How do you clean your drywall tools? - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Riboflavin · 01-28-2009, 10:37 PM

I have what I perceive to be a recurring problem with some employees as far as their cleanup of drywall tools.

One employee in particular cleans his drywall tools in my customer's sink. I don't believe this is a sensible thing to do, but when I mention it to him, he tells me that this is A) how he was taught, and B) how everybody does it.

Same goes for thinset from tile jobs.

This now has me wondering what the best way to clean drywall tools is. Should my employees use a bucket of water to clean their tools? What then should they do with the bucket of water? If they throw it on the customer's lawn, it will leave a spot, and if they send it down the drain, well, that's no different than cleaning tools in the sink directly.

I know this seems like a small issue, but I really do need an answer - this is beginning to bother me immensely.

MALCO.New.York · 01-28-2009, 10:40 PM

You should use a "B" Vitamin Lavage............

Mike Finley · 01-28-2009, 10:41 PM

In a bucket, throw in on the lawn in an inconspicuous spot. Gypsum is fertilizer, your customers grass will be nice an green. Throw it down the toilet if it needs to go down a drain in the house.

Bodger · 01-28-2009, 10:47 PM

Bucket or mixing tub, water disposed of as discreetly as possible.
I always use one of those green kitchen scrub pads as well, I've got a bit of obsession about getting every speck of the compound off my tools, then squirt a touch of WD-40 on them so they don't rust.

I like to buy the Marshalltown knives, and they ain't the cheapest.

oldrivers · 01-28-2009, 10:58 PM

clean your tools in your buckets to get 95% of the mud off then if ok use the laundry sink to finish , if your going to pour it down a drain use the toilet 4 Inch waste pipe all the way flush after . change your water regualarily so you dont end up with alot of mud .

MALCO.New.York · 01-28-2009, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MALCO.New.York

You should use a "B" Vitamin Lavage............

Does no one get this yet??????????

Bodger · 01-28-2009, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MALCO.New.York

Does no one get this yet??????????

...let's see here....uh....how can I put this.....
NO!

oldrivers · 01-28-2009, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MALCO.New.York

Does no one get this yet??????????

i had to reread that i though it was lafarge at first but no havent got a clue.

MALCO.New.York · 01-28-2009, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldrivers

i had to reread that i though it was lafarge at first but no havent got a clue.

"Riboflavin" is Vitamin "B2". Lavage is "French" and "Medical" for "Cleansing Rinse".

nEighter · 01-29-2009, 01:31 AM

Malco.. don't get it still man

I will wash them in a bucket, and a quick rinse off in a sink possibly, but during the summer I use a hose on the side of the house, I always ask if it is acceptable first.. they never have a problem with it

shanekw1 · 01-29-2009, 01:43 AM

Riboflavin

B vitamin lavage

MALCO.New.York · 01-29-2009, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shanekw1

Riboflavin

B vitamin lavage

Jeeees..........

It took a Canuck to get it!!!!!!

Riboflavin, the name of the poster, is Vitamin B2.

Lavage is a cleansing Wash.

For the poster, Riboflavin, to give it a "B Vitamin Lavage", it would entail a PERSONAL CONTRIBUTION of cleansing substance(s)..........

You decide which Contribution!!!

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/lavage

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/riboflavin

Al Taper · 01-29-2009, 07:24 AM

I clean my knifes with another knife. But if i use durabond or plaster i well wash them with a little water. I found if you use the plastic pad that is used for floor buffing it works great.Its like a plastic sos pad. I did a job once and forgot to get rid of my waterbucket. And the contractor I did the job for ,went to get the bucket and drop his cell phone in it. Not to happy.

Brocktologist · 01-29-2009, 07:24 AM

Don't let them use the customers sink...
Make them take their tools home and clean them if a bucket of water is not good enough.

Bodger · 01-29-2009, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MALCO.New.York

Jeeees..........

It took a Canuck to get it!!!!!!

Riboflavin, the name of the poster, is Vitamin B2.

Lavage is a cleansing Wash.

For the poster, Riboflavin, to give it a "B Vitamin Lavage", it would entail a PERSONAL CONTRIBUTION of cleansing substance(s)..........

You decide which Contribution!!!

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/lavage

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/riboflavin

Why must I always be so confused on here.....why does the Frostback (no offense Shane) get it and I don't....I still don't....I need a YouTube......I just wanted to learn how to clean drywall knives.....now I'm not sure, but I think this thread is suggesting that it be more fun than it is supposed to be....
The Horror....The Horror....

bwalley · 01-29-2009, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riboflavin

I have what I perceive to be a recurring problem with some employees as far as their cleanup of drywall tools.

One employee in particular cleans his drywall tools in my customer's sink. I don't believe this is a sensible thing to do, but when I mention it to him, he tells me that this is A) how he was taught, and B) how everybody does it.

Same goes for thinset from tile jobs.

This now has me wondering what the best way to clean drywall tools is. Should my employees use a bucket of water to clean their tools? What then should they do with the bucket of water? If they throw it on the customer's lawn, it will leave a spot, and if they send it down the drain, well, that's no different than cleaning tools in the sink directly.

I know this seems like a small issue, but I really do need an answer - this is beginning to bother me immensely.

You need to tell your guys to quit using the clients sink as you are the boss and you don't care how they were taught, this is your job, they work for you and they will do it how you tell them to do it, or they will leave.

I did a remodel on a commercial building, later we had an issue with the building drain backing up, we later found out that the Plumber when he grouted the toilets in dumped the grout in the toilet and flushed it, he didn't run enough water to thoroughly flush the lines, so the grout sat in the lines and ended up causing us major problems. $$$$

The plumber tried blaming it on the tile guy, but the plumber had inserted test balls in the toilet flange to keep sewer gases from coming into the building, so it was not possible for the tile guy to dump the grout in the toilets.

We keep a bucket with a srub brush to wash out our tools, and do it outside, dump it into the dumpster or an empty drywall mud bucket.

bwalley · 01-29-2009, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldrivers

clean your tools in your buckets to get 95% of the mud off then if ok use the laundry sink to finish , if your going to pour it down a drain use the toilet 4 Inch waste pipe all the way flush after . change your water regualarily so you dont end up with alot of mud .

Very bad idea, the building drain is not a garbage can.

MALCO.New.York · 01-29-2009, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bodger

Why must I always be so confused on here.....why does the Frostback (no offense Shane) get it and I don't....I still don't....I need a YouTube......I just wanted to learn how to clean drywall knives.....now I'm not sure, but I think this thread is suggesting that it be more fun than it is supposed to be....
The Horror....The Horror....

KURTZ
" Are you an assassin?"

WILLARD
" I'm a soldier."

KURTZ
" You're neither. You're an errand boy, sent by grocery clerks
to collect a bill."

oldrivers · 01-30-2009, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwalley

Very bad idea, the building drain is not a garbage can.

Havent had 1 issue yet. like i said if you change your water regularly it wont have hardly any mud in it when you dispose of it. But i always ask the general contractor what to do with it. most of the time i pour it in the dumpster but thats not always the best either . dont use a bucket of water for the whole job and then at the end try dumping 2 inches of crud down the drain.

bwalley · 01-30-2009, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldrivers

Havent had 1 issue yet. like i said if you change your water regularly it wont have hardly any mud in it when you dispose of it. But i always ask the general contractor what to do with it. most of the time i pour it in the dumpster but thats not always the best either . dont use a bucket of water for the whole job and then at the end try dumping 2 inches of crud down the drain.

The problem will not show up for awhile, but it will eventually cause the building owner problems.

Another problem is if the building is on a septic tank, lift station or a grease trap.

In Florida it is illegal to dump drywall mud, grout etc. down the drain.