Affordable Zombie/Dry Wall Killer?

J

jayjaygee

Joined
Mar 13, 2023
Messages
266
I am going to be doing some demo work on a house - tearing down some rotted wood and lots of dry wall. I thought it would be useful, or at least a ton of fun, to have a big burly knife to do some of the work. I'd be cutting into dry wall, prying it free, prying off wainscoating, prying out outlets, maybe chopping some copper wires and whatever else is in the ducts. Basically doing everything you shouldn't ever do with a knife, with this knife. I'm even open to other edge tools, like if you know of a particular zombie killer that would work here. In fact, even better if it's one of those things that makes you wish for a zombie apocalypse just so you could use it.

I'm looking to spend <=$150. Ideally under $100 but $150 is okay so long as it also makes the job go faster. I know something like the Winkler Crusher would (ahem) crush it. But it's just too pricey for me. I was also considering the Ontario Air Force knife or the Ka-Bar (the classic fighting knife) as possibilities that are more in my budget. I've never used either of them, but I'm sure a lot of people have. And I'm sure people here have handled lots of other knives that might fit the bill. I don't really care what it looks like - bowie, "bushcraft," military/tactical, whatever. I care that it will hold up to the pressure, not break apart, be comfortable to wield, and be fun. I don't mind if I have to stop to sharpen 2-5 times/day.

Can you recommend something that would do this job and won't break the bank?

If you post a photo, I'd love it if you'd say what the knife is.

(Please note that unlike a prior thread of mine, where I had specific requirements I was trying to fill, this time the question is wide open. Just maybe don't suggest a victorinox slip joint.)
 
Wouldn't recommend either the Marine Ka-Bar, any repros like the Ontario, or the AF knife for such a task. Too weak, one and all. You'll need full tang construction, not thin, weak, rat-tail tangs. Besides which Ontario was sold off and no longer exists. Whatever is being sold is pre-existing stock and has no warranty support.

Something like the Becker BK2 or BK3 is what you'll need at the high end (the BK3's MSRP is right under your max limit). At the low end, pick up a couple of Hultafors GKs. While not full-length tangs, the abuse they can take for the cost is astronomical.

Some video lists for your perusal:

Hultafors GK
BK2
BK3.

Happy hunting!
 
What I’d do is go to Walmart, spend a hundred bucks and get a number of crappy fixed blades see what survives. I’d even consider one of those inexpensive coleman hatchets they sell. That would probably fair better than a knife and afterwards you got your a decent little truck ax.
 
I usually use a 6# sledgehammer. Tears through sheetrock FAST.

And a flat bar, of course. A 6' San Angelo bar is also good: Use the sledge to bust out the top 2'-3' then fish the bar down into the bay between studs, then pull. Rips down the whole sheet.

Knife ain't really made for the job, unless you like doing it slow, or just like stabbing stuff. If so, an ice pick would probably get the longest rage-room "stabbing life" out of the sheetrock. You could probably stab a 4x8 sheet of drywall 100,000 times or more with an icepick
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before it finally turned into a pile of gypsum ... you might want to invest in some Visqueen for cleanup!

I might also consider switching to decaf. 😄;)
 
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When I have to demo an area of drywall, I use a short handled square nose shovel. The job goes both quicker and easier if you peel off half or quarter sheet size chunks. Even better if you can park your dump truck right outside the sliding glass door and your helper can ramp the debris up in there.

Least amount of handling, is what you’re after.

Please don’t chop through electrical circuits. When you’re chopping into walls blind, you run the risk of severing plumbing pipes also. Once you peel the walls, disconnect them at the home run end, then remove them. Offer your helper the copper for recycle, nice little bonus for him.

Not very knife-y, I know. Your razor knife will come in handy a few times though.

Parker
 
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