Rant: I hit 12 cabinets on one tube of caulk and now I'm questioning my whole paint setup
Half the crew says a $9 tube covering 12 cabinet boxes in a Fresno rental flip proves cheap caulk is fine if you lay a clean bead, the other half says I'm just asking for cracks in 6 months, so which side are you on?
One tube for twelve boxes is either a world record or a cry for help. At that point you're not caulking, you're just spreading hope over gaps. Cheap caulk plus a clean bead works right up until the house settles and every seam opens its mouth in six months. Fresno heat alone will cook that stuff faster than you can cash the flip check.