First time I put on a pair of stilts was about 20 years ago. My girlfriend and I were working on an overnight job installing hardwood floors in a mall. The wallpaper guys had left their stilts, as well as a bunch of cardboard cores from their wallpaper rolls. So during our lunch break her and I put on the stilts, grab the cardboard rolls, and proceeded to run around the place sword fighting. The stupidity of youth never fails to amuse.
I'm a tile guy and will probably never work off stilts but for whatever reason I've been watching a lot of these videos on drywall. Good videos 👍🏼 informative.
I’ve been using dura stilts for years. The amount you time you save is unparalleled. I hardly use a ladder for anything anymore, I use my stilts for almost every aspect of my construction company when needed, drywall, painting, siding, even gutters, I use stilts for everything. Yes there is the potential for injury, but if you’re new to using stilts then you need to spend atleast a week walking around on them every day, just getting used to them. But stilts are the way to go, and when you know what you’re doing the risk is minimal. Yes the videos he showed will scare you if you don’t know what you’re doing. But once you have a couple of years of experience under your belt using stilts, then those tasks look less intimidating.
I'm new to stilts and I still feel like I'm wobbling all over the place... kind of buckling out at the top. Is this a feeling that goes away, or am I doing something wrong? Thanks in advance if you end up answering 😊
@@shannond2707 it goes away. Get on the stilts every day for shot 30 minutes or so. After a week or this the wobbly feeling will go away and you’ll feel more comfortable
I like to strap my stilts with the buckle on the the calf cup. This keeps from pinching. I also bring the extra length back through the buckle to insure a tight hold.
I am in healthcare and have treated many injuries from tradespeople. Can’t think of one drywaller I saw with a stilt injury. That being said stilts, like you pointed out are dangerous. The videos of others on super stilts or stilts on platforms or stilts bolted to buckets are just insane! Darwin at work. A friend of the family is just about 80 and still drywalling (muddling and taping only for the last 15 years). He did our entire ceiling a few years ago on stilts. I would endorse your position of just say no to stilts with the caveat that even walking on even ground you can fall. Know yourself and the risks and make an informed decision.
I'm drywalling my nearly 1000 sq. ft. garage. I thought about stilts. But I'm in my 70's and my balance is as good as it was. So I'm up and down and up and down a step ladder with big wide secure steps. Takes much longer, but one of my primary safety techniques is, "If you have a bad feeling about something, stop, and think it over some more." It's actually quite common when people have accidents that they say "I had a bad feeling about what I was trying to do."
@@NuttedInYoMom Actually, most of the drywall ceiling pieces (5/8" thick) had been put up 20 years ago by the contractor who built the garage addition. (They put it up by accident, they were suppose to leave the garage without drywall - and these ceiling pieces were all that I had to start with.) But it was done sloppy, with nails, and nails pulling out and some pieces sagging some. I'm putting in screws everywhere and pulling out the loose nails and then filling joints, taping, and so on. Part of the ceiling, however, is a sort of triangular area that has a mostly open ceiling area with no joists. I plan to add joists and than drywall. I might rent a lift. Or I might do one of the schemes where you nail up a little ledge to hold one end, lift the other, and then slip a T support under it. I'm not even sure there will be any full sheets involved.
And how many shoulder injuries from working overhead? When you have shoulder issues and the risk of injury is great it's likely to offset the risk of injuries from a fall.
Stilts always make me think back to when I did commercial HVAC installs on new construction: One morning the job super was walking around with 4 or 5 Gatorade bottles, each about half-full, and he was cursing under his breath. Apparently the drywall installers on stilts didn't feel like getting down to use the bathroom, and they'd leave the used bottles laying around the jobsite instead of throwing them out.
@@goldenhandcuffs I've pissed in a bottle plenty, hell I've even shit in a bucket once. But I didn't leave it sitting on the job site after I was done.
Yup. When I was learning, I did laps around the room, staying within touching distance of the walls. Thirty years later and I'm getting the hang of them. Seriously, I'm pretty good on them and have not fallen (knock wood) but I would never recommend them to anyone who is not doing drywall for a living.
I've used stilts in taping new construction for 34 years. I agree with much of what you said. I usually don't use stilts when ceilings are over 9 ft high, and being 5'7" in height, I need to set my stilts at 3 ft height, and get on stilts from a platform or a horse. I learned from using stilts at 45" (and falling on the dismount), that you have to plan on how to get off the stilts once you've gotten on them. I agree with the pratice of strapping the legs first, and unstrapping them last. When I get on stilts above 2 ft and use a platform, I also get off the stilts by standing in front of the platform and backing off the stilts, in reverse of how I got onto them. I lean on a wall when I get on stilts at 24" or higher. It's also important to adjust the heel brackets, height of the leg braces, and especially the angle of the leg braces. Bad adjustment can cause the stilts to feel uncomfortable and put pressure on one side of the foot. For me, as a piece-worker, it's just not worth it to tape without stilts, and the Dura Stilt brand is as good as they get.
I use stilts often and they help a ton. Though when I'm wearing them I really ought to walk backward less, climb ladders less, work in cluttered spaces less. Pretty much everything you said that is bad to do with stilts on I occasionally find myself doing. I wear my skate helmet when I adjust above the lowest height. Haven't fallen yet.
Im 5'6", so everything is beyond my reach🤷🏾♂️🤷♂️, so getting stilts at 40 years old was my best decision. It helps me painting and finishing. I use them every opportunity I can. At the beginning it was scarry but you get used to it and it saves my knees from going up and down ladders. I also recommend using velcro straps.
I've been walkin stilts nearly 40yrs, and I've seen a lot of crazy shit, but bolting them to 5gal buckets and walkin pick boards with'em is askin for a lot of pain 😂.
I bought stilts as a homeowner to finish my basement about 6years ago and loved using them. They are Skywalker by Marshalltown 18”-30” with a 225lb max weight. Found them very easy to get used to working in. I always tried to use a wall or corner to take them on or off.
I am not in construction but always enjoy and learn something from your videos. I was cracking up while you were messing with those straps and buckles. I have a couple of things that have those type of connections and they always take me a few tries before I get them right. Now I don't feel so bad.
I got a job doing metal framing once. The guy asked me if I ever walked on stilts, I said no. He hands me a pair and said well you’re gunna learn. I’m about 5 minutes I was running climbing steps jumping going up and down a ladder on them. They really are no different than walking. Construction stilts are moth like circus stilts. Construction stilts are designed to be like walking with your real legs only extending the bottom of your leg
Really good video,says it all.I do dry wall on a part time basis .Have worked off stilts on the odd occasion.Lending a pair of stilts,but i do not own a pair.One i did not feel over safe on them,did make me faster in wide open spaces. Not doing enough new homes,to make the purchase worthwhile.You are right you must be organised and focused ,no untidy work areas.
I got a set a few years ago. I completely agree, never recommended that anyone gets them, but they are the greatest time saver out there & not too hard to learn. Just keep the floor spotless & never walk backwards.
Love the video! I was actually thinking about getting a pair of stilts. I do drywall(mostly drywall repair) out here in Las Vegas, NV and have come across some jobs where the stilts would have come in handy. 1 thing I noticed, was how you were pulling your tape, and collecting it in a 5 gallon bucket. At Home Depot, they have this "professional tape dispenser", that you fill with mud, and your tape pulls out with mud on it. So instead of what you were doing by collecting it in a 5 gallon bucket, this tool would sit at your waist(like the 5 gallon bucket), and then you could just pull tape as needed. Just my 2 cents. Lol
@Vancouver Carpenter. Great information and production. Your taping, mudding, and music really put me in the mood to get something done today, even if it's not drywalling (although I've got a drywall repair underway and I'm really taking my time). Not as experienced as you with but I've got you as a teacher. And no, I'll not be buying or borrowing stilts, period I like how you put some short video clips showing how insane some people are when on stilts like workers wearing stilts on a high work platform. A good number of years ago, I had to "fix" a bad tape job (definite bow in a wall next to the top of my stairway). The worst part was I also had to paint the walls along and ceiling above these stairs. I used two 2X10s to make a scaffold and of course there was quite a bit of bowing when standing in the center. I'll be definitely paying someone else to do that in the future. Hope you and your family stay safe and well.
Spent over 30 years on stilts all day every day. Rule One - DuraStilts or no stilts. The other brands will get you killed. Rule Two - You fall once and you've learned all you ever need to know. Rule 3 - If your feet are above 42 inches, you are technically required to have fall protection. This is why stilts only go to 40 inches which allows for a 2 inch boot heel. Any higher will get you tossed off a serious site.
Again! The dry humor cracking me up! 'Are stilts really safe? Well, not really, if you fall'. LMAO! But the question, can you afford to fall an injure yourself? Really important to ask yourself that and be honest when answering. I was thinking about them because ladders aggravate my Achilles tendinitis, but I'd rather that than injury due to a fall. Thank you for the, yet again, informative, honest and entertaining video.
Hi, Thank you for all your videos i've learned a lot from you and have put it to great use. Spent lots of time during the quarantine watching your UA-cam channel. Do you have any advice on how to fix or what to use to fix a oily spot in drywall. Sometimes fresh, new drywall can have a oily spot for no rhyme or reason.? I'm sure you have encountered this.? Do you know what I'm talking about? Thank you and keep the video's coming.😉
My next door neighbor bought a pair to use for a Halloween costume. He told me he had gotten the most heavy duty type available. I asked to borrow them to skim coat a ceiling I was working on. It was like tying cinder blocks on my feet! I gave up after 45 minutes. My suggestion is to get the lightest and most flexible pair you can find if you must buy a pair.
I like the tape in the bucket idea. I have never tried that although I have seen it done. I guess I thought that it would be to messy. I have work on stilts but not for many years.
Thank you for helping me make up my mind weather to get some or not. I'm normally a risk taker, but I'm 64 years old and my conscience is telling me (Don;t do it!). Love your choice of background music also.
I love my stilts and use them on almost every job. Durastilt are the best mine are 24/40s. I'm 6'4'' tall and weight 270lbs and have never had a problem👍
That’s what I’m trying to figure out myself right now. I weigh 270 and just bought some stilts. I’m just hoping my stilts won’t break under my weight and that I can actually balance on them.
I saw videos of workers walking on a 5 gallon bucket, shuffling around the room. If they start to fall, they just jump off. Sometimes 2 buckets for higher ceilings.
Great video 👍👍 I’ve had that same problem with my stilts as well lol . I have question about structural cracks. What is the best way to repair those. I was gonna cut it out and predilection with Sheetrock 20 first and then use paper tape and regular compound for my remaining coats. Do you think this would fix the problem . If not what advice can you give me to fix this problem. Thanks
I've done everything you showed in your videos with exception to the buckets i go up and down ladders etc in all my years as an insulator I've only fallen once... also when your calf straps wear out you can tape them to your legs.
I'm a retired safety professional. I have a collection of the type of videos like the guy using stilts on a narrow plank two stories up. I used to show them in my training classes. The file name is "Darwin Awards".
I saw some drywall video on UA-cam where the guy is standing on what seems to be an empty typical drywall compound bucket. And the way he moved around was to shift his balance and kind of rotate the bucket a little. What was amazing, was that he was so good at it and could move around pretty quickly. But probably not a very safe way to do things.
I had 600 square feet of garage ceiling to redo drywall, which meant 2 layers of 5/8" sheet rock. I got a drywall lift, a set of stilts and a cheap taping banjo. Best investments of my life. Oh, and I am only 5'4". And the garage was a total cluttered mess. No falls so no problems. The stilts and the banjo made it really easy.
Stilts are like many dangerous activities. You learn how to do it before you are thirty or not at all. Skiing, rock climbing, rugby, etc. You make your mistakes when your body can recover easily.
I found using stilts for cutting in wall paint along the ceiling was awesome. It may be good training wheels for someone learning as well. I learned in a cluttered room, so what do I know :)
I wore stilts as I was a plasterer. Never fell, did stumble couple of times, but you learn to stop your self. The main thing is keeping area clear of equipment, people and leads
We've had those same exact stilts for years! Still use them and actually planning on using them on a job tomorrow. Don't understand how someone can use them without boots tho, even with sneakers they don't seem to fit your feet correctly and get uncomfortable.
Question for my preferred youtube channel! if you use corner beads (typical 90deg corner, metal in the middle and paper on the edges), can you use these for angles like 60deg? like, can I force the 90deg into a 60deg? or should I then just switch to paper tape and skip the metal corner bead?
Don't sell yourself short. I do general construction/industrial work, but I've also been studying coding and game design for shits and giggles and let me tell you: I'd rather deal with twelve tons of structural steel than bug hunting through my own half-assed algorithm any old day. It's a different kind of hard, but it's still hard.
I have done a lot of software development (and a manager of it, too) and from so much time at the keyboard started to develop a horrible pain in one shoulder. Had to go to a sports therapist for exercises to resolve it. But it was worth it considering software development is one of only two real growth careers still available. The other being pizza delivery.
@@trainliker100 You would probably have more problems than that if you were doing physical labor every day. However, white collar jobs have their problems too. Namely, you are sitting around all the time, so, you end up having heart and other problems due to lack of movement.
I got used to them really easy and have a few pairs but the longest ones are hard on the legs and would be a long way down .like you say tho ,most important part is a clear clean even floor
My dad has a set, I remember watching him as a kid on jobs using them. I thought he was crazy, I don't know if I would ever get up on a set of those things. I would probably be more inclined to take my time and use scaffolding of some sort.
A local drywall guy has stilts probably at least eight feet tall. He wears them in parades. I am not sure if he has actually used them that tall on any jobs?
Oven been using stilts for close to a decade. But I always put then on against a wall. I feel an injury would more likely occur when putting them on or taking them off.
When I was working for a commercial company I was always amazed by the guys the double stilt. I saw a guy fall on double stilts once and it was like the slowest fall ever. He was alright but I couldn't help but think how nuts he was
I was maybe 12 or 13 when I found my dad’s drywalling stilts from his previous life as a painter, and I spent my whole summer break strapped in them, and I got to the point where I could almost sprint in the things. I probably turfed it at least once a day for the first month though lol
You should have wish you were here playing in the background. Since most watching wishes you were doing there job or my job. I’m almost done with mine Thanks for the videos
I bought a pair of stilts 10 to 12 years ago after going down the wrong side of a 2' ladder for the third time in one day I use them all the time from drywall, drop ceilings, crown molding and painting. I put all my tools needed on my 6' ladder so I dont have to get thing off the floor
every height is safe as long as we dont fall from it , Over the years I have found using stilts is safer if the area is clean and clear and you keep it that way :)
I’ve been hanging drywall for 10 years and I’ve done my fare share of sketchy risky moves; but those stilts on an aluminum plank over the entrance hall made me choke and had to do a reality check. If you ever have to work above 10 feet or 3 meters you need to rent and set up a scaffold or build a floor. Always build a floor with 2x6’s and thick plywood.
I will never use stilts, I don't have to fix any walls, I don't work with drywall but I keep watching every video you put out :D i just like watching you
Stilts are safe,used them as a plasterer in the UK on site price work and never fell in off in ten years. We used to use 5 gallon drums and scaffold planks before stilts and fell off every day !
Stilts are a must for a residental taper that tapes everyday and stilts are legal but you are to take a stilts course and have a ticket but if you drywall tape once and a while dont bother with them and dont tape off a ladder you cant have three points when taping off a ladder use benches.
Question - How do I skim coat over a skip trowel texture? I've sanded and sanded and mudded and mudded and the "veins" of the old texture keep showing up when I skim coat. I used thicker mud and watery mud, I've done your roller method and applied gobs with a knife and pan. I little advice would be nice. Thanks.
Hi, is there anything that I should pay particular attention to if I am looking to buy second-hand (used) stilts. They have no straps, but I can get those, but what about the springs, nuts and bolts. Which parts are not meant to move and which are? This is for fancy dress and not work purposes btw.
First time I put on a pair of stilts was about 20 years ago. My girlfriend and I were working on an overnight job installing hardwood floors in a mall. The wallpaper guys had left their stilts, as well as a bunch of cardboard cores from their wallpaper rolls. So during our lunch break her and I put on the stilts, grab the cardboard rolls, and proceeded to run around the place sword fighting. The stupidity of youth never fails to amuse.
Did you two end up married?
that sounds amazing
@@NuttedInYoMom My guess is they both grew up and considered each other “the one that got away”.
I'm a tile guy and will probably never work off stilts but for whatever reason I've been watching a lot of these videos on drywall.
Good videos 👍🏼 informative.
Same here!
Stilts are awesome
I’ve been using dura stilts for years. The amount you time you save is unparalleled. I hardly use a ladder for anything anymore, I use my stilts for almost every aspect of my construction company when needed, drywall, painting, siding, even gutters, I use stilts for everything. Yes there is the potential for injury, but if you’re new to using stilts then you need to spend atleast a week walking around on them every day, just getting used to them. But stilts are the way to go, and when you know what you’re doing the risk is minimal. Yes the videos he showed will scare you if you don’t know what you’re doing. But once you have a couple of years of experience under your belt using stilts, then those tasks look less intimidating.
The best is limbing trees. Put that chainsaw to work.
I'm new to stilts and I still feel like I'm wobbling all over the place... kind of buckling out at the top. Is this a feeling that goes away, or am I doing something wrong? Thanks in advance if you end up answering 😊
@@shannond2707 it goes away. Get on the stilts every day for shot 30 minutes or so. After a week or this the wobbly feeling will go away and you’ll feel more comfortable
@@taylordenman6105 Thanks :) Glad to hear it'll improve... right now I walk like Bambi on a frozen pond, haha
Your work is absolutely amazing and your approach on drywall situations is extremely helpful thank you.
I like to strap my stilts with the buckle on the the calf cup. This keeps from pinching. I also bring the extra length back through the buckle to insure a tight hold.
I am in healthcare and have treated many injuries from tradespeople. Can’t think of one drywaller I saw with a stilt injury. That being said stilts, like you pointed out are dangerous. The videos of others on super stilts or stilts on platforms or stilts bolted to buckets are just insane! Darwin at work.
A friend of the family is just about 80 and still drywalling (muddling and taping only for the last 15 years). He did our entire ceiling a few years ago on stilts.
I would endorse your position of just say no to stilts with the caveat that even walking on even ground you can fall. Know yourself and the risks and make an informed decision.
You are strapped to the stilts, I'd assume that shin and ankle breaks would be different than they would be when falling down the stairs.
I'm drywalling my nearly 1000 sq. ft. garage. I thought about stilts. But I'm in my 70's and my balance is as good as it was. So I'm up and down and up and down a step ladder with big wide secure steps. Takes much longer, but one of my primary safety techniques is, "If you have a bad feeling about something, stop, and think it over some more." It's actually quite common when people have accidents that they say "I had a bad feeling about what I was trying to do."
@@trainliker100 If your drywalling the ceiling, rent a Drywall lift. It'll save you energy, time, and not to mention back. Worth its weight in gold
@@NuttedInYoMom Actually, most of the drywall ceiling pieces (5/8" thick) had been put up 20 years ago by the contractor who built the garage addition. (They put it up by accident, they were suppose to leave the garage without drywall - and these ceiling pieces were all that I had to start with.) But it was done sloppy, with nails, and nails pulling out and some pieces sagging some. I'm putting in screws everywhere and pulling out the loose nails and then filling joints, taping, and so on. Part of the ceiling, however, is a sort of triangular area that has a mostly open ceiling area with no joists. I plan to add joists and than drywall. I might rent a lift. Or I might do one of the schemes where you nail up a little ledge to hold one end, lift the other, and then slip a T support under it. I'm not even sure there will be any full sheets involved.
And how many shoulder injuries from working overhead? When you have shoulder issues and the risk of injury is great it's likely to offset the risk of injuries from a fall.
That was a shockingly excellent choice of music for the taping montage. Great video Ben.
Coming Home - By The Songworks
@@DavidWardJr Thank you! I was about to ask.
yes, an unexpectedly quality choice for a tradie. Normally they just play low grade radio here in Australia.
I’m a DIYer. I screwed a pair of old moccasin slippers to a pair of 5 gallon buckets. Worked perfect for me! 😂
Stilts always make me think back to when I did commercial HVAC installs on new construction: One morning the job super was walking around with 4 or 5 Gatorade bottles, each about half-full, and he was cursing under his breath. Apparently the drywall installers on stilts didn't feel like getting down to use the bathroom, and they'd leave the used bottles laying around the jobsite instead of throwing them out.
I bet they were Latinos
Hahaha this made my night.
But not like any of you have ever pissed in a bottle before...
Iv seen em piss in empty caulk tubes and leave proped up on window sills
fuck i just go 4wheel stilting across the trenches and find the tallest fence to lean on or try courch some what beside my car 😂🤦🏻♂️
@@goldenhandcuffs I've pissed in a bottle plenty, hell I've even shit in a bucket once. But I didn't leave it sitting on the job site after I was done.
Came for the stilts, stayed for the montage. I hope Vancouver knows how lucky they are to have you.
Extremely important must have item when building your Bigfoot suit.
Used Stilts for many years, quick tip is learn in a small room.
Yup. When I was learning, I did laps around the room, staying within touching distance of the walls. Thirty years later and I'm getting the hang of them. Seriously, I'm pretty good on them and have not fallen (knock wood) but I would never recommend them to anyone who is not doing drywall for a living.
Wow that’s a good tip, not !
@@Joeker1111I was able to learn stilts after a while in less then an hour
And I was able to walk .7 miles in then
joseph knipp I’m sure his years of skateboarding 🛹 helped
I've got a friend that bought a pair just to be a tall Frankenstein every Halloween. It's always a hit. True story. Great channel btw!
I've used stilts in taping new construction for 34 years. I agree with much of what you said. I usually don't use stilts when ceilings are over 9 ft high, and being 5'7" in height, I need to set my stilts at 3 ft height, and get on stilts from a platform or a horse. I learned from using stilts at 45" (and falling on the dismount), that you have to plan on how to get off the stilts once you've gotten on them.
I agree with the pratice of strapping the legs first, and unstrapping them last.
When I get on stilts above 2 ft and use a platform, I also get off the stilts by standing in front of the platform and backing off the stilts, in reverse of how I got onto them. I lean on a wall when I get on stilts at 24" or higher.
It's also important to adjust the heel brackets, height of the leg braces, and especially the angle of the leg braces. Bad adjustment can cause the stilts to feel uncomfortable and put pressure on one side of the foot.
For me, as a piece-worker, it's just not worth it to tape without stilts, and the Dura Stilt brand is as good as they get.
I use stilts often and they help a ton. Though when I'm wearing them I really ought to walk backward less, climb ladders less, work in cluttered spaces less. Pretty much everything you said that is bad to do with stilts on I occasionally find myself doing. I wear my skate helmet when I adjust above the lowest height. Haven't fallen yet.
Im 5'6", so everything is beyond my reach🤷🏾♂️🤷♂️, so getting stilts at 40 years old was my best decision. It helps me painting and finishing. I use them every opportunity I can. At the beginning it was scarry but you get used to it and it saves my knees from going up and down ladders. I also recommend using velcro straps.
thanks for this comment. Sounds very similar to my potential situation.
Perfect workmanship ! Love your skills !
I've been walkin stilts nearly 40yrs, and I've seen a lot of crazy shit, but bolting them to 5gal buckets and walkin pick boards with'em is askin for a lot of pain 😂.
They weren't bolted to the buckets
I bought stilts as a homeowner to finish my basement about 6years ago and loved using them. They are Skywalker by Marshalltown 18”-30” with a 225lb max weight. Found them very easy to get used to working in. I always tried to use a wall or corner to take them on or off.
I think someone switched out your leg strap for a usb cable with how many times you had to turn it over before it went in right.
lol
hahaha
I am not in construction but always enjoy and learn something from your videos. I was cracking up while you were messing with those straps and buckles. I have a couple of things that have those type of connections and they always take me a few tries before I get them right. Now I don't feel so bad.
I got a job doing metal framing once. The guy asked me if I ever walked on stilts, I said no. He hands me a pair and said well you’re gunna learn. I’m about 5 minutes I was running climbing steps jumping going up and down a ladder on them. They really are no different than walking. Construction stilts are moth like circus stilts. Construction stilts are designed to be like walking with your real legs only extending the bottom of your leg
Your hilarious man. So great to watch! Much respect from Toronto!
Really good video,says it all.I do dry wall on a part time basis .Have worked off stilts on the odd occasion.Lending a pair of stilts,but i do not own a pair.One i did not feel over safe on them,did make me faster in wide open spaces. Not doing enough new homes,to make the purchase worthwhile.You are right you must be organised and focused ,no untidy work areas.
Your talent knows no end!! Thanks for the info!
Ben, you would be perfect as early middle age Link in a Legend of Zelda film.
I got a set a few years ago. I completely agree, never recommended that anyone gets them, but they are the greatest time saver out there & not too hard to learn. Just keep the floor spotless & never walk backwards.
Love the video! I was actually thinking about getting a pair of stilts. I do drywall(mostly drywall repair) out here in Las Vegas, NV and have come across some jobs where the stilts would have come in handy. 1 thing I noticed, was how you were pulling your tape, and collecting it in a 5 gallon bucket. At Home Depot, they have this "professional tape dispenser", that you fill with mud, and your tape pulls out with mud on it. So instead of what you were doing by collecting it in a 5 gallon bucket, this tool would sit at your waist(like the 5 gallon bucket), and then you could just pull tape as needed. Just my 2 cents. Lol
That was the best drywall tape montage I have ever seen! Or maybe it was the only drywall tape montage I have seen. But I did like the music choice!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Your elbow explanation was valued information for not tiring your arm out, Thanks.
@Vancouver Carpenter. Great information and production. Your taping, mudding, and music really put me in the mood to get something done today, even if it's not drywalling (although I've got a drywall repair underway and I'm really taking my time). Not as experienced as you with but I've got you as a teacher. And no, I'll not be buying or borrowing stilts, period
I like how you put some short video clips showing how insane some people are when on stilts like workers wearing stilts on a high work platform. A good number of years ago, I had to "fix" a bad tape job (definite bow in a wall next to the top of my stairway). The worst part was I also had to paint the walls along and ceiling above these stairs. I used two 2X10s to make a scaffold and of course there was quite a bit of bowing when standing in the center. I'll be definitely paying someone else to do that in the future.
Hope you and your family stay safe and well.
Thats crazy how fast you were able to get that taping done the stilts look like their a pretty good idea
Incredible videos. Much respect for all you professionals
Do a kickflip on stilts.
Just make sure you keep practicing brother.Practice makes perfect.
@@jamesnettleton68 practice makes perfect, thats exactly right. 👍👍👍
Do it lol
Tony Hawk would like to know your location.
I will try it on. Thanks.
Spent over 30 years on stilts all day every day. Rule One - DuraStilts or no stilts. The other brands will get you killed. Rule Two - You fall once and you've learned all you ever need to know. Rule 3 - If your feet are above 42 inches, you are technically required to have fall protection. This is why stilts only go to 40 inches which allows for a 2 inch boot heel. Any higher will get you tossed off a serious site.
This guy stilts'
That’s good to know as I was looking for that info. My google-fu sucks.
I was looking at stilts before I saw this video and I saw a pair that went to 60 inches. Which is crazy! How do you setup fall protection for stilts?
Again! The dry humor cracking me up! 'Are stilts really safe? Well, not really, if you fall'. LMAO! But the question, can you afford to fall an injure yourself? Really important to ask yourself that and be honest when answering. I was thinking about them because ladders aggravate my Achilles tendinitis, but I'd rather that than injury due to a fall. Thank you for the, yet again, informative, honest and entertaining video.
Love the channel. Can't wait to see another video with your Dad!
Bud, truly a pleasure to watch your skills. 👌
Hi, Thank you for all your videos i've learned a lot from you and have put it to great use.
Spent lots of time during the quarantine watching your UA-cam channel.
Do you have any advice on how to fix or what to use to fix a oily spot in drywall. Sometimes fresh, new drywall can have a oily spot for no rhyme or reason.? I'm sure you have encountered this.? Do you know what I'm talking about?
Thank you and keep the video's coming.😉
Thanks for the videos, I thoroughly enjoy watching.
What is that music playing? It's great!
My next door neighbor bought a pair to use for a Halloween costume. He told me he had gotten the most heavy duty type available. I asked to borrow them to skim coat a ceiling I was working on. It was like tying cinder blocks on my feet! I gave up after 45 minutes. My suggestion is to get the lightest and most flexible pair you can find if you must buy a pair.
I like the tape in the bucket idea. I have never tried that although I have seen it done. I guess I thought that it would be to messy. I have work on stilts but not for many years.
Thank you for helping me make up my mind weather to get some or not. I'm normally a risk taker, but I'm 64 years old and my conscience is telling me (Don;t do it!). Love your choice of background music also.
I love hard work.
I can watch it for hours.
I have been binge watching your channel for a few days now and that incredible cringey music really caught me by surprise. Good prank! 😂
I love my stilts and use them on almost every job. Durastilt are the best mine are 24/40s. I'm 6'4'' tall and weight 270lbs and have never had a problem👍
That’s what I’m trying to figure out myself right now. I weigh 270 and just bought some stilts. I’m just hoping my stilts won’t break under my weight and that I can actually balance on them.
I saw videos of workers walking on a 5 gallon bucket, shuffling around the room. If they start to fall, they just jump off. Sometimes 2 buckets for higher ceilings.
top vid mate, many thanks. Agreed with the disclaimer for a general audience and the sensible assessment at the end.
Good advice - thanks!
You're Awesome mister...thanks again for another fun Video...Peace
Great videos. Thank you!
My pleasure!
Great video 👍👍 I’ve had that same problem with my stilts as well lol . I have question about structural cracks. What is the best way to repair those. I was gonna cut it out and predilection with Sheetrock 20 first and then use paper tape and regular compound for my remaining coats. Do you think this would fix the problem . If not what advice can you give me to fix this problem. Thanks
I've done everything you showed in your videos with exception to the buckets i go up and down ladders etc in all my years as an insulator I've only fallen once... also when your calf straps wear out you can tape them to your legs.
I'm a retired safety professional. I have a collection of the type of videos like the guy using stilts on a narrow plank two stories up. I used to show them in my training classes. The file name is "Darwin Awards".
Damn thanks for making me laugh so much 😂
I saw some drywall video on UA-cam where the guy is standing on what seems to be an empty typical drywall compound bucket. And the way he moved around was to shift his balance and kind of rotate the bucket a little. What was amazing, was that he was so good at it and could move around pretty quickly. But probably not a very safe way to do things.
I had 600 square feet of garage ceiling to redo drywall, which meant 2 layers of 5/8" sheet rock. I got a drywall lift, a set of stilts and a cheap taping banjo. Best investments of my life. Oh, and I am only 5'4". And the garage was a total cluttered mess. No falls so no problems. The stilts and the banjo made it really easy.
Stilts are like many dangerous activities. You learn how to do it before you are thirty or not at all. Skiing, rock climbing, rugby, etc. You make your mistakes when your body can recover easily.
I got my pair when I was 60.
@@parkebyron5132 Good on ya! Good advice should not always be heeded.
I found using stilts for cutting in wall paint along the ceiling was awesome. It may be good training wheels for someone learning as well. I learned in a cluttered room, so what do I know :)
Nope, not doing it but it was fun to watch and loved the music accompaniment!
I wore stilts as I was a plasterer. Never fell, did stumble couple of times, but you learn to stop your self. The main thing is keeping area clear of equipment, people and leads
2:27 *The local OSHA office reps' Christmas shopping list grows*
Stilts and the pre mudding of the paper strips, awesome!!
Don't buy stilts but watch me use stilts! 😂 Love it!
You should have the stilts on your skateboard channel. Back smith on stilts would be rad.
We've had those same exact stilts for years! Still use them and actually planning on using them on a job tomorrow. Don't understand how someone can use them without boots tho, even with sneakers they don't seem to fit your feet correctly and get uncomfortable.
Question for my preferred youtube channel! if you use corner beads (typical 90deg corner, metal in the middle and paper on the edges), can you use these for angles like 60deg? like, can I force the 90deg into a 60deg? or should I then just switch to paper tape and skip the metal corner bead?
You make it look sooooooooooo easy 🙏🏻🙏🏻
This is making me appreciate how easy it is to be a computer programmer. Though it still doesn't stop me from constantly complaining about it.
Don't sell yourself short. I do general construction/industrial work, but I've also been studying coding and game design for shits and giggles and let me tell you: I'd rather deal with twelve tons of structural steel than bug hunting through my own half-assed algorithm any old day. It's a different kind of hard, but it's still hard.
I have done a lot of software development (and a manager of it, too) and from so much time at the keyboard started to develop a horrible pain in one shoulder. Had to go to a sports therapist for exercises to resolve it. But it was worth it considering software development is one of only two real growth careers still available. The other being pizza delivery.
@@trainliker100 You would probably have more problems than that if you were doing physical labor every day. However, white collar jobs have their problems too. Namely, you are sitting around all the time, so, you end up having heart and other problems due to lack of movement.
I love your explanations, great vids. Don't forget to credit your musicians. Cheers Howard Halifax NS. in the eastern reaches of the Kanata.
I got used to them really easy and have a few pairs but the longest ones are hard on the legs and would be a long way down .like you say tho ,most important part is a clear clean even floor
My dad has a set, I remember watching him as a kid on jobs using them. I thought he was crazy, I don't know if I would ever get up on a set of those things. I would probably be more inclined to take my time and use scaffolding of some sort.
A local drywall guy has stilts probably at least eight feet tall. He wears them in parades. I am not sure if he has actually used them that tall on any jobs?
Trend Investor 😂😂
I use 8ft stilts outside for trimming hedges. Uneven ground is sometimes chalenge, but I found my way to handle it.
@@thomtrucker1925: Just need a tall ladder to mount / Dismount. lol.
Oven been using stilts for close to a decade. But I always put then on against a wall. I feel an injury would more likely occur when putting them on or taking them off.
When I was working for a commercial company I was always amazed by the guys the double stilt. I saw a guy fall on double stilts once and it was like the slowest fall ever. He was alright but I couldn't help but think how nuts he was
I was maybe 12 or 13 when I found my dad’s drywalling stilts from his previous life as a painter, and I spent my whole summer break strapped in them, and I got to the point where I could almost sprint in the things.
I probably turfed it at least once a day for the first month though lol
You should have wish you were here playing in the background. Since most watching wishes you were doing there job or my job. I’m almost done with mine Thanks for the videos
I tore my mcl reaching a drill off the floor wearing mine. I love the stilts but be safe with them.
I bought a pair of stilts 10 to 12 years ago after going down the wrong side of a 2' ladder for the third time in one day I use them all the time from drywall, drop ceilings, crown molding and painting. I put all my tools needed on my 6' ladder so I dont have to get thing off the floor
every height is safe as long as we dont fall from it , Over the years I have found using stilts is safer if the area is clean and clear and you keep it that way :)
I'm a plasterer in the uk and I love working from stilts......... Never a problem :-)
You do nice work!
Ben with your years of skating your balance should be a definite benefit on stilts 🤠👍🔨
Hi, many thanks for your vids. Can you please show me how to finish a drywall hole around a wall cleanout? Cheers and take care
I've done hand and banjo methods of tapping but I have never seen the mudded tape in a bucket method. Looks like you have to a great efficiency level.
If i buy stilts does the theme music come with it?
Thanks for the vid
Thank you for the blunt answer you just save my life or atleast from me breaking something 😆 lol
I’ve been hanging drywall for 10 years and I’ve done my fare share of sketchy risky moves; but those stilts on an aluminum plank over the entrance hall made me choke and had to do a reality check. If you ever have to work above 10 feet or 3 meters you need to rent and set up a scaffold or build a floor. Always build a floor with 2x6’s and thick plywood.
The industry doesn't pay enough to make that viable unfortunately. Workers are forced to take risks to increase production. Otherwise you lose profit.
I can barely keep my balance in a pair of boots. But I really want to try a set of these.
Do you get served quicker at the bar in stilts? What about wearing them with a long gown?
I will never use stilts, I don't have to fix any walls, I don't work with drywall but I keep watching every video you put out :D i just like watching you
Stilts are safe,used them as a plasterer in the UK on site price work and never fell in off in ten years. We used to use 5 gallon drums and scaffold planks before stilts and fell off every day !
Stilts are a must for a residental taper that tapes everyday and stilts are legal but you are to take a stilts course and have a ticket but if you drywall tape once and a while dont bother with them and dont tape off a ladder you cant have three points when taping off a ladder use benches.
Question - How do I skim coat over a skip trowel texture? I've sanded and sanded and mudded and mudded and the "veins" of the old texture keep showing up when I skim coat. I used thicker mud and watery mud, I've done your roller method and applied gobs with a knife and pan. I little advice would be nice. Thanks.
Great video!
Awesome job
Hi, is there anything that I should pay particular attention to if I am looking to buy second-hand (used) stilts. They have no straps, but I can get those, but what about the springs, nuts and bolts. Which parts are not meant to move and which are? This is for fancy dress and not work purposes btw.
Great video.
Any chance of getting a link for both the stilts and you're thing for mudding the tape?
I never thought about falling when I’m on stilts. Is that possible?