Had to choose between steel studs and wood for a Phoenix office build

We were framing a 12,000 square foot office in Phoenix and the client wanted to cut costs, so I had to pick between steel studs or stick framing with wood. I went with steel for the interior walls because of the fire rating and the fact it's straight in the dry heat, but the crew hated working with it. Anyone have a better method for keeping steel stud installs moving fast?

3 comments

3 Comments

emmashah2mo ago

We used a Milwaukee M12 cordless shear on a big Phoenix condo job and it was a total game changer. That thing cuts through steel studs like butter and keeps the pace up all day. The initial tool cost stings but you get it back fast with less crew fatigue and way fewer blade changes.

foster.mary2mo ago

How many studs did you cut before the battery died, @emmashah?

patricia6341mo ago

Bet on the Milwaukee M12 all you want but that thing still leaves you hunting for a charger halfway through a long day. I've seen guys swear by a corded shear and never look back because you just plug in and go without worrying about battery life at all. @foster.mary probably knows the struggle of that dead battery moment when you're two studs from finishing a wall. Battery tools have their place but on a big job like that condo, one dead pack can slow the whole crew down and that costs more than a cord dragging behind you.