DDM Dustless Pole Sander

[dgbldr]

Does anyone here use one of these? Can you explain to me what it is? It looks like a manual pole sander with a vacuum hose BUT it costs more than the Porter Cable power sander. Am I missing something here? What does it do that warrants that kind of price?

[jasoncring]

It sure seems far too expensive for an extraction-converted pole sander. I could convert mine in an afternoon with minimal cost so I don't get it either. Maybe they misplaced the decimal point.

Or does it come with a vac for that price ($545 All Wall)?

[dgbldr]

Jason, it does NOT include the vac. If you look closely, it does appear to be constructed well, with a rubber boot over the swivel, but it only works with screen. They do not sell sandpaper with holes, nor do they have a simple tool to make perforations in regular sandpaper, like you get with ordinary 1/4 sheet orbital sanders. From the lack of replies, I'm guessing nobody actually owns one of these, so that kinda answers my question, eh?

DG/Builder

[jasoncring]

Also from All Wall - you can get a sanding pole head and an extension handle for about $25. That leaves $520 to cover other materials and your time to convert it, so you'd probably come out around $100/hr better off including your drive time to the hardware store.

http://www.all-wall.com/acatalog/Dus...ll_Sanding.php

has a couple other models with less insulting pricetags. Even the one for $280 has me laughing. Asking $545 for a sanding pole is plain rude.

Edit: All these "dustless" systems count on the vac to do its job well all the time - something I've never seen. I still wear a Sundstrom SR 100,
http://www.srsafety.se/
It's comparatively comfortable and the pre-filters are so cheap they're almost free. Mine's seen heavy use for about 10 months now and I'm happy with it.

[dgbldr]

Jason, no need to make your own. If you look on the same page, All Wall sells a vacuum pole for $50, by FibaTape. I have one and while it's not of exceptional quality, it works OK. As you said, $550 vs $50 is a bit rude.

To make your own with the dust/air going through the pole like the FibaTape would be a bit of a fabrication job.

DG/Builder

[Stilts]

You've just given me a great idea. I've never got around to buying a dustless sanding system, because I didn't like the idea of carting around a lot of extra hose and dragging the vacuum all over the place. Especially when I'm sanding on stilts. But you're respirator reminded me of those backpack vacs. I could carry one of those on my back, and a short length of hose to the pole would be all you'd need.

I've heard those backpack vacs actually do a pretty good job, anyone had any experience with them? Too bad I havn't been doing very many large finishing jobs lately, just patch and remodel type things.

[jasoncring]

Yup. I've been wrestling with one for about 10 months now. It earns me more money than the "drag around" kind - it's just faster and no hoses to snag on pipes or rubbish. Just watch the walls behind you when you move through narrow areas like hallways.

The filtration system isn't up to the job, however. The cloth bag tends to clog up after about five minutes and airflow gets pretty low. A lot more dust escapes from the PC than with my Festool, but it's heaps better than with no vac at all. Low airflow also doesn't let the motor get cooled enough, so the plastic housing is now deformed from being semi-melted. I think I'm lucky the thing still runs. Oh, and I had to duct tape a double adaptor to the vac's power plug to run the PC with it - safety first, right!.

I only use the Festool one job out of 20 now, but I wouldn't recommend the back pac for someone who's looking for a system which works well straight out of the box - I'm still in the experimental stages anyway. Also, most of our jobs are ceilings only, so the mobility of the back pac really suits me.

If anyone finds one that works well, please please let me know.

[austinzilla]

I have owned one of these for 2 years now . I know they seem expensive but they are hand made in seattle not china . I have used the other brands the ddm far out performs and is much higher quality than the fiber-tape or the red one . I own a company that does drywall repairs and small occupied remodels and the time in masking and cleanup that this saves makes it well worth the price The porter cable is a good tool to but to large and cumbersome for small jobs

[Joepro0000]

I agree the porter cable is too big for small jobs. I only use it now on jobs over 60 sheets. Under, I use my radius 360. You guys don't want to bite the dust, learn to do a slick finish, and brush the walls after.

[austinzilla]

Its not about eating the dust its about working in occupied homes and keeping the dust to a minumum

[Mike from NH]

Minimizing dust is always a thing to consider when working in occupied home (or anywhere really) as thats 95% of my drywall business. However I think that using the Radius 360 and the new Flex Edge to sand with in combination with better finish coat, is the answer. The Plus 3 w/ dust control also helps. I bought my PC 7800 in 2005, bought the 360 a year so so later and haven't used the PC since. In fact I have it on craigslist for sale! The design of the DDM sucks it may be great, but for $500+ I'm all set!

[austinzilla]

ok you got me what is a flex edge and what is a plus 3 im always looking for new ideas

[Mike from NH]

Austinzilla-

Why don't you fill out your profile, and we'll take it from there.

[dgbldr]

I know they seem expensive but they are hand made in seattle not china.

Duuuude...WHAT is hand made? There's only 4 main parts: the pole, rubber boot, yoke and sanding plate. You can't make the rubber boot, needs to be molded. You shouldn't make the pole, it's a pretty standard item. And you shouldn't make the plate or yoke by hand, that's just stupid.

That leaves about 60 seconds of manual assembly time. $500 is pretty steep for that :)

[elkhornsun]

A much better solution is the $179 turbo sander from Dustless Technologies. Their turbo pole sander has a special turbine device inside the head that works just like a electrical powered sheet sander but it is powered by the suction from the vacuum. It works great for sanding and all the dust is sucked into the vacuum.

With the Dustless Technologies sanding gear and the Hole Pro shielded cutters for can lights I can fully comply with the new law that goes into effect December 12, 2008 and save time on the job. Also nice not to be breathing in all that dust. I have a co-worker who is retiring early due to empheysma - he has never smoked, just breathed in a lot of gypsum and plaster dust over the years.