Caulking gun: how to hold it safely

Learn to load, grip and squeeze a caulking gun so you get a smooth bead without mess or strain.

CG-01Learn the parts of the gunA caulking gun has a metal frame with a cradle to hold the tube of sealant (called a cartridge), a trigger you squeeze with your fingers, and a long metal rod (the plunger) that pushes the sealant out. There's also a small lever or thumb bar near the trigger - this releases the pressure on the plunger. Find this lever now, before you load anything, so you know where it is.

CG-02Load the cartridge correctlyPull the plunger rod all the way back using the release lever, then drop the cartridge into the cradle with the nozzle (the narrow spout) facing forward. Push the plunger back in gently until it just touches the base of the cartridge - don't ram it in. Cut the very tip off the nozzle at an angle, and pierce the foil seal inside using a long nail or the built-in spike on the gun if it has one.

1 each · Sealant cartridge

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CG-03Hold the gun properlyGrip the frame with your whole hand, with your fingers wrapped around the trigger and your palm resting along the barrel for support. Keep your wrist straight, not bent - a bent wrist tires quickly and makes the bead wobble. Point the nozzle at roughly a 45 degree angle to the joint you're filling, not straight down onto it.

CG-04Squeeze with slow, steady pressureSqueeze the trigger gently and evenly - don't grab it in one hard pull. It takes a second or two for sealant to actually start flowing, so be patient and keep the pressure steady rather than pumping the trigger fast. The beginner mistake is squeezing hard and fast, which floods out a blob instead of a neat line.

CG-05Release the pressure before you stopJust before you reach the end of the line you're filling, let go of the trigger and press the release lever. This drops the pressure on the plunger immediately. If you skip this step, the sealant keeps oozing out of the nozzle for several seconds after you've stopped moving, making a mess right where you finished.

CG-06Check you've got the grip and pressure rightYou've got it right if the bead of sealant is a smooth, even line the same width all the way along, and nothing drips out once you've stopped squeezing. If the bead is lumpy or stops and starts, you're squeezing too hard or too fast. If it keeps oozing after you release the trigger, you forgot to hit the release lever - do it every single time you pause.

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