Should I Buy A Banjo?

dayspring

OK Pro Drywallers, I need ya again. We had a new drywall supply store open in town, I stopped to check em out and they had a tool called a banjo. Guess it's a downsized bazooka. How well do they work? I generally do remodeling work, drywall averages about 30 to 40 sheets per job max. I am always looking for better, faster and easier ways of doing the work (and a reason to buy a tool, it's an addiction, I know. You probaly have the same disease). Note: faster is NOT as important as better. What ya'll think?

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DaveH

Banjo's have there purpose
Are you looking for a wet one or a dry one?

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dayspring

I'm really not sure, You tell me the difference. I'm afraid I'm dumb on this one. It looked as if it would apply tape and mud

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maj

I'm not a pro drywaller, but have done my fair share in the last 25 years. I used (not my own) a banjo one time on a fairly large addition/remodel. It was real hard to keep a steady,consistent flow of mud to the tape. I had alot of spots I had to cut the tape and fill in mud. I decided it wasn't worth the trouble.

So my .02, It was faster applying the tape, but time lost filling in the bubbles offset the time saved. IMO, quality was not near what I can do with a good SS knife & pan.

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j120strat

banjo's are no good, if you got a big job go to a tool rental place and rent a bazooka very cheep to rent.if not you can always use mesh tape, its quicker that a banjo and a heck of alot cleaner.

Mudd Dogg

Banjos are great for speed vs. hand taping but do remember to check your mud in the banjo. Also remember that the banjo does not put as much mud on the tape that you do when you hand tape so not as much pressure is need when wiping down the tape. Too much pressure pushes all the mud out from under the tape causing dry spots that blister and have to be cut out and redone. Once you start using a banjo, you will get the feel for it. I've been using a banjo since I started finishing 9 yrs ago and can't conceve how long it would take to tape, a house for instance, by hand. Of course a bazooka would be a lot faster then a banjo, but only for really big jobs.

Teetorbilt

I have a great 5 string. "You never get an unhappy note out of a banjo" Steve Martin.

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dayspring

Maybe thats the kind of banjo I need LOL, or maybe I should just stick to my guitar. Thanks guys

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j120strat

what kind of guitar do you have?

ApgarNJ

the drywaller I use on my jobs, has a few crews that he hires, the last one used a banjo to tape and a guy behind him to go over it with the knife. they had it down pat. both on stilts, fast, even used it in the corners. seemed to be putting plenty of mud on it and nothing has bubbled.
they had the mud boxes to go over it all after they the first coat. those are awesome, but i can't afford to buy them because i rarely do any drywalling, most jobs are all 100 sheets or more and i get my guy to do them.

dayspring

Washburn D-11 Dreadnought and a Fender Strat

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j120strat

very cool, is that an american strat?

dayspring

Nah, it's not. I wish it were. Maybe the next one though

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AtlanticWBConst

If you can't afford the $$$$$$$$+
for a full bazooka set up. They are the way to go if you do alot of Large jobs, new construction, commercial spaces, etc.

However, If you do smaller remodels & small jobs, the way to go is a banjo...Try Goldblatt.
They do the job, they're inexpensive.

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dayspring

Thanks man!

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dayspring

Just one more question on this matter. What is the difference between a wet and dry banjo? I don't understand this part of it. Pros and cons of each?

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maj

I'm not 100% positive but I think a dry banjo holds the roll of tape outside the mud box. Whereas a wet banjo holds the roll of tape inside the same compartment as the mud. The mud box is still seperate from the roll, but tape is held internal on a wet, external on the dry.

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dayspring

OK, what would be the preference to use and why?

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maj

Couldn't tell you that. I don't use 'em. I just used one once (wet type) for a large addition/remodel. I didn't care for it that much, so I went back to my SS knife & pan. I still look at them once in a while, but I always walk away thinking I will get one another time. If I ever do, it will be the dry. Just the idea of the external roll seems more logical to me. You can see when your running low on tape.

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theworx

Have been using my banjo for years. Me and a good swiper can set tapes in a house in no time. Very fast once you figure it out!!!

Get the dry tape banjo. I have the wet tape version (the roll of tape is inside the banjo with the mud). The problem is the mud gets all over the roll of tape and makes it sticky, soggy and stops it from moving smoothly. I actually modified my wet tape banjo with flashing to separate the mud compartment from the tape!!!

Not as fast as a bazooka but for the price it's well worth it!!!