AUTOMATIC TAPER PLUNGER TIPS

One of the most common issues with drywall AUTOMATIC TAPERS is the plunger allowing leakage inside the main tube.
Over the years, this has been quite an ongoing issue in the taping tool industry, with manufacturers approaching the solution with various plunger cups made of rubber, leather and combinations of both.
Sometimes after cleaning your automatic taper, there may be a slight residual of mud left inside the tube. If it dries there, the next time you use the automatic taper, as the plunger moves past the area of dried mud compound, it will open up the plunger cup momentarily and allow compound to leak past the plunger. After several refills, it appears you have quite a leak in your main tube.
Not to worry! Most often, a good, thorough cleaning inside the main tube with a garden hose or pressure washer will make the leak go away.
In the event you clean inside the main tube and still experience unusual leakage past the plunger, it may be time to replace the plunger.
Helpful notes for doing this are available on or instructional CD's at www.tipsfromthetooldr.com
If the job is more than you want to tackle yourself, we can do the necessary repairs for you. Shipping instructions and assistance are available at http://tapingtools.com/services.htm
Wishing you a happy taping season!

Drywall Taping Tool Maintenance Tips

We hear a lot of different words describing automatic taping tools. For example, an automatic taper is also called "the gun", "the tube"or "bazooka". Angle heads may be called "glazers", "corner finishers", "corner flushers", "wings", "corner heads" etc. Flat boxes can be "flat finishers", "flat flushers" or simply "boxes". And how about corner applicators? Try "angle box", "angle applicator", "corner flusher box", "slop box", "hockey box" etc.
Whatever tool you are working on or what you call it, there are a couple VERY IMPORTANT GUIDELINES for maintenance success:
First- Most of the screws and fasteners on drywall taping tools are small and DON'T REQUIRE EXCESSIVE TIGHTENING FORCE! In most cases, snug plus 1/8 turn is plenty to keep a screw tight.
Second- Many of the small screws used in taping tools are available at hardware or automotive stores, BUT it is extremely important to choose STAINLESS STEEL when purchasing your fasteners. This will avoid corrosion that happens after a tool is subject to the water and moisture of general working conditions, as well as making future repairing and rebuilding far easier!
For specialty STAINLESS STEEL FASTENERS, see our websites www.tapingtools.com or www.tipsfromthetooldr.com for contact and ordering information.