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Rant: My $15 caulk gun broke halfway through sealing the bathroom window | DIY Fixes - Chatter Central

Rant: My $15 caulk gun broke halfway through sealing the bathroom window

Was sealing up the old window in my place near downtown Portland last weekend. Second tube of caulk in and the plunger rod snapped clean off. Cheap plastic junk. Had to finish pressing the caulk out with my bare hands, what a mess. Now I need a new one but I'm not sure if spending $40 on a metal ratchet style is worth it or just another overpriced gimmick. Anyone have a brand of caulk gun that actually lasts more than one job?

3 comments

3 Comments

mark_price4mo ago

Damn man, that exact same thing happened to me with a cheapo caulk gun from a big box store. I know the struggle of trying to push caulk with your hands and basically wearing it more than applying it. lol. For a solid one that won't snap, just grab the $15 to $20 aluminum-frame one at Ace Hardware or a real hardware store, the kind that has the smooth rod and a small release lever. That design is simple, works way better than any fancy ratchet, and mine has lasted through like five jobs now no problem.

hayden1444mo ago

Had a buddy buy one of those plastic ones from a bargain store and it literally snapped in his hand on the first tube he tried. lol. He was about ready to fling it across the room like a toy. @the_emery nailed it, the smooth rod with the release lever is the only way to go if you don't want to live with constant caulk drips.

the_emery4mo ago

Actually @mark_price you're kinda off on the price. I just grabbed one of those aluminum frame guns at Ace last month and it was pushing 25 bucks. Still worth it though, no question. The plastic ones are pure garbage, like they're designed to break halfway through the first tube. Your point about the smooth rod versus the ratchet is spot on because that stupid clicking mechanism just strips out. A smooth rod lets you control the flow way better, especially on vertical lines where you don't want a huge glob. Plus with the release lever you can stop the flow instantly instead of that mess where caulk keeps oozing out for five seconds after you let go.