How to Use a Caulk Applicator Gun
You can find a use for caulk almost everywhere in your home. Caulk closes gaps between molding and other surfaces, closes the gap between bathtub walls and the tub and seals outside windows so that water cannot enter your home. If you're remodeling, likely you will need to apply caulk before you've finished the job. While handheld squeeze tubes of caulk may be fine for small touchup jobs, they are an expensive and labor intensive choice for large jobs. For large caulk jobs, use a caulk applicator gun. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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1
Cut off a piece of the tip at the end of the caulk can. Start by cutting off a small amount of the tip with a utility knife, and continue to slice off a bit at a time until the opening in the tip is the size of the caulk line you want to apply. The biggest mistake most people make when using a caulk gun is starting with a hole in the end tip that is too large.
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2
Hold the caulk gun in front of you, and locate the caulk release on the back of the gun. It's a long metal rod with a 90-degree bend at the end. Turn the bend of the release until it faces straight up from the gun. Pull the release all the way back away from the gun to open the area inside the gun where you place the caulk can.
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3
Place the caulk can inside the caulk gun with the tip at the front of the gun. Turn the bend of the release 180-degrees so that it now faces directly down. This will lock the release in place.
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4
Click the caulk gun trigger to move the plate inside the gun into the caulk can. When the plate connects with the caulk can, you are ready to use the caulk gun to run a line of caulk.
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5
Place the tip of the caulk gun at a 45-degree angle against the surface you wish to caulk. Gently squeeze the caulk gun trigger and pull the caulk gun along the surface to evenly distribute the caulk. If you have a lot of caulking to do, caulk one section at a time, smoothing the caulk into place with a wet finger. Repeat this process until you finish caulking.
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Turn the release straight up, and pull the release back from the gun to release the caulk can. Wipe leaking or excess caulk from your gun with a paper towel before it hardens.
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Tips & Warnings
Place a small nail in the tip hole of your caulk can to keep the caulk from hardening or leaking between applications.
It is impossible to get caulk out of clothes, so be careful when working with caulk or wear old clothes.
