I've done way too much drywall, demo and hang/finish. Hammer and hands are the fastest. You can cut the perimeter with a drywall saw if you're triyng to be neat about it. Watch for wires if you use any kind of cutting tools.

I use multiple things depending on the task. I've used drywall saw, oscillating tool, szawall, circular saw, sledge hammer, my feet.

What are you trying to accomplish?

Razor Knife, Keyhole type Saw, or Sawzall, depending.

Kitchen Knife, Flathead Screwdriver, Hammer, etc, in a pinch.

Depending on what a fair bit means - Makita makes a drywall saw with a vacuum port you could connect to a shop vac. They even make some dust collection vacuums.

Makita Drywall Saw Product page

quote:

Originally posted by darthfuster:

quote:

Originally posted by Excam_Man:
Chainsaw

Only one chainsaw?

Never felt the need to operate two at a time.

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:


What are you trying to accomplish?

Hard to explain without pictures. I'll sort something out tomorrow to see if I can get some pictures.

When I cut out a piece of wall, I trim leaving the intact board full across the stud. I put a 1x or 2x sticker on the stud for the patch piece

By order of preference:

1st) Oscillating saw. These things are amazing and worth the money. I just missed a powerwire cutting drywall a couple months back because I was using this instead of a sawsall or jigsaw. What's that worth to you?

2nd) Hand Saw- like the Irwin posted upthread.

Not to use: circular saw, jig saw, sawsall, utility knife. I have used all of these successfully in drywall and they are all great tools, however, I have also had unsuccessful moments with them as well. I don't doubt that an expert would work wonders in drywall with any of these, I, however, am not even close to being an expert.

Never tried a rotozip, suspect it would kick ass and do a great job.

quote:

Originally posted by Aeteocles:
I need to open up a fair bit of drywall for a remodeling project.

What would you consider the optimal power tool for this, and why?

Rotary Cutter (like a Rotozip)
Reciprocating Saw (like a Sawzall)
Compact Circular Saw (4.5" type)
Oscillating Tool

Or should I just do it old school with a prybar and demo hammer?

It really it depends but without knowing more and I'm assuming you know what is in the wall before you start cutting.

Rotary Cutter (like a Rotozip) It's really used more for applying drywall. Used mainly with a "guide point" bit to cut out electrical boxes, vents, pipes, window and door openings, and for trimming drywall over hangs around framing. If you need to cut out drywall with precision this tool can still work well. Draw lines where you want to cut out and score with a utility knife using a new blade. If done correctly the bit will follow the knife cut line, the deeper you score the better the bit will follow.

Reciprocating Saw (like a Sawzall) - If you really don't care what you are cutting into and this will work well and very fast. In the right hands this can be used accurately.

Compact Circular Saw (4.5" type) - Would not even consider using this unless it's all you have.

Oscillating Tool - This could work well, but I think a rotozip would work better. I could be wrong, I really have never used one for drywall.

Or should I just do it old school with a prybar and demo hammer? Honestly this might the most sense. If it was me I would try to get it off in the biggest pieces possible to make removal easier. Find a seam or a doorway and start in a corner. If you can find the fasteners you pop them loose either with a punch or just hitting them with hammer. Once you get a few fasteners loose you can use both hands to grasp the drywall and start wiggling pulling the sheet to pop the rest of the fasteners loose. How well this works really depends on how many fasteners they used and/or if they used glue. If you smash it to bits it will just make a bigger mess to clean up.

I was a journeyman drywaller in another life Good luck!