Hi All — I have been trying to use a caulking gun this morning for the first time ever, with disastrous results. The same thing happened with two brand new tubes of silcone caulk. First, I cut the tip off the end of the tube (in both cases, leaving a fairly wide opening in the end of the nozzle). i then inserted the caulking tube into the caulking gun and proceeded to pull the trigger. at first, nothing whatsoever happened, it was very difficult to push the trigger and when i looked into the tube through the opening at the end of the nozzle, i could see that the caulking wasn’t budging. so i pulled the trigger much harder, until finally caulking started oozing out the BACK of the caulking tube, getting all over everything. no matter what i did, i couldn’t get the caulking to move in the front of the tube. i gought the gun and two tubes yesterday at HD. Either i’m totally using the gun wrong or the caulking tubes are no good — i figure it must be me and not the caulking tubes — HELP! what am i doing wrong?? thx. tony.
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Replies
do the tubes have a foil seal in them, did you try running the prick into them?
james
Most tubes of caulk have a film of foil that you have to puncture first. Did you try that? Otherwise the caulk could be old.
Some brands of caulk have a seal that must be punctured after you trim the nozzle tip. Use a wire or some guns have a puncture rod attached to them.
Edited 5/8/2005 11:41 am ET by PD
The other guys are right ... there's a foil seal at the bottom of the nozzle. A piece of coat hanger wire works well to puncture it. Or a piece of stiff electrical wire. Sometimnes a twig can be used.
Be careful that you don't cut off too much of the nozzel and create too large of an opening. I like to have a hole just big eough for an ice pick to puncture the seal. If the hole is bigger than a 10d nail or 12 ga solid electrical wire it's too big (in my opinion).
One problem you may have is the caulk oozing out the end of the nozzle after you have released the pressure of the handle. Usually that's caused by the cartridge being under pressure, like a balloon. Not much you can do about it, excerpt lay the gun down someplace where the drip won't cause a problem.
I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.
>"One problem you may have is the caulk oozing out the end of the nozzle after you have released the pressure of the handle. Usually that's caused by the cartridge being under pressure, like a balloon. Not much you can do about it, excerpt lay the gun down someplace where the drip won't cause a problem." Ed, have you tried the so-called, "dripless" caulking guns? They're usually yellow, pretty ordinary looking, but they somehow work well. The standard guns will keep oozing unless you "pop" the metal release on the back of the gun.
BTW, I won't buy a caulk gun unless it's got both the poker and the tip cutter feature - two tools you will need every time.
No, I use a nice Cox gun, and I pop the release evry time. But some tubes just ooze more than others.
I carry a roll of toilet paper ... one or two squares work well for cleaning off my fingers and the end of the nozzle. It's cheap and effective. Doesn't always work well for cleaning caulk off the wall cuz of the lint.
I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.
"have you tried the so-called, "dripless" caulking guns? They're usually yellow, pretty ordinary looking, but they somehow work well. The standard guns will keep oozing unless you "pop" the metal release on the back of the gun."
I like the idea, and they do work well for a while, but the mechanism on the dripless ones will break under stress. I have busted 3 of them (2 different brands), so now I just stick with the unbreakable Cox guns.
Like the others said.
But!
If the tip screws off the cartridge, it might be a little different. Screw the tip off and slice the seal above the threads off...its the same plastic as the cartridge, utility knife works good.
PJ
Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end.
Edited 5/8/2005 12:20 pm ET by Peter J
thanks for all the help. in this case, there was no foil seal. the problem was on both tubes the very edge of the caulk in the tube was dry and once i poked a very small hole through the dry end, the caulk came right out. probably should have had a foil seal, but i suppose inferior products are generally what's sold at home depot. thanks again, tony.
", but i suppose inferior products are generally what's sold at home depot. thanks again, tony."No HD and Lowes has the same brands, such as GE, Polyseam, Dow, etc that you will find anyplace.You either go batch of bad tubes or old ones that got stuck on the shelve or possiblity someone cleaning up their basement returned them.BTW, a lot of caulk guns have a "wire" on a rivet that can swing out and use to puture the foil seals.
Hey Tony, it had a seal.
maybe you're right, but it must have been clear plastic or something bc i could look right through the nozel and see the caulk sitting there and not budging. i guess i must have been looking right through a clear plastic seal. thx again, tony.
tony, I would not tell to many people about this.
Tony, cut the tip at an angle. If you are not good at running a nice bead try this; Mask off both sides of where you want your bead. Caulk down the middle then run your finger down it to smooth it out and feather it to the tape. pull the tape up immediatly
Tony, just a few caulking tips, cut the end opening small at first, you can always make it bigger but not smaller. If you are doing the base of a shower stall/lino for example and want a nice bead mask it off with green painters tape. Clean the area before you caulk. An old painter told me to use the middle finger for smoothing out but I think it is personnel choice. If it is latexs keep water or a damp clothe near by to help smooth it out. Keep a clothe or paper towel handy to wipe up, and never ever buy cheap caulking.
I am sure others will have more tips.
cut tip...
puncture nozzel seal...
apply caulk.
or read the tube for the instructions on how to use..
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Professional caulking guns always have a fold-out spike for penetrating the seal at teh base of the nozzle (the spike i s just a wee bit longer than a tube of caulk's nozzle and no widder then the hole created by nipping hte top of the nozzle for a thin bead of caulking. Good luck.
Professional caulking guns always have a fold-out spike
Not true. Maybe the one you bought at HD with the "Professional Grade" label on the $2 made-in-China has a poker, but my nice Cox gun does not.I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.
Dear Ed Hilton,
I started my first business as a house painter in 1970. I resent your tone of voice.
Andrew
Bite me.
You made a statement of "fact" and I'm telling you that your facts are slightly erroneous. Take it how you want.
I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.
Mr Hilton,
I made a statemnent of fact that was perhaps a bit too generalized. You, on the other hand, made no shortage of assumptions without any basis of fact and, from those assumptions (none of which are true), delivered a few heavily-barbed innuendoes.
You sound like you have an axe to grind, but I've had enough of this conversation.
Andrew
Andrew, welcome to Breaktime.Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
ROAR!!!!
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
You must have gotton one of Cox's DIY models.The pro models have it.http://www.cox-applicators.com/allSpecs.asp?coxPN=21001Retractable Seal Puncturing DeviceActually they have a mixed bag of which units have it and which don't.
The one you posted a link to is made of plastic, the Wexford II. Mine is metal, but I don't see the exact model on the web page. It's almost the Wexford but with a different end cap.
They sure make a variety, don't they?
I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.
FWIW, I bet I have the same Cox gun...no stabber, wish it had one. Probably about 15 years old, still works like it was new. I take a couple of coat hangers, cut them up and stick 'em in the toolbox. PJ
Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end.