auto sander, equivalent to the WEN . love it. virtually no dust .

 

[crf731]

I finished the walls in our basement many years ago. Used one of those sanding tools. It worked great

 

[roc_on_the_rocks]

Thanks a lot guys, all great tips. And thanks for the watch outs regarding vacuum life. I use a fine bag in my 5-gal 6hp Shop-Vac but I'm considering the water bucket dust trap or a Dust Deputy.

I'm now deciding now between a manual Hyde sander versus electrics (Wen or Porter Cable). My next drywall work in is small closets so a compact tool would be preferred.

PS.: I've never touched that ceiling, it came that way when I bought the house.

Thanks again.