Calvana (2-Pack) Calvana XL Drywall Lift & Sheetrock Kicker Multi-Tool Set with Built-In Drywall Rasp Tool & Bottle Opener, Ideal for Wall Panels & Door Installation, XL Size Drywall Tools

A foot-powered helper that actually earns its space in the tool bag

Drywall days go smoother when your feet can do half the work. That’s essentially what the Calvana drywall lift/kicker brings to the party: a sturdy wedge you drive with your boot to lift and position sheet goods or doors, plus a built-in rasp to fine-tune edges on the fly. I used the two-pack on a wall paneling job and a prehung door install, and it’s one of those simple, confidence-boosting tools that solves fussy, everyday problems without taking over your workflow.

Design and build

Each lift is a solid chunk of aluminum with three standout elements:

• An XL toe insert that’s taller and wider than typical drywall kickers. This gives the wedge more purchase under a panel and increases lift per step.
• A diamond-textured heel pad where your boot lands. It’s grippy and wide, so you don’t skate off the tool when you put your weight into it.
• A centered, wide rasp integrated into the body for shaving gypsum or OSB edges.

Calvana added a small stop on the toe that keeps the wedge from sliding too far under a sheet and crushing the edge—an issue that’s easy to create with pry bars or wrecking bars. The aluminum body is rigid without being heavy, and the footprint feels stable on subfloors. There’s also a bottle opener on the heel. I wasn’t shopping for a bottle opener, but it’s there, and it works.

These are the XL versions, marketed as friendlier to bulky work boots. With my 11.5s, the heel plate felt sized right, and I appreciated the extra width when I shifted my weight side to side for fine adjustments.

Setup and first impressions

There’s no setup. I pulled them from the box and started hanging 1/2-inch drywall on stud walls. The first impression is leverage: the tool gets you a surprising amount of lift from a controlled, short stroke. With a panel edge riding the studs, the mechanic is simple—slide the toe under, step on the heel, and the sheet rises predictably.

Compared to a flat bar, I found two advantages immediately:

• The wider toe doesn’t chew up the gypsum face.
• The built-in stop keeps you from burying the wedge and blowing out the edge.

The second lift became a second “hand” when working solo—one under each corner to hold elevation and micro-adjust the reveals.

Performance on drywall

For wall panels, the Calvana excels at three tasks:

1) Raising sheets to meet a consistent ceiling line

2) Holding a panel off the floor for the expansion gap

3) Nipping a hair off an overcut edge with the rasp

On a typical 8-foot panel, one foot-on-lift action reliably nets about an eighth to a quarter inch of rise, depending on load and stance. That’s a great range for chasing tight joints and hitting consistent gaps. Two lifts make it easy to bias a panel up on one side just enough to get a bead straight without a helper.

The toe profile slides easily under a sheet sitting on subfloor. It’s smooth enough to avoid catch-and-tear, but not slippery. Importantly, the toe doesn’t leave a bruise on the gypsum edge—something I’ve seen with thinner steel wedges.

As for the rasp, it’s aggressive enough to remove paper and gypsum quickly without gouging. I found short, even forward strokes work best. The centered placement is convenient; I could set the sheet down and knock off a tight spot without walking back to the toolbox. The rasp face didn’t clog in normal use; caked dust brushed out with a stiff nylon brush. Like any rasp, it loads if you hit wet mud or damp edges, so let the sheet dry before shaving.

Door fitting and other uses

The second job I tasked it with was holding a solid-core door while I set hinges solo. The diamond-textured heel actually matters here: it gives your boot positive grip so the door doesn’t drift down while you reach for fasteners. The lift provides a controlled rise, and the broad toe spreads load enough that it doesn’t crush the bottom edge of the door. It’s not a door jack with cradle and fine threads, but for hinge-side alignment and maintaining a consistent reveal while you sink screws, it’s great.

Beyond drywall and doors, the lifts pulled their weight under T1-11, OSB sheathing, and even cabinet toe-kicks where I needed a slight nudge. Anywhere you’d otherwise reach for a flat bar to gain a fraction of an inch, the broader, boot-friendly platform of this tool feels safer and more predictable.

Ergonomics and safety

• Stance: The XL heel lets you put your weight straight down rather than balancing on a narrow bar. That translates to less ankle wobble and fewer slips.
• Control: The stopping lip on the toe is a small detail that prevents over-insertion and crushed edges. It also keeps you from undercutting the panel and levering the wrong way.
• Noise and shock: Less clang and bounce than a steel bar. The aluminum absorbs a bit of shock.

For finished floors, put down a scrap of hardboard or a drop to avoid scuffing—any aluminum wedge can leave marks on delicate finishes. On subfloors, it’s a non-issue.

Durability

The aluminum body shows a few surface scratches after a couple of days, but structurally it’s unfazed. The rasp face hasn’t dulled noticeably, and the heel texture is still sharp. There’s no flex under load that would suggest premature fatigue. I’d expect years of service in a remodeler’s kit.

What it won’t do

• Ceiling panels: This is not a replacement for a drywall lift/hoist when you’re overhead. It’s for walls and floor-level lifting.
• Large height changes: You get precision adjustment, not inches of lift. If you need to raise a door several inches, you’ll still reach for a jack or blocks.
• Tight corners: The XL size is welcome under most panels, but in very tight alcoves you may want a slimmer wedge.

Small-footed users might find the heel a bit wide; it’s optimized for bulky boots. That said, the texture keeps smaller shoes planted well enough.

Two-pack value and workflow

Having two is legitimately useful. I used one as a “set-and-hold” at one corner while I finessed the opposite side. It’s also handy when moving between rooms—one stays with the sheet, one travels with you to trim or fetch screws. If you work with a partner, it’s a no-brainer: you each have a lift and you can keep panels pinned without shouting for help. If you’re doing a very small project—say a dozen sheets and no doors—you can absolutely get by with one or even a flat bar, but the two-pack aligns nicely with how these get used in practice.

Tips from the field

• For consistent floor gaps, slide a scrap of 1/2-inch OSB against the studs, toe the lift over it, and you’ll get a repeatable elevation that’s easy to screw off.
• Use two lifts to “steer” a panel horizontally: a tiny rise on one corner will let you bump a sheet right or left to close a seam.
• Clear the rasp often. A quick brush cleaning keeps it cutting cleanly and avoids glazed tracks on the paper face.
• On finished flooring, drop a thin sheet of plastic or hardboard under the toe to prevent scuffs.
• Store the pair hooked on a screw or in a bucket; the toe shape nests well and doesn’t chew up other tools.

Alternatives

Traditional flat/pry bars are cheaper and will lift a panel, but they come with a higher chance of damaging the edge and they’re awkward underfoot. Dedicated door jacks offer more precise, higher lift for hanging doors, but they’re slower to reposition and don’t help with drywall. If you already own a drywall hoist, keep it for ceilings; this lift fills a different niche—fine adjustment and steady support at floor level.

The bottom line

The Calvana drywall lift/kicker is a simple, well-thought-out tool that does exactly what you want in the middle of a drywall or door install: it gives you controlled, hands-free lift, protects panel edges, and puts a rasp right where you need it. The XL platform feels secure under a boot, and the toe design avoids the all-too-common “crushed bottom edge” problem. It won’t replace a hoist overhead, and it’s not the right choice for massive height changes, but for wall sheets, siding panels, and door fitting, it speeds up work and reduces frustration.

Recommendation: I recommend it. If you regularly hang drywall solo or with a small crew, or you fit doors as part of remodels, this two-pack earns its keep by combining a stable foot lift with a genuinely handy built-in rasp. The XL size suits real-world footwear and the wedge geometry protects materials. For occasional, very small projects you can make do with other tools, but once you’ve used these to nudge, hold, and fine-tune panels without chewing edges, it’s hard to go back.