The Box Settings

[Joepro0000]

I was wondering does anyone ever use setting number 5 on your boxes?

I run a Columbia 10" box on setting 2 or 3 for the 1st coat.
For the second coat, I use my 12" box on setting 3 or 4.

Never used 5, 0, or 1

[pbranam]

i never used five but i used 0 and 1 on butts

[Capt-sheetrock]

thats kind of loaded question, do you BEND the brass bar that holds the blade, or do you leave it square??
I bend mine abit, that makes for a differant setting of the box.

Personaly, I kick mine wide open for the bed coat,,, just floopng, past the last setting,, and run a 3 on the skim coat, I bed with a 8 and skim with a 10. I use columbia fat=boys

[Mike from NH]

Capt-

I thought you use Alpa-Tech?

[Capt-sheetrock]

Mike, I have both the traditional ames-type tools and the alpha-tech CFS system. I only use the alpha-techs on big jobs usually 400 boards or better.

[Mike from NH]

Craig,

Why only on 400+ sheet jobs? How many guys on your taping crew? For the money is it worth it? How much $$ do you have into AT and the pump/s? Do like the Columbia FB's?

[Capt-sheetrock]

Craig,

Why only on 400+ sheet jobs? How many guys on your taping crew? For the money is it worth it? How much $$ do you have into AT and the pump/s? Do like the Columbia FB's?

When you use the alpah-techs, you HAVE to have third guy, JUST to keep the bucket full. With boxes, two guys can do it all. So do you use three guys and get home at noon, or two guys and get home at three.

Along with that, since the grace pump is $3200 ( and a piece of sh*t) why waste the time and money?

[Capt-sheetrock]

Craig,

Why only on 400+ sheet jobs? How many guys on your taping crew? For the money is it worth it? How much $$ do you have into AT and the pump/s? Do like the Columbia FB's?

I have way MORE in alpha=techs, with NOT anywhere near the return. For the money, its not worth it, unless you handle 500 plus boards a week.

AND yes I love the columbia fat-boys, and columbia will stand behind thier tools, unlike alpha-tech or Graco

[Mike from NH]

Kirk,

Did you here what Craig said?

AT is for doing 500+ boards a week w/ 3 guys. And they don't stand behind their tools.

[Mike from NH]

Kirky---

Well....(read above) ^^^^ !

[Kgphoto]

One sample does not prove a rule. I will ask my local guy who has a set to see what his experience is too.

[Mike from NH]

Kirk,

What are your actuall experiances with Alpa-Tech? Since you have been "pushing" me to buy a set for the last 3 years, one would assume you'll be doing the new instructional video for them!

But in all seriousness, we know the AT is a high volume production tool. How can anyone justify the cost of between $5-7k for anything less than 500+ sheets a week as Craig mentined. You can buy a conventional bazzoka, boxes and flushers for around $2500 new or just a set of boxes for under a $1k new. Not to menton the fact that there are deals on used tools on Craigs List and at pawn shops. If I had a few big jobs a year I could rent a set of Ames for a month. In the past, I have thought of buying a set of boxes. But for the jobs I do, and have done there would be very limited speed increase. In fact if I factored in the time taken to drag the extra tools in to the job, set up, cleaning, and brake down. I will lose time and money.

[mudmastah]

I bought a Apla @ a retool store about 5yrs. ago. Old style flat coaters that u can shove, I sold them on eBay. I use the T-series pump for textures & I love the cannon for running inside corners on larger jobs. The flat coaters I had, I just didn't take the time for the learning curve, they work ok but would like to run off course & leave trails on both sides of the coaters. the 7-10-&-12 Not saying they were totally junk but the boxes worked alot better. Mike, I always had great support @ Apla-Tech with the guys, but of course that was bout 5yrs. back & they rebuilt my flat coaters for nothing after I told them my situation. I still didn't like them. Boxes, T-series pump, cannon for running corners on larger jobs & I use the T-pump for filling my boxes with the special filler I made for it. Peace, Ed, muddy PS And the guy in their demo video makes that look so easy, it did take alot less muscle to run them, I'll give them that.

www.themudmasters.com

[Capt-sheetrock]

Ya know,,, there alot of ways of looking at things, personally I think the BEST finisher, is the guy that makes the MOST money on payday, without any call backs. With that in mind, the alpha tools are great, for their need, which is mega boards, yeah, the coaters suck, but they will lay the mud down at an alarming rate, you just need a good and quick wipe down man.

But for most jobs the ames type tools will get it down just as fast, and since they are less costly and less maintenance, and less prone to catostrophate repair costs,,,, well,,,, personally I'll use them for the bulk of my work.

[Mike from NH]

Pretty well said Craig...even for a redneck :)