Lift for the Long Haul
The Panel Lift 439's heavy-duty construction keeps it stable while the chain drive hoists drywall with ease.
I bought my first drywall panel lift way back at the beginning of my career as a drywall contractor. I’m guessing that I would have had at least one shoulder surgery by now if I hadn’t. Over the years, I’ve pretty much stuck with the Panel Lift brand for my crews. The only “money-saving” off-brand I ever bought ended up in the trash after a month. The cheapest of the cheap lifts can cost less than $100, but to anyone in the industry who hangs drywall more than a few times a year, the lift I would recommend is the Panel Lift 439, and here’s why: The 439 has large, 6-in. caster wheels, which are easier to roll over extension cords and scraps of drywall. Also, this model is chain-driven, which bumps its lifting capacity to 200 lb.
The overall construction is heavy-duty, and the lift remains stable even when hoisting 4×16 5/8-in. sheets 14 ft. 5 in. (the max height) off the ground. There is an 18-in. extension available (sold separately) that brings the max lift to 15 ft. 11 in. The lift breaks down into five narrow pieces, so when your friend inevitably wants to borrow it, it will fit in the back of a minivan. If using a lift isn’t easy enough for you, than you can purchase the “Drill Drive” attachment that raises and lowers the lift with a simple squeeze of the trigger on your cordless drill. The Panel Lift 493 is made in the United States and can be purchased at industrial tool suppliers for about $1300.
— Elfego Gomez; drywall contractor in Burnsville Minn.
From Fine Homebuilding #324
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