Recently, thanks to the development of technology, the number of materials used in the construction and renovation of apartments and houses has sharply increased. This allows the use of previously unavailable design and architectural solutions. One of these materials, which have gained well-deserved popularity today and is the leader among them, is drywall.
The different characteristics of the materials dictate the use of different tools and methods for processing them. In particular, special planers are used to work with drywall.
Material features
The popularity of the use of drywall in the design of interiors of both household and industrial premises, due to a number of properties:
- availability of materials from which drywall is made and its low cost;
- ease of creation of various frames, niches, partitions due to ease of processing;
- easy installation of structures;
- good physical and technological properties of the material, its resistance to moisture and temperature.
The manufacture of several types of drywall is due to the need for its use in various rooms under different loads. Let's consider the main types of material.
- Plasterboard (gypsum plasterboard). The most popular and used type, suitable for installation in any room.
- Refractory gypsum plasterboard. It has a higher resistance to open flames due to its special composition; it is used for finishing premises with increased fire safety requirements.
- Sheet with increased moisture resistance. It is made with the addition of silicone and special antifungal mixtures to the composition, it is most often used for finishing bathrooms, toilets, garages, sinks. To achieve a more stable effect, it is recommended to cover the sheet with moisture-resistant paints and varnishes.
- Combined drywall options.
The standard thickness of drywall is 9.5 mm, however, with a thickness of 12.5 mm, the material becomes more durable, albeit heavy.
Taking into account the peculiarities of drywall, when choosing it, one should take into account the load that will fall on the wall or ceiling, the possibility of mechanical stress, operating conditions (temperature, humidity).
After cutting the sheets, the edge of the drywall, if necessary, is processed with a special tool in order to level and grind it, as well as to give it the required shape. It is for this that drywall planers are used.
Varieties of the instrument
The planer is applied to the drywall edge, which comes in several shapes.
- Beveled, longitudinal, refined. Designed for filling seams or gluing with reinforcing tape.
- Rectangular hem. Used when joining dry, without any finishing of the seams.
- Longitudinal edge with visible chamfer. Designed to create patterns on the surface along the seam.
- Rounded edge. It is used in the case of processing joints with plaster.
- Semicircular, beveled in length, refined. In the case of filling seams and gluing with reinforcing tape.
- Transverse reinforcing edge. For filling joints without using a reinforcing tape.
When processing the edges of drywall, two types of planers are mainly used
- Rough. It is a steel block with two handles, at the bottom of which there is a metal float made of hardened steel. The body is made of steel or silumin, the handles are usually plastic. It is used when it is necessary to sand the edges of drywall edges in joints with an angle of 90 degrees.
- Edging. It is a tool with two knives set at an angle of 45 degrees (in some models and 22.5 degrees). When buying a planer, you need to choose products with high-quality knives, otherwise after a while they will have jagged edges. It is used for chamfering the sheet at specified angles.
When choosing an edge planer model, special attention should be paid to the location of the handles and the convenience of holding the tool in the hand, as this affects the quality of the edge being processed.
The knives must be replaceable so that they can be replaced if necessary. When choosing a roughing planer model, it is necessary to take into account that for high-quality work, you need a grater with a width of 15 to 30 mm and a length of 15-25 cm. A grater that is too long or too short is very inconvenient to work with.
In some cases, if it is necessary to process a sheet one or two times, a roughing plane can be made with your own hands from thin metal by making a large number of holes in it with a nail. The reverse side, where the metal is bent outward, will serve as a roughing blade.
In general, planers produced by various manufacturers differ in several ways
- The material from which the case is made (plastic and metal). The first is quite inexpensive, the second is more durable and durable.
- Handle material (plastic, wood, metal).
- Possibility of changing the blades and adjusting the cutting angle using special screws.
- The quality of the material of the blades, which affects the result of the drywall processing and the durability of the work. In particular, the blades are made from tool steel or conventional steel. Tool steel is more expensive, but it will also last longer.
When choosing a tool, the need for its use is also taken into account. So, if you plan to use it once or twice, then there is no point in purchasing an expensive model. And if there is a need for long-term use, then you need to stop your choice on more expensive and durable models.
When processing the edge of the gypsum board, we trim it and pay attention to the cut of the material left by the knives. It should be even, without chipping.
The presence of jags indicates that the knife is dull and it is necessary to sharpen it or replace it with a new one. If, after connecting the sheets, a groove remains between them, then it is sealed using serpyanka and putty, followed by grinding the seam.
Also, when processing the material with an edge plane, it is necessary to use a metal ruler or corner as a guide to obtain the most even cut, since the edges of the sheet are rather fragile, and it can crumble. Some models of planers are already equipped with corners and rulers for this purpose.
Review of popular models
Let's consider some of the most popular options.
- An interesting model is the Stayer Profi plasterboard edge planer, which allows you to cut the edges of the sheet at angles of 22.5 and 45 degrees. The blades are made of high-strength steel, which guarantees a quality finish. Also, this model of the planer provides the ability to adjust the blades depending on the thickness of the processed sheet (9.5 mm, 12.5 mm and more than 15 mm). Durable blades enable corner cutting of not only drywall but also plastics and softwoods.
- Edge planer Fit 15025 made of plastic, it is a very practical tool. It has knives with an adjustable cutting angle of 22.5 and 45 degrees. Adjustment of the thickness of the processed gypsum board (9.5 mm, 12.5 mm and more than 15 mm) is provided. The knife is made of tool steel, which ensures its long life without the need to replace.
- Stayer Profi 18855 is an edge planer and is made of durable steel. It has two knives installed at an angle to the work surface. There are two plastic handles for comfortable holding of the tool. It is possible to use the tool for processing soft wood and plastics.
- Edging planer Stanley STHT1-05937 made of steel, equipped with a comfortable plastic handle. The installed knife can be easily removed using the clamping nut. This is an inexpensive and fairly reliable model.
- Planer "Kantenhobel" designed for processing the edge of a drywall sheet. The design provides for a change in the cut angle by 22.5 and 45 degrees. The world-renowned company Knauf guarantees the high quality of the product, and this model was originally designed for professional use. Ease of use and reliability attracts users to this model.
- Drywall roughing planer MTX 879165 made of plastic and measures 250x42 mm. The fasteners installed in it allow you to quickly change the working blades. In addition, there are special holes for the removal of chips. Can be used for plasterboard and plastics.
- Rough planer model Intertool HT-3602 has a length of 250 mm, and the Intertool HT-3601 model is 140 mm. They are intended for leveling (roughing) the edges of drywall. The body is made of plastic. Working surface width - 40 mm. The design provides for a simple and quick change of working blades.
For information on how to make a drywall plane with your own hands, see the video below.