There are many caulking guns on the market, but finding the best one is difficult. The key is to pick one that offers the best performance and comfort for you.
Thrust ratio is one of the most important features to look for in a caulk gun. It determines how much force you need to squeeze the trigger. Higher thrust ratios are ideal for dispensing thicker sealants.
The Newborn 188 Super caulking gun is a steel half-barrel (also called a cradle) style device that dispenses a bevy of sealant, adhesive and other glops. Its top notch components include a revolving cradle, the best caulking wand we’ve seen, and a whopping 5 gallon capacity. It’s a good bet that it will become the centerpiece of any DIYer’s tool box. The aforementioned octave is a cinch to master, and it’s a great choice for anyone who’s ever wondered how to properly patch up the shower or tub seals on their aging home.
It’s a bit on the heavy side, but this is a caulking gun you’ll be glad to have in your arsenal. Its aficionados have claimed that it has saved them from countless re-caulking mishaps.
You can get one for as little as $15 on Amazon. Its high-tech features may be a tad overboard for the average DIYer, but it does what it’s supposed to do.
A caulking gun uses a metal-sprung rod to dispense liquids like sealants or glues from a tube. The squeezing of the hand trigger forces the rod into the back of the tube and pushes it out the tube's tip.
The amount of force the rod requires to pull the tube's sealant out depends on a gun's thrust ratio, which is the force generated when the hand trigger is squeezed. The higher the thrust ratio, the greater the force.
For manual guns, look for a ratio between 3:1 and 28:1; lower numbers are appropriate for thin sealants like water-based latex and high ones are designed to handle thicker materials such as epoxy.
This gun is a great choice for both beginner and experienced DIYers alike, as it can dispense ten-ounce cartridges of standard viscosity sealants. It also has a revolving frame that makes it easy to round corners and a thumb-release tab that stops the caulk when you let go of the trigger, preventing drips and waste. For added convenience, a tube piercer and spout cutter are built in.
Caulk is a thick sealant that's often used to fill cracks or seal connections, keeping out weather and drafts. It can be applied in a squeeze tube, but using a caulk gun is usually the best way to apply it, as it provides a smooth, continuous bead of sealant.
There are many different kinds of caulk guns on the market, each engineered for a specific type of material. Some are designed for lighter, thinner sealants like latex or silicone; others are built for heavy-duty applications that require a high thrust ratio to handle materials with more viscosity and thickness.
The Red Devil Extreme Duty is a high-thrust caulk gun that has a 26:1 thrust ratio, making it perfect for dispensed thick sealants and adhesives. It's durable and comfortable to use, and its revolving barrel makes it easy to work in tight areas.
Powered by a battery, it has a variable speed trigger to more precisely control how much of your preferred product comes out. It also has an anti-drip feature to prevent messy drips on your surfaces. It's an excellent choice if you do a lot of caulking around the home or at your job site.
The DeWalt 20-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Caulking Gun is a handy tool that you can use for both light DIY and jobsite work. It has some great usability features, such as a quick-change canister tray system, that are sure to boost your productivity while saving time between projects.
It also has an LED light, which is useful for low-light jobs or when you are working at night. The tool also has a variable speed trigger and dial, which can be controlled to provide more control and reduce user fatigue.
The gun is made in the USA with global materials and backed by a 3-year limited warranty. Its anti-drip T-handle prevents excess adhesive from oozing to help minimize waste and cleanup. Other notable features include a variable speed trigger and dial, tool-free front end change, hang hook, and LED light.