If you have worked with drywall finishing, then you know that taping and mudding can be a real pain. It’s time-consuming, and it’s strenuous. This is where the taping bazooka comes in.
This article will tell you all about the taping bazooka, one of the most popular automatic tapers on the market today. So if you’re looking for a faster way to tape and mud your drywall joints, read on!
Table of Contents
What is a Taping Bazooka?
A taping bazooka is an automatic drywall taper that is used by drywall finishers that simultaneously apply joint compound and tape to wall and ceiling drywall joints.
This tool dramatically improves the speed and efficiency of the professional finisher and works for recessed, butt, and inside corner joints.
This tool isn’t for DIYers though, as it requires a certain level of skill and training to use and it’s quite pricey. But if you’re a professional drywall finisher who is looking to increase your productivity and does a lot of taping, then the taping bazooka may be well worth investing in.
If you’re a DIYer with a lot of drywall to tape, then it might be worth it to rent one of these automatic tapers for your project.
What users have said about the taping bazooka (reviews from Amazon.com):
“This is an amazing tool. Makes my job 10 times faster. Not so easy to use but once you get it you’ll be set. Def worth its price.”
“Save me alot of time at work. One of the best tools i have ever bought.”
The pros and cons of using a Taping Bazooka
When using an automatic taper like the taping bazooka, there are both pros and cons that you should be aware of before making a decision on whether or not this tool is right for you.
The biggest pro is that it can save you a lot of time. If you’re doing a lot of taping, then using an automatic taper can help you finish the job much faster than if you were doing it by hand.
Another pro is that it can help reduce fatigue. If you’re working on a large project, your arms and shoulders can get quite sore from all the manual taping. Using an automatic taper will help take some of the strain off your body.
However, there are also some cons that you should be aware of. The biggest con is the price. automatic drywall tapers can be quite pricey, so you’ll need to make sure that it’s something that you really need before making the investment.
Another con is that it takes a bit of time to learn how to use it. If you’re not familiar with using an automatic taper, it can take a bit of time to get the hang of it and be able to use it effectively.
You will also have to clean it after each use, which can be a bit of a hassle.
So those are the pros and cons of using an automatic taper like the taping bazooka. As you can see, there are both advantages and disadvantages that you should consider before making a decision on whether or not this tool is right for you.
How to use a Taping Bazooka
If you have never used a taping bazooka before, here is a quick overview of how it’s used.
First, you need to make sure that the wall or ceiling that you’re going to be working on is free of any loose paper and debris.
The tools and materials you’ll need are:
- Taping bazooka
- Joint compound (Drywall mud)
- Joint paper
- 2 Buckets (one for mixing and one for water)
- Drill with a mixing paddle attachment
- Joint knife
- brush (to clean the bazooka after use)
Once you have all of your materials gathered, you’re ready to start mudding and taping! Watch these short videos for guidance.
Who invented the taping bazooka?
AMES invented the automatic taping and finishing tool technology in 1939 and improved it with the introduction of the taping bazooka in the 1950s according to amestools.com which is headquartered in Stone Mountain, Georgia.
How much does it cost to rent a taping bazooka?
AMES has a rental service and their rates can be seen here and here.
Alternatives to the taping bazooka
There are some alternatives to the taping bazooka that you might want to consider if you’re not ready to make an investment in this tool.
One alternative is the taping banjo. Just as the taping bazooka it applies joint compound and tape in one quick and easy motion.
The taping banjo is a bit cheaper than the taping bazooka, but it’s not as fast or as efficient and can be quite messy compared to the bazooka.
It’s easy to clean but doesn’t hold much mud which means more time spent filling it up.
Here is a comparison video:
What users have said about the taping banjo (reviews from Amazon.com):
“I’m a professional drywaller and this is a great product. Only downfall is having to load it up so much for the taping process. Great for small new construction.”
“This thing is messy. I used it to tape the ceiling and you will need two people one to hold the tape while one pulls. You have to stand to the side or you will know what it’s like for a bird to poop on you. It goes about 45 feet before you have to refill with mud.”
Final thoughts
Automatic drywall tapers, such as the taping bazooka, can help take some of the strain off your body while you’re taping.
However, there are also some cons that you should be aware of before making the investment, such as the price and the fact that it takes a bit of time to learn how to use it effectively.
So if you’re thinking about purchasing an automatic drywall taper, make sure that you weigh all of the pros and cons before deciding whether or not it’s right for you.