Caulking tip.

[Cliff_Johns]

When your caulking your siding in oddball spots, wrap you index finger in blue painter's tape and just spread the caulk with your finger. This works well on small cracks and splits that might later turn into large cracks and splits. You can work some caulk down into the crack this way. When you're done, you can just peel off the tape.

I just finished fixing a few bad spots on the car siding on my garden shed, replacing one board and doing a few Dutchmen fixes. I found this technique works well.

Cliff

 

[deerefan]

When your caulking your siding in oddball spots, wrap you index finger in blue painter's tape and just spread the caulk with your finger. This works well on small cracks and splits that might later turn into large cracks and splits. You can work some caulk down into the crack this way. When you're done, you can just peel off the tape.

I just finished fixing a few bad spots on the car siding on my garden shed, replacing one board and doing a few Dutchmen fixes. I found this technique works well.

Cliff

Yes it does. I did alot of caulking when doing renovations, mainly around tubs, counters, outlets etc. My finger gave better finish results than the caulk tool.

 

[Whitnel]

I have always just spit on my finger to keep the caulk from sticking. Saying that sounds gross but it was what I was taught.

 

[Cliff_Johns]

I did that too, but modern caulk has some disturbing chemicals in it. Also, once it's on your fingers, it tends to wonder around on other near-by surfaces and your tools and your pants. The blue tape reminds you it's there, and is easily removed and replaced many times without going to the sink or the hose and washing the dregs off. You can use a rag to wipe it off your fingers regularly, but then you have this rag with caulk on it and the rag will want to be used for other things -- especially wiping off things that were never meant to get caulk on them.

Cliff

 

[like2wheel]

I have always just spit on my finger to keep the caulk from sticking. Saying that sounds gross but it was what I was taught.

Soapy water in a spray bottle works just as well, without the risk of dehydration

 

[tractchores]

I do the same, but put on a latex glove which works really well.

 

[mikehaugen]

for silicone caulk I heard to use an ice cube to smooth it, I haven't tried it yet. Silicone is some messy stuff though.

 

[PILOON]

for silicone caulk I heard to use an ice cube to smooth it, I haven't tried it yet. Silicone is some messy stuff though.

I have and it works great.
Also works with most types of caulking.

 

[kenmac]

I haven't found anything that works well on Eternabond caulk.. Anyone got any ideas ?

 

[alchemysa]

Soapy water in a spray bottle works just as well, without the risk of dehydration

If by that you mean 'spray the line of caulk with water' thats actually not a good idea. Its a trick tilers sometimes use to save time and mess but it actually makes a lousy seal. Basically you are spraying water into areas where you want the caulk to stick. It looks neat but you'll soon find the caulk gets a grubby line underneath and starts to peel. If you want the joint to be water tight and long lasting, wet nothing but your finger.

 

[Tollster]

I prefer a plastic spoon for a uniform finish, just bridge the wall and the tub/counter/sink/etc with the spoon and drag it, then wipe off the over burden with a rag. makes for a nice uniform finish.

 

[EddieWalker]

I do a lot of caulking and I'm very **** about how it looks. I've found the best results come from dipping my finger in a cup of water and working it in small sections at a time. You'll find that there is a sweet spot with how much water you want on your finger. You get it just right and the caulk spreads like butter. Not enough and it's still sticky. Too much and you end up with a mess. I also use as little as possible and add to it if I need to.

I've never tried blue tape. My thought is that I want my finger as slippery as possible. I also clean my hands fairly often when caulking to avoid any build up. How do you keep the caulk from building up on the tape?

Eddie

 

[kenmac]

Eddie, Have you ever used Eternabond caulk ? It's good stuff, but expensive and difficult to make it look good

 

[Cliff_Johns]

In my original post, I was talking about exterior siding and window type caulking jobs. For interior caulking, like around tubs or showers, perfection of bead is more important. I use the blue tape thing to fix problem areas and to push caulk into places where the gun just won't put a good effective bead. I can rub it into cracks and small splits etc.

Cliff

 

[crazyal]

I actually went to a 2 hour long class on how to install industrial sealants. It taught everything from how to apply it from the gun to mixing two part and color packs. When caulking you want to watch the front of the of the tip and not how smooth it looks coming out the back. Think of it like driving, you wouldn't look at where you been when driving down the road. You want to keep the gun at an angle that will push the caulk into the crack. The tip of the tube should be pushing the caulk slightly forward. Watch the size of the ball of caulk at the tip of the tube. Too big and it will spill over to the sides, too little and the bead of caulk will look thin and not get into the joint. The speed you move the tube at will determine how fast you need to squeeze the gun to keep the ball of caulk the correct size. If you take the time to learn out how to run a nice bead with the caulking gun you'll only have to do minor touch ups afterwards.

 

[Tollster]

I worked at a plant years ago where the managers would caulk welds on the tractor trailer frame that where missed during production, then paint over it once it tacked up, it appeared to be a weld and without touching it, I never would have known. I missed a DOT tag and was installing it out in the yard during lunch when I saw 3 white hats mingling around a finished frame. I hid out until they left, then wondered over to see what they were doing. Fortunately it was a bright day and I saw the difference in the wet paint band against the already dry painted frame. When I dabbed my index finger to see if the paint was wet, the caulked weld came with it.
It change my life and once I saw that, I became a quality inspector and paid to go to school on my own dime. That was 1986.

 

[Ridgewalker]

Here's my contribution, when done caulking screw a wire nut on the end of the tube to save the
rest for the next job.

 

[PILOON]

And my tip for a clogged tube end.
Screw a 3" screw into the plugged end and pull out the hardened 'plug'.

Also keep the cut off tapered tip and insert it reversed to save the remaining caulk in the tube.