caulk gun

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Go to your hardware store and start by a simple hand gun that cost between 20 and 40 $, the day you will really need something more you will change.

L

I got a HDX caulk gun from HD. very difficult to squeeze. it took several days for the strain on my right hand to dissipate after squeezing 2/3 tube of 3M 4000 around the sundeck enclosure.
 
I have a Ryobi 18 volt caulking gun as well as several manual ones. For the Ryobi I have the old version as well as the new version. The problem comes IMO when using 4200/5200. On a manual gun it takes quite a bit of force to squeeze out the 5200. The Ryobi and Milwaukee can both exert a tremendous force and makes caulking easy. But if you aren't careful it will explode the cartridge. I did that 2 times. Once I had to throw away the Ryobi gun because it just wasnt cleanable. The new Ryobi gun as well as the Milwaukee are much more cleanable.

Its also a bit difficult to get use to and you can make a mess in a hurry..lol.

I use the Ryobi when i need to apply a ton of 5200 or the like and I use the manual gun for more normal caulking and things that flow easier.
 
to add, i bought the 3m gun for dispensing the urethane automotive window adhesive. it's almost impossible to dispense that stuff with a standard gun. i was hesitant to buy at that price, but don't regret it one bit.
 
does sikaflex 291 require the battery gun?

Btw, there are different models of sika 291: 90919, 90923, 90927.. which one is mostly used for sealing deckware like a throughhull?

I have a Ryobi 18 volt caulking gun as well as several manual ones. For the Ryobi I have the old version as well as the new version. The problem comes IMO when using 4200/5200. On a manual gun it takes quite a bit of force to squeeze out the 5200. The Ryobi and Milwaukee can both exert a tremendous force and makes caulking easy. But if you aren't careful it will explode the cartridge. I did that 2 times. Once I had to throw away the Ryobi gun because it just wasnt cleanable. The new Ryobi gun as well as the Milwaukee are much more cleanable.

Its also a bit difficult to get use to and you can make a mess in a hurry..lol.

I use the Ryobi when i need to apply a ton of 5200 or the like and I use the manual gun for more normal caulking and things that flow easier.
 
does sikaflex 291 require the battery gun?

Btw, there are different models of sika 291: 90919, 90923, 90927.. which one is mostly used for sealing deckware like a throughhull?

those part number designations are for the standard, fast cure, and slow cure. you can choose what you want depending on ambient temps, size of project, etc...
asking which one to use with this crowd is like asking what anchor to use.
 
does sikaflex 291 require the battery gun?

Btw, there are different models of sika 291: 90919, 90923, 90927.. which one is mostly used for sealing deckware like a throughhull?

No sikaflex 291 does not require a powered gun, if it is not expired it should be quite easy to flow. Also depending to the temperature if very cold of course the product is also less fluid.

L
 
Do you already have battery powered tools? Get that brand of caulk gun, you already have the battery. I have Ryobi battery tools and I love the caulk gun.
 
Do you already have battery powered tools? Get that brand of caulk gun, you already have the battery. I have Ryobi battery tools and I love the caulk gun.

I think the cons of a batt powered gun is the weight and being bulky.
esp. only few sealant requires a large torque to squeeze.
 
One thing that will help a great deal with 4000, 4200, 5200 etc. is to warm the tube before you use it. It takes a long time, like 1/2 hour to an hour for the heat to soak through the tube and make a change in viscosity. What you want is something like 80 deg for an hour. The heat will make it kick quicker, so that can be a disadvantage sometimes.
 
I went for this "high force manual gun" and it seems well worth the price.

Expensive, yes. But after cramping my hands with those $8 cheapies...

Well worth it - :)
 
Those prices in the first post are 5X what they should be.
 
is a cordless gun worth it?

or is a professional gun easy enough to push?

Depends on what battery system you have. I have Ryobi so bought that gun. I use it mostly in my flooring business. Feed speed is adjustable. I usually run it at half speed as full will explode the urethane adhesive I use.

Rob
 
Thanks. will give it a try.
The How to use a caulk gun video must be using a sealant that's easy to squeeze so it looks so perfect. The temperature also plays an important role.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gsxt0Knf51k

Never used any sealant or caulk that was difficult to squeeze if not too cold or not passed the shelf life, being for boat or construction.

L
 
it was 3M 4000 applied when the temp was ~37F
the unopened tube had been kept in the salon where the temp was kept ~52F

Never used any sealant or caulk that was difficult to squeeze if not too cold or not passed the shelf life, being for boat or construction.

L
 
I got a HDX caulk gun from HD. very difficult to squeeze. it took several days for the strain on my right hand to dissipate after squeezing 2/3 tube of 3M 4000 around the sundeck enclosure.

Option 1: Cut a bigger hole in the tube

Option 2
 

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Expensive, yes. But after cramping my hands with those $8 cheapies...

Well worth it - :)[/QUOTE]

There are dozens of high force caulk guns from 10:1-25:1 online in the $20-30 range. Any of them are a huge improvement over the standard guns, easy to squeeze and work great with Sika, 4000,5200 etc.
 
I bought a cordless electric gun for a huge window replacement project on my house. It was amazing for that, but I used 100+ tubes of polyurethane. Overkill for most boat projects. The only time I have used it for the boat was when I was doing a large repair and had a few tubes of pre thickened epoxy to dispense on a single large patch. Worked great, but it would have been fine with a normal gun too.
 
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