Good manual caulk gun?

[ukiltmybrutha]

I have a set of caulk guns that I purchased from Lowes a few years ago that were green in color and about 5 bucks.

Every time the tough gets a little bit going e.g. the material in the 10 ounce tube is a little bit resistant the plunger refuses to push and the sides of the caulk guns start to bow out and need to be hammered in.

Eventually I do want a nice automatic red tool but I want a solid caulk gun from a big box store that won't cost too much but won't have this issue.

Thank you.

 

[CGarage]

There are no good quality caulk guns from big box stores.

Sulzer Mixpac makes the best and I use one of those.

 

[Shiftless]

The Newborn I got long ago from a big box store seems plenty good enough for me.

 

[bonneyman]

10-4 Basically all the DIY-level stuff is ****. Try a commercial or builders supply warehouse. And expect to pay a bit. Cheapie caulk guns stink.
A little pro tip: grease the front and back of the operating plunger. When you get caulk blowback past the cartridge (and it's inevitable), the dried caulk is ALOT easier to get off the plunger if it's greased.

P.S. I found a industrial-quality offering that looks alot like the one I've got. The handle is cast not pressed sheet metal. And the front metal on the gun is heavier gauge than the HD types. FWIW

Uline Caulk Gun - Industrial H-10701 - ULINE

Seal out drafts and repair cracks. For thick sealants. Greater power helps you maintain flow. Durable, lightweight tool for all-day use. Fits Cartridges up to 10 oz, sold separately. Built-in tip cutter and puncture tool.

www.uline.com

 

[cgrutt]

I'm always buying a new caulk gun at the big box stores as I always seem to forget to bring one when I need it. I have a few that are heavier duty than most and seem to work well. They tend to be the ones that cost around $20 or more not the $3 ones found near the silicone. I have one made by Anvil (blue handle with a black rotating plastic basket) that is pretty good. Newborn also makes some decent guns that are heavier gauge than most. Make sure the "thrust ratio" is right for whatever you are caulking. Doesn't really matter with lightweight painting caulk such as Alex but can make a huge difference with some heavier urethane products, especially when cold, like OSI Quad Max or construction adhesive. Generally look for a thrust ratio of about 10:1 but some of the heavier guns run all the way up to about 25:1.

Also put a nail or screw in end of cap and tape it with electrical or masking tape if you don't use full container. If its hardening up on you you're probably better off using a new tube anyway.

 

[tarbellb]

Albion

 

[NoahG]

Unless you need ultra delicate control a cordless gun is a game changer, no more palm blisters! love my M12. I don’t run caulk by trade so having continuous pressure helps me run nice long smooth beads.

 

[bonneyman]

Also put a nail or screw in end of cap and tape it with electrical or masking tape if you don't use full container. If its hardening up on you you're probably better off using a new tube anyway.

Yeah, a partial cartridge going bad (hard) during storage is a problem I've had.
Been using this device called a Caulk Saver. Does a fairly good job of sealing the tube end and keeping O2 out of there, reducing hardening. Plus the long ridged extension helps to pull out any hardened caulk that plugs the end. Not a perfect solution, but not bad.

Caulk Saver Tube Sealer

Your partial tubes of caulk won't dry out if you use caulk savers. Order today.

colored-caulk.com

 

[mike93lx]

I have a couple JES guns, including a high thrust quart gun, that are high quality.

My go to 10oz gun right now is a HDX, of all brands. Seems decently durable, the seal breaker stores away nicely and it's light

 

[Skiff Builder]

I got a Newborn Bros to start my last project. I'll never buy another cheap one again.

I quickly forgot the cost first time I used it with ice cold PL Premium or two part epoxy tubes with mixing tip.

https://www.jamestowndistributors.com/product/product-detail/2531

 

[dscheidt]

I have a set of caulk guns that I purchased from Lowes a few years ago that were green in color and about 5 bucks.

Every time the tough gets a little bit going e.g. the material in the 10 ounce tube is a little bit resistant the plunger refuses to push and the sides of the caulk guns start to bow out and need to be hammered in.

Eventually I do want a nice automatic red tool but I want a solid caulk gun from a big box store that won't cost too much but won't have this issue.

Thank you.

caulk guns have a number called 'thrust ratio', which is the amount of leverage the handle has. Bigger number is higher ratio, so easier to squeeze out stiff product. a cheap caulk gun you buy at the borg for a few bucks has a ratio of around 5:1. That's fine for things like latex painter's caulk. It's **** for even moderately stiff sealants, and never going to work for really thick stuff. Better guns are 10 or 12:1, with "high thrust" versions being around 18:1. I have a 24:1 sausage gun, which dispenses anything, but it's a lot of squuezing.

 

[alinc100]

Tajima makes nice guns. That said I still haven't upgraded from the Anvil dripless guns at HD. The ones with the nicer handle that doesn't pinch you fingers. If we are using questionable glues/caulk I'll put a plastic bag over the rod/in the tube to prevent blowback from creating a mess. Worst lunch hour ever was using a borrowed "HERE TRY THIS!!" Milwaukee M12 caulk gun and it spit back a tube of construction adhesive and I spent my lunch hour disassembling and cleaning. If I was younger or planning to work more than another year I'd upgrade.

 

[P0234]

Newborn 930 is $12 at Amazon and a great gun. I'm sure there are better but you'll have to spend way more.

 

[Wamsutta]

These Cox guns are nice. You can get them from Acme Tools on eBay. They're made in the UK.

 

[onarant]

These Cox guns are nice. You can get them from Acme Tools on eBay. They're made in the UK.

The Cox guns are excellent.

 

[dnschmidt]

Newborn and Cox for manual guns. If you're using twenty tubes or more go with a cordless like the M12 Milwaukee.

 

[The Cobbler]

Tajima makes nice guns.

this

 

[dutchgray]

Tajima or the better Cox ones are good.
All the very cheap ones aren't worth buying.

 

[dogdog]

I have few of these from homedepot but a different brand, exact same before they changed names on the caulking gun. both the 10pz and the larger one for those large tubes. both works great. an upgrade from those cheapies that squeals when you squeeze it harder.

Anvil 10 oz. Heavy Duty Drip Free Professional Caulk Gun HD-138A1 - The Home Depot

Provide a lasting impression to your home by applying this ANVIL:ANViL:Anvil Heavy Duty and Professional Caulk Gun.

www.homedepot.com

 

[IndyGarage]

buy the cordless one and be done with it.

My 12V Milwaukee went 20 years before it needed a new battery. It had hundreds of tubes of polyurethane caulk run through it.

 

[ukiltmybrutha]

Newborn 930 is $12 at Amazon and a great gun. I'm sure there are better but you'll have to spend way more.

I ended up doing this. Thanks.

 

[toolmiser]

If you do garage sales, you will find older ones that are much better quality than new big box ones. Depends on how much your time is worth.

 

[Stelzer]

Being a painter, I have prolly 30 caulk guns, but the better ones are anywhere from 25-30:1 thrust ratio, no matter the brand.
Red Devil 3989 squeezes out highly viscous sealants easily
JES M26S from HD works fairly well

One thing that greatly helps is to warm your sealant first to reduce the viscosity. (I didn't say warm your caulk on purpose, fyi). OSI Quad Max will pour out of a cheap caulk gun when warmed up enough, but hovering at freezing temps, even the higher thrust caulk guns will struggle.

 

[tarbellb]

buy the cordless one and be done with it.

My 12V Milwaukee went 20 years before it needed a new battery. It had hundreds of tubes of polyurethane caulk run through it.

The M12 caulk gun has been on the market for 20yrs?

 

[IndyGarage]

The M12 caulk gun has been on the market for 20yrs?

I didn't say mine was M12.

It's not. It's the old NiCd 12V battery model. I think it will also run on 14.4 V. Works great. I finally had to replace the battery last year, but I know it's more than 20 years old, because I bought it to work on some projects at my old house and I've been in this one 20 years.

 

[tarbellb]

I didn't say mine was M12.

It's not. It's the old NiCd 12V battery model. I think it will also run on 14.4 V. Works great. I finally had to replace the battery last year, but I know it's more than 20 years old, because I bought it to work on some projects at my old house and I've been in this one 20 years.

Oh! I had no idea they made a cordless gun pre M12. Just picked the M12/Albion version. Haven't put it through it paces yet tho. Hopefully they took some ques from your model.

I was starting to feel real old if M12 has been on the market for 20+yrs

 

[mervyn]

I've got an orange one can't remember the brand. Have had it at least 20 years and many tubes of caulk. I'll look when I get home. The newer ones are flimsy like everything else

 

[zmotorsports]

These Cox guns are nice. You can get them from Acme Tools on eBay. They're made in the UK.

I wonder if they made the ones for 3M? I bought a 3M one about 25 years ago that is exactly like this one, with the exception of the color. Best caulk gun I have ever used and my only one in the shop. Used it just last night and still works perfectly after all these years.

 

[KnurledNut]

Newborn 115D. Prefer skeleton style. Cant stand big fancy guns.
Dont care for the comparable inferior made-in-England Cox either.
I’ve gunned hundreds of 10 and 28 oz cartridges professionally.

 

[ZX3ST]

I have one of these, and really like it. They make tons of other models.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002Z0WZG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[bob15]

Cox

https://www.coxdispensers.com/us/cox-products/manual/1-k

 

[IndyGarage]

Oh! I had no idea they made a cordless gun pre M12. Just picked the M12/Albion version. Haven't put it through it paces yet tho. Hopefully they took some ques from your model.

I was starting to feel real old if M12 has been on the market for 20+yrs

M12 is actually 10.8 volts. I think Milwaukee were the ones who rounded that up to 12V.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Milwaukee gun. As I've said I often buy caulk by the case, and I've run hundreds of tubes of caulk through that gun and a good portion of it has been polyurethane - which is difficult to dispense with a hand caulk gun. Mine doesn't look very pretty anymore, but it still works perfectly.

The reason to go M12 would be compatibility with your other batteries, although I've never had a problem with this one being the only tool with that type battery.

 

[bonneyman]

One thing that greatly helps is to warm your sealant first to reduce the viscosity. (I didn't say warm your caulk on purpose, fyi). OSI Quad Max will pour out of a cheap caulk gun when warmed up enough, but hovering at freezing temps, even the higher thrust caulk guns will struggle.

Dang, that sounds like a really good tip! Never would have thought of it.

 

[dscheidt]

Dang, that sounds like a really good tip! Never would have thought of it.

it's on the instructions of a lot of sealants that have minimal application temperatures. If you're doing a lot on a jobsite, keeping the caulk in a cooler with a couple handwarmers helps. Keep it somewhere warm overnights!)

 

[IndyGarage]

it's on the instructions of a lot of sealants that have minimal application temperatures. If you're doing a lot on a jobsite, keeping the caulk in a cooler with a couple handwarmers helps. Keep it somewhere warm overnights!)

Another caulk tip. I'm sure everyone knows this, but if you use your fingers (with or without gloves) or a tool to smooth the caulk, have a small bowl of water to dip your tool/finger in before you smooth the caulk joint, and a paper towel to wipe it off. Dip, smooth, wipe off.

If your caulk is urethane, you need paint thinner instead of water.

 

[tarbellb]

Spray bottle of water is the ticket

 

[PMD1966]

I have few of these from homedepot but a different brand, exact same before they changed names on the caulking gun. both the 10pz and the larger one for those large tubes. both works great. an upgrade from those cheapies that squeals when you squeeze it harder.

Anvil 10 oz. Heavy Duty Drip Free Professional Caulk Gun HD-138A1 - The Home Depot

Provide a lasting impression to your home by applying this ANVIL:ANViL:Anvil Heavy Duty and Professional Caulk Gun.

www.homedepot.com

I have 2 of these. Small and large size. Both work great.

 

[acer66]

Wolfcraft, I have an older version where you just snap in cartridge but I am sure the newer is as good.
Extremely light and best no drip I ever used.

Amazon.com

 

[bonneyman]

it's on the instructions of a lot of sealants that have minimal application temperatures. If you're doing a lot on a jobsite, keeping the caulk in a cooler with a couple handwarmers helps. Keep it somewhere warm overnights!)

Hell, I'm a cheap *******. I was thinking of sticking 4 or 5 tubes underneath the hood of the truck on the way to the job!

 

[acer66]

Hell, I'm a cheap *******. I was thinking of sticking 4 or 5 tubes underneath the hood of the truck on the way to the job!

I put mine in a freezer for an extra workout.