Well, I just got my new copy of fine homebuilding in the mail. As I was ripping of the outside cover I noticed the small article and drawing of Don Mathis’ caulking work station. After reading it and studying the picture I realized that I must be doing something really wrong when I caulk.
I’m one of these guys that do renovations and have to be able to do a bit of everything and sometimes it might be months or years between specific tasks and therefore never get to be really good at certain things.
Whenever I caulk, i have a wet rag that I use to clean my finger every so often and yet here is Don who put several gallons!!!! of water in a bucket PLUS he uses a sponge AND what looks like a pointing tool (in the drawing).
I hope Fine Homebuilding does a story on caulking because I’m obviously NOT doing it the way as it should be done. I’d like to know what he uses the sponge for and the pointing tool. I’d also like to know what he caulks. I wonder if he even uses his finger?
After reading that article I really felt dumb.
roger
Replies
I noticed the same thing. (Your method is my method!) I just figured that was artistic license, but I'd be interested in learning more.
I'm with you. I think it depends on how much caulking is applied to start with. I cut the tip slightly larger than the crack. Then the trick is the pressure on the gun. If you get it just right you shouldn't have to touch it at all. Most of the time, I just wet the tip on my finger, and smooth the caulking.
I used to install windows by the dozens, and we always used 100% silicone. I learned quickly not to touch the caulk anymore than I had to.
Swimming through the ashes of another life, no real reason to accept the way things have changed. Wrapped in guilt, sealed up tight.
Edited 12/7/2005 6:55 pm ET by dustinf
Edited 12/7/2005 6:56 pm ET by dustinf
I recently learned the secret to tooling wet silicone caulk with your finger. Liberally coat your finger in liquid soap first. Works way better than spit, doesn't stick to your finger, and leaves a perfect joint.
Wish I had known that yesterday. Up on a hotel wall today, caulking our run of cable racks on stucco. Bumpy.
My caulk work station consists of a 5g bucket with some ABS holders inside for the gun, the tools, and tubes of various caulks. Bottle of water, towels, latex gloves and trash bag in center.
Need to add a container of mineral spirits and one of dish soap.The ToolBear
"Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.
There are lots of different ways of caulking but I've never used a sponge or a pointing tool or gallons of water but then again I'm not too happy with some of my results either.
When using 100% silicone I use WD40 either on my finger or a shot on the joint (sometimes I wait abit until it gets tacky) and you can smooth it just like the other stuff and it doesn't stick to you or have that finger-lift look.
I've learned lots of stuff since I recently discovered FHB and I'm hoping to learn more from Don Mathis.
C'mon Don. Heres your chance to get your face in a magazine. Show us your tricks.
We want Do.....We want Don We want Don...... We want Don......We want Don.
roger
Do you mean liquid soap as for hand washing? Or dish washing detergent?
Undiluted?
For silicone, I use plain liquid dishwashing detergent. I keep an old film vial full in the truck and just dip in my finger whenever I'm using it (fresh dip every now and then). Sounds like others are recommending other liquids which seem to work just as well but I don't like the thought of dealing with the overspray from WD-40 or windex.
Trick I learned from a solid surface guy when applying silicone, spray with windex and tool joint.
Yep I was just going to mention the windex trick. Works great. I also use a latex glove. I hate trying to get that crap off my fingers.
http://www.hay98.com/
A bucket of warm water is best and then you just wring the painter's rag in there and wipe up the caulk. That's what I do for latex paint. Yeah, dump the water out when it gets milky and fill it back up with warm water, as needed. Use the rag to smooth the caulk. If necessary stick a putty knife in the rag for a good corner to have when smoothing caulk on the interior trims. Oh well I am just a painter what do I know? :DHandyman, painter, wood floor refinisher, property maintenance in Tulsa, OK
I use the bucket and sponge method, but only with latex. Especially for any interior trim there is no doubt in my mind that it is the way to go, It provides a perfect, clean line. you just have to remember to keep the water clean, or you run the risk of leaving a milky haze on walls ect.
The secret is lot's of scrap cardboard to wipe your finger on..................
On a hill by the harbour
Bucket of water and grout sponge. Much faster than tooling with finger. Not too fun on cold days. Don't try with silicon.
So are you saying that when using the latex caulking you treat it almost like grouting tile? Put it on and then wipe with a damp sponge until you get the desired profile? Hmmmmm..... sounds feasable.
What about the 100% silicone? How do you do that? I do bathroom and kitchen reno's with tile and 100% silicone is needed there......................doesn't it?.
roger
I don't have too much trouble tooling latex with my finger, but I just used some Geocel, and what a mess!! Any tips for that?
Mineral spirits
Yeah, pretty much like grout except you will not apply it as generously. Keep the water clean so you don't haze up the adjoining surfaces. Silicon I tool with my finger and just about any liquid or solvent nearby. But I have also tooled it with a dry finger. As long as you put just the right amount and don't get too much excessive build-up behind the finger, it is not a big deal. Then wipe the finger clean before tooling the next joint. When a dry film develops on the finger, peel it off and keep tooling.
My caulk station is a caulk gun for putting it on and a credit card for taking excess off.
Hey Dood,My station is just like yours but I can't get credit anymore.Alan
I have about 30 fake credit cards, the ones they send you to try and get you to use their card. I think they may be good for spreading glue too but I haven't tried it.
Hey, it was just a suggestion and I made 125$ on that tip, ha. You can send your own silly tip in and get some of the same action (these days it seems it has to be some dumb thing nobody can sue FHB on). I've had what I thought were a lot better tips turned down for those fear factor reasons.
I used to use my finger but I've decided for me the small rounded tip margin trowel works better. I just use the sponge to wipe the margin trowel. It works for me, and I'm sure your method works for you. I'd be willing to steal any tip from anybody. My fingers aren't what they used to be and I like the margin trowel better.
I do more blue tape masking now too for silicone caulking. It enables pushing more caulk with abandon and removing the tape to do minor touch ups.
I tried the masking tape once and ended up with two ridges that I had to re-tool. For silicone I use the right amount of caulk and the right pressure with the finger. It is easier to get the feel of it using the finger rather than a tool, I think.
I generally try to avoid tooling the caulk at all -- just let the gun tip do the work. Of course there are situations where that doesn't work, then it's usually finger and rag.
If ignorance is bliss why aren't more people
happy?
durabond5 (boy, that would be a fast-setting durabond, ha),I know the ridges you are talking about, but I would encourage you to try it again - especially with silicone in certain situations. There are two benefits as I see it - first it allows you to use more pressure to get the caulk in - and quickly - without the worry of extra cleanup. Second, it limits the "line" of the caulk. Try it this way: only do about 4 feet at a time. Strike (finger or 1/4 rounded point margin trowel) all the way down to the tape edge/ remove immediately, then touch up with strike if necessary. I have great success with this (with silicone latex also) especially in dificult caulking situations. Of course the finger will never be outmoded, but I have come to prefer the 1/4 inch rounded point margin trowel. (In certain situations I use the 1/2 inch.) I'm sure it would never work for some, but I used the finger for years and now have gone almost completely to the margin trowel.
I apply caulk and tool the joint at the same time. Index finger half on/half behind the tip of the tube as I run allows me to push the caulk into the joint. Less caulk wasted, more in the joint.
Wet rag to clean the finger.
Troy Sprout
Square, Level & Plumb Renovations
I didnt read the article but have read the thread here .
In high production painting we use sponges and five gallon buckets half full of hot water . You just can tool all that wood work with your fingers. Small grout sponges that fit in the hand . Plus rags and latex gloves.
The sponges do the tooling and they are very fast but not as articulate as a finger.
Tim