Tools for drywall: what is better to choose. Expert advice

Drywall tools are necessary at all stages of working with the material, from marking and cutting to transportation and installation. At home, they use a regular stationery knife, a construction tape, and a rasp for processing edges. Professionals use a special knife for drywall, as well as tools for working with metal profiles. The main types of such devices are described in the presented material.

For the preparation of

First of all, the material needs to be prepared, that is, markings must be applied. To do this, use the following tool for a drywall profile:

• construction tape (length preferably up to 8 m);
• a plumb line, that is, a reel and a load on a strong thread;
• construction level - bubble models are common, but for greater accuracy it is better to use laser ones.

For cutting drywall

A tool for working with drywall and profiles allows you to cut after applying the required markings. At the same time, cutting the sheets themselves is often done using a knife of the following types:

1. Regular stationery - affordable and easy to use. The blade can be pushed into the plastic housing for safety. Straight cuts are quite accurate, but if you follow a curved line, the level of evenness decreases.
2. A special tool for gypsum boards is a drywall knife, similar in design to a stationery knife. But its blade has a trapezoidal shape, which ensures even cutting both in a straight line and along a pattern.
3. A knife with a disc-shaped blade - it is used for high-precision cutting. This tool is especially convenient for working with drywall because it requires virtually no effort. In addition, the device is durable and can be used for several years.

Along with knives, other tools are used for cutting and cutting:

• cutter - a guide bar with 2 rollers, equipped with a handle on top, with which you can guide and move the blade;
• a hacksaw for drywall is used to obtain high-precision curved cuts;
• An electric jigsaw can be used both on wood and on plasterboard.

For profile cutting

It is clear what tool is needed for drywall. But along with it, devices for cutting profiles are also used. These are more powerful tools for metal working. The most common types are:

• metal scissors are equipped with powerful springs that allow you to get a cut even with slight pressure on the handle;
• a grinder or grinder is another popular tool for profiles; makes good cuts, but due to the impact of sparks, the surface layer is destroyed, creating a threat of corrosion.

For installation

There is also a profile tool that is used directly during installation. Examples are as follows:

1. Battery or mains powered screwdriver. A common device for tightening screws. In professional environments, a cassette screwdriver is often used - it is equipped with an automatic feeding belt for self-tapping screws.
2. Hammers - these tools for working with plaster allow you to drill a hole even in dense concrete materials.
3. A cutter is a special device used to connect profile elements. When combining 2 parts, he makes a puncture in one and a notch in the other. Next, the edges of the notch are folded, and both fragments are connected.
4. Pliers are an auxiliary tool for drywall work, used for straightening or bending profiles.

Additional tools

To work, you will also need additional devices that are used for auxiliary work:

• needle roller - resembles a paint roller, but its surface is equipped with sharp needles, which are located at intervals of 2 cm;
• planes are used for processing edges - common types are roughing (rasp) and actual edging;
• the router is used for milling sheets during the formation of a box or bending sheets;
• spatulas - convenient devices with which to make putty (main types: angular, rubber, metal);
• lift - equipment that temporarily fixes a sheet so that it can be conveniently mounted with another fragment.
• transfer lever – allows you to conveniently transfer fragments from place to place.

These are all common tools for drywall, which are used at the stage from marking and cutting to the actual installation. It is convenient to replace some devices with others; for example, a drill is often used instead of a screwdriver. In addition, professional equipment (lift, milling cutter) is used only for large volumes of work, while at home you can do without them.