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Home > Archive > Home Repair forum > March 2006 > How can I apply silicone caulking
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| Author |
How can I apply silicone caulking
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| Okay, this sounds silly but I can never get the silicone to look as perfect
as I see it when contractors have done it. How do you get this stuff to
look like a perfect smooth application?
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| louie 2006-03-29, 10:21 pm |
| Put a bead in with the caulk gun/tube then wet your finger and smooth
it with your index finger. Stop often and wipe off the excess and
rewet your finger. As long as the finger is wet, it won't stick and be
messy.
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| barbarow 2006-03-29, 10:21 pm |
| Use masking tape to define the edges of the bead of caulk.
Use a wet finger to smooth out the bead.
Let it dry overnight.
Cut along the edges of the tape with a razor blade so that when you pull the
tape off it will not pull out the caulk.
"nsf" <navid@gci.net> wrote in message
news:122me7bj8bmkt23@corp.supernews.com...
> Okay, this sounds silly but I can never get the silicone to look as
> perfect as I see it when contractors have done it. How do you get this
> stuff to look like a perfect smooth application?
>
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| Murray Peterson 2006-03-30, 1:21 am |
| "nsf" <navid@gci.net> wrote in news:122me7bj8bmkt23@corp.supernews.com:
> Okay, this sounds silly but I can never get the silicone to look as
> perfect as I see it when contractors have done it. How do you get
> this stuff to look like a perfect smooth application?
This sounds facetious, but practivce and more practice.
The wet finger + masking tape helps. Mostly, put on a far smaller bead
than you originally think you should. The primary cause of mess is putting
on too much.
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| George E. Cawthon 2006-03-30, 2:21 am |
| louie wrote:
> Put a bead in with the caulk gun/tube then wet your finger and smooth
> it with your index finger. Stop often and wipe off the excess and
> rewet your finger. As long as the finger is wet, it won't stick and be
> messy.
>
That is said often here, but it isn't true for me.
I don't have a clue how to get it smooth, but
my finger, wet or dry, stick immediately to
silicone and pulls it.
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| dadiOH 2006-03-30, 10:21 am |
| nsf wrote:
> Okay, this sounds silly but I can never get the silicone to look as
> perfect as I see it when contractors have done it. How do you get
> this stuff to look like a perfect smooth application?
Put masking tape close to both sides of the seam, use your finger to
form/smooth as louie explained, then immediately remove the tape. The
goal is to place the tape and smooth the caulk so that the cove formed
by the caulk feathers out to nil at the tape edge.
--
dadiOH
____________________________
dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico
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| Norminn 2006-03-30, 10:21 am |
| barbarow wrote:
> Use masking tape to define the edges of the bead of caulk.
>
> Use a wet finger to smooth out the bead.
>
> Let it dry overnight.
>
> Cut along the edges of the tape with a razor blade so that when you pull the
> tape off it will not pull out the caulk.
>
>
I take off the tape right away, so there isn't a raised edge on the
caulk. Cut the tip to the size defined by the tape, then smoosh it with
finger to fit the taped line. Pull off the tape, let dry. Don't forget
to make sure the surface is absolutely clean and free of dust and soap
scum. On tub/tile, wipe with straight bleach and let dry prior to caulking.
>
>
> "nsf" <navid@gci.net> wrote in message
> news:122me7bj8bmkt23@corp.supernews.com...
>
>
>
>
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| tom&kel 2006-03-30, 10:21 am |
| i've always used my finger. i saw this on late night tv,and decide to get
one soon. anyone try it yet?
http://www.asseenontvnetwork.com/proseal/?cid=136471
"dadiOH" <dadiOH@wherever.com> wrote in message
news:y6RWf.13332$VL2.2768@trnddc04...
> nsf wrote:
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| "nsf" <navid@gci.net> wrote in message
news:122me7bj8bmkt23@corp.supernews.com...
> Okay, this sounds silly but I can never get the silicone to look as
> perfect as I see it when contractors have done it. How do you get this
> stuff to look like a perfect smooth application?
First do not use silicone! Its the toughest to work with and to clean up.
Use a good latex caulk. "Alex" is one IIRC. Also 35 year warranty IIRC.
All the tips about using a finger are perfect for latex caulk. You make a
bigger mess with pure silicone unless your finger is really wet. No, you
still make a big mess. Use latex and you will be fine.
Most applications do not need silicone anyway. Where are you caulking?
Kitchens, baths, windows, doors, etc. are all good candidates for a good
latex caulk.
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| Norminn 2006-03-30, 3:21 pm |
| No wrote:
> "nsf" <navid@gci.net> wrote in message
> news:122me7bj8bmkt23@corp.supernews.com...
>
>
> First do not use silicone! Its the toughest to work with and to clean up.
> Use a good latex caulk. "Alex" is one IIRC. Also 35 year warranty IIRC.
>
> All the tips about using a finger are perfect for latex caulk. You make a
> bigger mess with pure silicone unless your finger is really wet. No, you
> still make a big mess. Use latex and you will be fine.
>
> Most applications do not need silicone anyway. Where are you caulking?
> Kitchens, baths, windows, doors, etc. are all good candidates for a good
> latex caulk.
>
>
Latex is crap around a bathtub. dadiOH's tip is spot on - don't need
the wet finger, just to form the caulk to level with the tape, and take
the tape off right away.
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| PipeDown 2006-03-30, 3:21 pm |
|
"Norminn" <norminn@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:zAVWf.1143$i41.1129@newsread1.news.atl.earthlink.net...
> No wrote:
> Latex is crap around a bathtub. dadiOH's tip is spot on - don't need the
> wet finger, just to form the caulk to level with the tape, and take the
> tape off right away.
Siliconized Acrylic Caulk would be the better happy medium. Latex wouldn't
last in a bathroom.
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| RicodJour 2006-03-31, 12:21 am |
| George E. Cawthon wrote:
> louie wrote:
>
> That is said often here, but it isn't true for me.
> I don't have a clue how to get it smooth, but
> my finger, wet or dry, stick immediately to
> silicone and pulls it.
A couple of drops of liquid soap in the water helps tremendously.
Another trick is to lay down the bead as neatly as possible, then
spritz the bead and immediately adjoining surfaces with a spray bottle
(same soap in water solution), then wipe down the bead with a wet
finger. The spritz will keep the silicone from sticking to the wet
surfaces.
R
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| George E. Cawthon 2006-03-31, 1:21 am |
| RicodJour wrote:
> George E. Cawthon wrote:
>
>
>
> A couple of drops of liquid soap in the water helps tremendously.
> Another trick is to lay down the bead as neatly as possible, then
> spritz the bead and immediately adjoining surfaces with a spray bottle
> (same soap in water solution), then wipe down the bead with a wet
> finger. The spritz will keep the silicone from sticking to the wet
> surfaces.
>
> R
>
Thanks, I've seen a similar suggestion, but I
haven't tried it. Pure water doesn't seem to work
for me. Since I have a shower enclosure to redo,
I guess I will have to make a corner out of
something and try different techniques, especially
the one you suggested.
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