Rant: Sanding dust got into my tape gun bearing on a job in Oak Park

I was halfway through taping a 1,200 square foot basement when the gun started grinding and seized up. Took me 45 minutes to disassemble it on the floor, clean out the crud, and get it running again. Has anyone else had luck with those little dust shields for the intake vents, or is it just part of the gig?

4 comments

4 Comments

emmag2223d ago

Wait aren't those vents on the motor not the bearing?

hugomurray23d ago

Right there with you. I had the exact same thing happen on a job in Elmhurst last fall. Taping a master bedroom and the gun just locked up solid on me. I was so frustrated I almost threw it against the wall. Took me a full hour to clean it out with a pick and some compressed air, and I was still finding dust in the motor housing for days after. Those little vent covers are a JOKE, they barely do anything once the mud starts flying.

the_robert17d ago

Oh totally, I learned that lesson the hard way too. My tape gun seized up on a job in Naperville and I spent a solid 45 minutes scraping dust out of the bearing with a toothpick and a lot of colorful language. The dust shields are a joke, they just collect more crud and make you think you're safe. I've started taking the damn thing apart and blowing it out with compressed air every time I empty a bucket of mud. It's like a little ritual now: finish a bucket, curse the design, clean the gun. At least my language is getting more creative each time.

cole35617d ago

Wait, hold on. You're telling me those little vent covers are actually for the motor and not the bearing? That changes everything. I've been cursing those things out for years thinking they were some half-baked attempt at protecting the bearing. No wonder they never worked worth a damn, I was blaming the wrong part the whole time. That is honestly blowing my mind right now, I need to go look at my tape gun differently next time I clean it.