Viscous assembly sealants are widely used in construction, auto repair shops and household areas for repairing various things and objects. But due to the characteristics of the composition, special requirements are imposed on the method of their application. A special caulk gun allows you to accurately and without unnecessary manipulation apply a sufficient amount of the mixture to the target area.
Tool Features
The device of such guns is focused on providing the possibility of squeezing the silicone mixture out of a tube or other cylindrical containers. Unlike many other mounting guns, the presence of a power plant is not necessary in the design. Simple mechanical models show themselves quite effectively under the control of manual effort. Another thing is that in volumetric work or in-line sealing of numerous small cracks and cracks, it is still worth using models with additional power support - these are professional devices that will be discussed below. Regardless of the type of design, any gun underthe sealant consists of a piston, a compartment for loading the tube and a holder. Now it is worth considering in more detail the options for the execution of household mechanical models.
Types of structures
The most common skeletal models as the most reliable and durable. The holding part of the body consists of rigid metal ribs that fix the tube in the cartridge. The rod with the feed trigger mechanism interacts smoothly with the piston, eliminating distortions. It is the rigidity of the structure with steel handles and rods in the stem system that ensures the high accuracy of the skeletal type sealant gun. There is also an enhanced version of this design. Its difference lies in the use of thicker metal body parts. If a conventional skeleton pistol is provided with elements 1.5-2 mm thick, then 3 mm steel parts are also used in the improved version.
The semi-body pistol is fundamentally different from skeletal models. This is a cheap device that is optimally suited for domestic use. The difference lies in the fact that the hull structure is formed not by rigid steel bars, but, in fact, by thin sheet metal, however, with a larger area. The fact is that the semi-body gun for sealant has flimsy functional organs both in terms of attaching the tube and in the trigger mechanism. The weakness of metal elements negatively affects the accuracy of applying mixtures and reduces the overall tool life.
Pneumatic Models
Professional level machines that run on compressed air. A compressor unit is supplied to the piston guidance system to the tube, which pumps an air jet under high pressure. The user can only activate the channel by pressing the trigger. It is worth noting that the pneumatic sealant gun can be provided with a pressure regulator, which allows fine adjustment of the silicone mixture supply. This is an important function if sealing with different technological requirements is to be carried out within the same workflow. For example, it is one thing to fill thick seams at the joints of roofing material around the entire perimeter, and another to process a small gap in the fastening of an individual tile.
Cordless Sealant Gun
Electrical stuffing for such a tool may seem redundant, but in professional work such models justify themselves. It is not so much the extrusion force that is important, although the support from the 18 V battery pack is sufficient for viscous mixtures, but the variety of adjustment options. The design of such a gun for sealant is equipped with its own loading system for consumables. A wide range of nozzles, in turn, allows you to seal seams and cracks of different depths and areas. Depending on the model of the gun, additional functionality may be provided. For example, it can be an automatic reverse move withanti-drip, charge indicator, speed setting, etc.
How to use the caulk gun?
Despite the generally simple design of the tool, the process of applying silicone mixtures is very delicate and exacting to the smallest detail. Manufacturers recommend working in accordance with these instructions:
- First of all, a sealant supply rod is installed or the magazine container spout is cut to the desired thickness. Standard nozzles are available in 7 and 11 mm, but professional models support other formats.
- The tube is installed in the landing compartment.
- Immediately before work, the tool must be warmed up. This will make the workflow easier as the mixture will be more malleable.
- Now you can get to work. How to use a caulk gun to get the expected result? First of all, you should practice on unnecessary materials, evaluating the force with which a certain volume will be squeezed out. If we are talking about pneumatics or a battery model, then the desired feed parameters are pre-set. The material is fed smoothly and without jerks with full coverage of the problem area.
- After completion of processing, it is necessary to remove unnecessary mass from the working surface, as it will be more difficult during the crystallization period.
- The gun is released from the tube and cleaned with solvents from the sealant.
Tool manufacturers
This category of building tools is popular with both professionals and ordinary home craftsmen. Therefore, almost all participants in this market have at least several models of a sealant gun in different versions. Leading firms include STAYER, FIT, Metabo, Sturm and Kress. These are not at all leaders in the general niche of construction tools, but they manage to offer the best combination of quality, ergonomics and functionality. As for domestic manufacturers, the best models are offered by Zubr, Cob alt, Kurs, etc.
Question of price
In the initial class, models cost about 200-400 rubles. By the way, one of the cheapest options is the TOPEX 21B245 skeleton pistol with a price tag of 130-150 rubles. In the budget group of manual mechanical modifications, you should also pay attention to devices for 500-600 rubles. For this money, you can get a device with a rigid body, a rubberized handle and a tube volume of about 300 ml. In the professional class, the price of sealant guns on average varies from 2 to 5 thousand rubles. For example, for 4.5 thousand rubles. the Ryobi CCG1801MHG battery-powered device is offered, powered by 18-volt Li-ion or Ni-Cd cells. The feed rate of this gun varies from 1 to 5.5 mm/sec.
Conclusion
The presence of such a tool is a must in the arsenal of assemblers, carpenters, plumbers and car mechanics. But is it so necessary in the economy of the usualhomeowner? After all, one-time operations can be performed without the help of additional power support. All the advantages of having such an assistant come down to convenience and quality of work. The small price of a sealant gun with mechanical piston feed is 200-300 rubles. will allow you to perform accurate sealing of seams, while saving effort and money. And this is not to mention saving the mixture itself, since the tool squeezes out about 95% of the mass, and manually there is a risk of transferring the laid silicone in vain. As for battery and pneumatic models, then, of course, it is advisable to purchase such pistols for regular professional work.
