Banjo VS Bazooka ??????????

Dougmt

OK, the time has come to upgrade from my hawk and trowel but I'm having a hard time deciding on which way to go.

The local pawn shop has a few decent looking (more on that later) bazookas in the 600-700 range (including tape tech and a few other brands.) Depending on the advice I hopefully get here I may offer them a deal on a bazooka and a pump. I'm just having a hard time deciding if in fact a bazooka saves that much time over a banjo.

I know there are many factors to be considered - including what type of work (I'm doing more and more new houses VS. the remodels/repairs that I cut my teeth on) I'm doing, set up and clean time, eventual repair on a bazooka, etc.

further, what things on a used pawn shop bazooka should I look for, aside from the engraved "this bazooka stolen from ......" LOL

In a nutshell I suppose my questions are the following:
Bazooka or Banjo?
What should I look for in a used bazooka?
Thanks for any and all advice.
Doug

Dougmt

Just a note: I searched through past posts regarding banjos and bazookas but nothing hit the nail on the head so to speak... and this makes my 15th post so I can post links and pics lol
doUG

Tradesman

Hey, Doug,

Let me throw out a third option that you may not have considered: Pronto joint tape. I also have wrestled with the bazooka dilemma, having been a hand taper for decades (in fact I upgraded to a banjo only a couple years ago). Granted, a bazooka can be a very fast, efficient machine once you learn how to use it. It has some downsides, though. It is a fairly complex machine requiring maintenance. It requires cleaning that is not always easy to accomplish on the jobsite. It is expensive (though you seem to have cleared that hurdle, if the ones you have found are in good shape). It requires 2-3 people to operate at max efficiency (one bazooka man and 1 or 2 wipers). It has a substantial learning curve to become proficient.

Since I usually work alone, I can't see myself really getting the most out of a bazooka. As I asked the same questions that you are asking, a few months back, there was a discussion on this forum regarding a very different kind of self-adhesive joint tape called Pronto. After reading the posts and doing some shop testing on my own, I concluded that this was a good solution for me. The tape is the thickness of paper tape PLUS on coat of mud. So, once you apply the tape, your joint is filled to the level that it would be after applying mud and paper tape, but you have applied no mud yet. The first mud you put on is your second coat! This realizes a significant time saving, both in application and waiting for the mud to dry. In addition, you use substantially less mud. The tape itself is made from a very tough material that is way stronger than any other tape I've ever seen, and its adhesion is excellent. Any down sides? Yeah; since it is a new product, the distribution network is still getting established, but this is improving constantly. I am in northern Vermont where innovative products often never come, and my local supplier has just begun to carry it. The other thing is the cost- it is very expensive ($25-30/100ft. roll). You will have to determine if the cost savings in time and material work for you, but I think it is worth the extra money, because it can cut a fair amount of time off the job, getting me out faster and getting the other trades in sooner.

You can search out the forum discussion to learn other people's take on the product, and here is a link to the manufacturer's website:

http://www.nationaladh.com/Adhesives...Brands/PRONTO/

Brocktologist

I'd just buy a new bazooka and be done with it. Do you always want to be looking over your shoulder wondering when the owner is going to pop in and take his stolen tools back?

IMO, anything more than a closet it's worth breaking out the bazooka, roller and glazer.

If I did not have anybody around to teach me how to use the tools I'd just rent from Ames for a couple of jobs so I'm not wrecking my new tools learning how to use them.

Ya know, it's almost 2009!

Muddauber

Consider the time you have to spend on stilts when hand taping or banjo taping. I don't even get my stilts out of the truck on a 9' house using my bazooka.
1 man can tape with a bazooka just the same as 1 man can banjo tape. Sure it's faster with 3 but banjo taping is also faster with 3.

miguel

basooka for sure, 600 is really cheap buy it. and when some one comes in the job site saying its his, hit him over the head with it and say stupid crack head should've never pond it

Muddauber

Don't throw the basooka in the pond. Give it to me!

CrpntrFrk

I agree with everyone and have put up a couple posts about a bazooka. A bazooka is on of the coolest tools I have ever seen. I agree with Brocktologst and if you don't want to buy.... rent. Once again if you want to buy you should take a look at ALL-WALL.com. Great site and you can even call them up and ask the crazy questions that you know you want to ask. Blue line even has different size bazookas. Small ones for the closets and big ones for the 10' ceilings. I'LL TAKE BAZOOKA FOR 1000 PLEASE ALEX!

Workaholic

I agree the bazooka is the way to go.

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Sean