A Home Depot Pro Desk regular, Rodriguez enjoys shopping at The Home Depot in Commerce, Calif., where they know him by name. "The Home Depot crew at Commerce knows exactly what I want, and that saves me a lot of time when I have to load several pickup trucks with tools and material," he says.
""Part of the beauty of drywalling," he notes, "is that it requires a few common and inexpensive tools." So what are this pro's top must-haves?
- Stanley SportUtility knife. "I consider this to be the most versatile utility knife, great for cutting drywall sheets. Blades can be changed quickly by pushing a button."
- Wal-Board Us-71 Drywall Saw. "I like drywall saws better than keyhole saws; they have bigger teeth and work great around electric boxes. This particular one has a chisel point that penetrates even wood."
- Wal-Board Drywall Pole Sander. "It's always good to keep a conventional pole sander for ceilings or high walls in your tool collection."
- Wal-Board Stainless Steel Mud Pan. "A better choice than plastic, these mud pans are worth the extra expense. Joint compound sticks to plastic [pans], making them more difficult to clean and work with."
- MAT Stainless Steel Finishing Trowel. "These trowels are worth the investment. They work great for cutting tape and won't get rusty a month later."
- Stanley FatMax Chalk Line Reel. "This chalk line is strong and tense, and I consider it to be the best choice for marking panels prior to cutting."
- Makita Variable-Speed Drywall Screwdriver. "Besides its light weight, this screwdriver helps me lock my depth settings and get accurate results."
- DeWalt ½-In. 18V Compact Drill. "This is a good jack-of-all-trades drill."
- Wal-Board Mud Mixer. "This power mixer attaches to your drill and mixes mud fast, leaving it smooth with just the right consistency."