Cordless Caulk Gun, Worth It?

[dr_clyde]

Got a job coming up where we'll need to caulk a couple hundred linear feet of seams. Considering getting a battery powered caulking gun for this job.

They seem to be pretty expensive for what they are. 2-3 hundred bucks. I'm trying to weigh if the time and effort saved by using a power tool is worth it here. The two of us can probably get this job caulked in an afternoon, and move on.

Problem is, I probably won't use this for a very long time after this job. I've gotten by with a hand caulk gun for years, I may only do a tube or two a year MAX.

Worth the spend for a nice battery one? If they're the cat's *** and make the job SOOOO easy, then I'll probably get it. But, if they're just "meh" and don't really cut hours out of the job, then I'll just hand caulk it.

Only considering Metabo or Makita, as that's what battery systems we have are, and I only want to buy the bare tool.

 

[Ruger_556]

Got an air compressor? An air caulker works awesome they only cost like $25

 

[Muckin_Slusher]

I've used the milwaukee m12 one.

I would say that it's worth buying even to shoot one single tube of caulk. They're amazing. They auto retract as soon as you release the trigger.

It's ease is like comparing a stick welder to a MIG.

Also, if you're using epoxy to set anchors in concrete it's a million times easier letting the battery do the work. Those dual compound epoxy tubes are very hard to pump out by hand.

Absolutely worth it.

 

[nieuport17]

This depends on your hand.
If you are a young guy, your hand could probably handle a few hundred feet of caulking.

Im an old man, just for 20 feet I would use a battery assist caulking gun. I have one: Ryobi. Im already thinking about upgrading to m12 caulking gun.

Its not about the money, its about your hand.

 

[rlitman]

...Only considering Metabo or Makita, as that's what battery systems we have are, and I only want to buy the bare tool.

Why? In your price range, you can easily buy a different tool WITH battery and charger for less than the bare tools you're looking at that use the batteries you have.

 

[70staged]

I have the DeWalt version and had 1 job to do and was worth it. Of coarse my job was a lot more than what you have to do. 30 feet worth per piece and had about 240 pieces to do. Used 2 tubes per piece. I would go back and seal thing up using hand caulk gun for finishing though.

 

[Jazzman442]

I have a Black and Decker one. It is great.

 

[Countyroadtrailers]

A decade ago I started with a Ryobi one. Was worth it then, I moved to DeWalt 5 years or so and my guys still use the Ryobi one ( with new batteries ) and I use the DeWalt one nearly daily. I won't even consider a hand caulking gun with some of the sealants I use. There is no other way. Well maybe an air one but I prefer cordless for this tool.

I get more out of the caulking as well. They have enough power to push a hardened tip most of the time the next day.

Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using Tapatalk

 

[rmack898]

Doc, just looking at the words in the title of this thread, the simple answer is YES.

 

[K13]

If you are going to use it for one job and then never use it again get one of these. I wouldn't buy one if I was using it daily but my Ryobi tools have held up very well being used pretty much every weekend so I am sure it would suffice for one job.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-1...PIPHorizontal2_rr-_-205648767-_-307850342-_-N

 

[pshking]

the Ryobi has been a really good tool for me.

 

[dagofast]

Another vote for the Ryobi One+ caulking gun. I have arthritis in my hands. Bought one a couple of years ago when our new home was being built. It effortlessly pushed cases of caulk in to gaps and seams during the build. I thought it would never get used after the build, but I'm surprised how much I still use it on various projects. Well worth the $55 bucks or so even if you're young and don't have arthritis in your hands.

 

[Ingram306]

I bought the M12 one to use doing a job replacing subfloors in an entire house. Every joist had a bead of PL on it. Huge time saver. For trim work I still use a manual one. made by Tajima, wasn’t super expensive but by far the best one I’ve ever used for the job.

 

[Hammer1963]

YES! The M12 works great and saves a lot of time, is consistent and saves your hands for other work

 

[jd_1138]

I'd probably buy it and then use it on future projects too. It will save labor and your energy.

 

[toplessHO]

I got a pneumatic one on close out for about $10 ,about 15 yrs ago and still use it.
I use a small inline regulator and lightweight leader hose.

 

[poppakap]

Yes. Love the m12

 

[Git]

I think a lot depends on what you actually plan on doing with it. If your shooting some sort of construction adhesive (sub floors, window flashing, etc) I could see it's value.

But this isn't really my idea of 'caulking' (and this is from an actual Makita USA YoutTube Video)

 

[Tduby]

I have the m12 I got it because I was caulking the sesames on osb in a 36x80 garage it has been worth every penny. I use all the time it’s easy to control the flow and placement when you’re not squeezing the handle. The only negative if you aren’t careful you can get caulk bypassing the plunger if you are pushing to fast which is easy to do. Worse case buy use it for your project then sell it if you don’t like it

 

[slodat]

I have the Milwaukee M18 caulking gun and I wouldn't be without it. It is worth every penny!

 

[IndyGarage]

I've had a Milwaukee for almost 20 years now - it runs on a 12V battery and is still on the original battery! I've run hundreds of tubes of caulk through that thing - it looks like a sticky mess now.

I don't know if your job is big enough, but I highly recommend them. They are especially useful for really stiff caulk - like the polyurethanes. Some brands of that are nearly impossible to dispense with a hand gun, but it's effortless with the cordless.

 

[mobiledynamics]

I have one Great for rough work like construction adhesive on ply. FOR FINE work, I still prefer to use a manual gun. Probably boils down to technique but for finish grade work, manual gives me more consistent results

I've got the barrels for both sausage and tube...usually the stuff I use like poly stuff, I get in sausage. The joint sealers I use are 2 part as well and must be fed into barrel

 

[Aaron_W]

Last summer my Dad was helping me put a new corrugated tin roof on a carport. I already have some Ryobi garden tools, so almost as a joke I bought the Ryobi caulking gun (it's like $40 tool only).

When I saw it it just seemed like the dumbest, solution in search of a problem ever and my wife if a super gadget nerd so I was like hey look what I have.

It turns out they are awesome. I was amazed at how much easier the job of sealing the joints was. I am so glad that I am a smart *** and bought that thing. My Dad told me he bought one for his house after using mine.

 

[Nthill93]

After putting down 10 tubes of caulk today I definitely want one.

 

[Skiff Builder]

I would use a Newborn Brothers caulk gun in your case. I have an 18:1 that is a joy to use and own. Have pushed hundreds of feet of two part epoxy adhesives with 38 element mixing tips , PL Premium and other polyurethanes in cool weather no problem.
Simplicity, fine control, will last forever if not lost.
They have different ratio's 12:1, 40something:1 available.
about $30

PS when I see Holland, MI I think Tiara Yachts and Haworth Office Furniture

 

[The Cobbler]

I got a pneumatic one on close out for about $10 ,about 15 yrs ago and still use it.
I use a small inline regulator and lightweight leader hose.

I do this as well .

 

[4 Ever-Fish N]

I didn't know they made such a critter. If I ever have to use a caulk gun much, I will get one of the cordless tools. My hands kill me any time I use them much.