Vent: I used to cut drywall with a utility knife and a straight edge, but after a messy job in my Denver basement last spring, I switched to a $40 oscillating tool.

The oscillating tool gives me way cleaner lines and less dust, but I'm curious if anyone else has a go-to method for small patches that doesn't involve hauling out the big saw.

3 comments

3 Comments

the_wesley2mo ago

Fist method is a total hack job, no offense. The oscillating tool is worth every penny for clean edges. Dust control alone makes it better than scoring and smashing.

wendy_murphy162mo ago

Forty bucks for an oscillating tool seems like a lot for small patches. I just score it deep and give the drywall a good whack with my fist, clean break every time. The dust from a knife is nothing a shop vac can't handle.

harris.vera24d ago

Gotta disagree here. Fist method might work for you but it's way too rough for anything where you need a clean line. The oscillating tool gives you control that you just can't get with brute force. Plus that "clean break every time" statement is a bit generous, I've seen plenty of jagged edges from punching through drywall. For $40 it's a solid investment that saves you from patching up bigger messes later.