Silicon Sealant Tools?
Discussion
For those interested in the history of silicone sealant see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederic_Kipping
where would the world be without it?
https://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-smoothing-t...
These. I’m not in the trade fwiw and I can’t believe anyone thinks a finger is better than these, it isn’t and can’t be.
These. I’m not in the trade fwiw and I can’t believe anyone thinks a finger is better than these, it isn’t and can’t be.
kurt535 said:
+1 +1 +1
anyone on here reckons they don't work really does not understand how to properly use sealant tools or indeed sealant.
excellent video here as a starter. The 'Don't list' will rule out a lot of statements made on here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DI4hfHM_Hg
I've just resealed my shower tray with this tool and it was well worth the money and made the job a lot easier!anyone on here reckons they don't work really does not understand how to properly use sealant tools or indeed sealant.
excellent video here as a starter. The 'Don't list' will rule out a lot of statements made on here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DI4hfHM_Hg
Get everything super dry
Leave it to dry
Put a neat even bead on
Move fast and squeeze linearly
First pass with fingar to even out
Second pass to smooth it to an arch
Avoid pushing it o far up each side
Do not use water at all anywhere
Keep finger clean with a paper rag
I have being doing this on a DIY basis for 20 years now from about 12, and it did take a while to get it really good, but it is now so much faster and neeter than any other options. If you make a mess of one bit, wipe it all off and start again. If it's a plastic bath, fill it once done until cured.
Leave it to dry
Put a neat even bead on
Move fast and squeeze linearly
First pass with fingar to even out
Second pass to smooth it to an arch
Avoid pushing it o far up each side
Do not use water at all anywhere
Keep finger clean with a paper rag
I have being doing this on a DIY basis for 20 years now from about 12, and it did take a while to get it really good, but it is now so much faster and neeter than any other options. If you make a mess of one bit, wipe it all off and start again. If it's a plastic bath, fill it once done until cured.
samdale said:
kurt535 said:
+1 +1 +1
anyone on here reckons they don't work really does not understand how to properly use sealant tools or indeed sealant.
excellent video here as a starter. The 'Don't list' will rule out a lot of statements made on here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DI4hfHM_Hg
Maybe my standards of finish are just higher...anyone on here reckons they don't work really does not understand how to properly use sealant tools or indeed sealant.
excellent video here as a starter. The 'Don't list' will rule out a lot of statements made on here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DI4hfHM_Hg
16:20 -16:30 in that video show exactly what I mean. Bumping between tile joints he's leaving a crap finish. Odd how detailed and focused the footage is showing his deliberate bad attempt at the start compared with his camera efforts in his shower.
As for his "don't list". It should just be one point. "Don't apply silicone incorrectly".
He deliberately "drags" the silicone too fast to demonstrate how poorly it CAN be done. If that's his best non-fugi effort then perhaps he's in the wrong job.
They don't wipe clean half as easy as he's saying.
They "bump" over tile joints (which he demonstrates)
He never shows doing a corner in detail
I could go on...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EErbuodMOAM
Can you post some pictures of your work? It would be nice to see how good the finish can be.
Another vote for the Fugi tool mentioned above. Bought one recently after recommendations in this forum. Watched the YouTube vids linked above. Finally got a finish I'm proud of redoing the silicone on a shower cubical.
Perhaps if you're already a silicone ninja you don't need any extra help. For us mere mortals this tool make all the difference.
Perhaps if you're already a silicone ninja you don't need any extra help. For us mere mortals this tool make all the difference.
Just an update on this.
Started siliconing round the bath today with grey silicon. Started with my usual, wet finger method, and it quickly went badly, started smearing the silicon either side of my finger. I suppose with using white or clear you didn’t usually notice this!
Tried the silicon tools and what a revelation! Work brilliantly! Will never use my finger again! 🙂👍
Started siliconing round the bath today with grey silicon. Started with my usual, wet finger method, and it quickly went badly, started smearing the silicon either side of my finger. I suppose with using white or clear you didn’t usually notice this!
Tried the silicon tools and what a revelation! Work brilliantly! Will never use my finger again! 🙂👍
Ladders said:
Just an update on this.
Started siliconing round the bath today with grey silicon. Started with my usual, wet finger method, and it quickly went badly, started smearing the silicon either side of my finger. I suppose with using white or clear you didn’t usually notice this!
Tried the silicon tools and what a revelation! Work brilliantly! Will never use my finger again! ????
Either stop and wipe your finger or use less silicone.Started siliconing round the bath today with grey silicon. Started with my usual, wet finger method, and it quickly went badly, started smearing the silicon either side of my finger. I suppose with using white or clear you didn’t usually notice this!
Tried the silicon tools and what a revelation! Work brilliantly! Will never use my finger again! ????
However I'm glad you found a method that works for you. How did you get on with sliding the tool over tile joints?
I do a lot of kitchen fitting and bathroom fitting. Tiles are the hardest thing to get a neat seal against and in my experience the best method to get consistent smooth beads is the wet finger. Nothing moulds to the desired shape and stays pliable quite like a wet finger.
I've always read the debate about tools and in the right place, the tool gives absolutely faultless beads. When it comes to something tricky the finger aproach is almost always needed. But I'm always first to try any new tool designs I've seen.
Also, that video of "How not to do it" sorry but he is purposely doing a bad job. I promise you I can get a bead straight from the gun that anyone would be more than happy with on a straight run of smooth surfaces.
Also.... Am I thick or is he thick, because the do not stick to three sides of the corner?? Even as he's showing, and counting, there's very clearly only two sides he could possibly adhere the silicone too .. why does he keep counting three??
I've always read the debate about tools and in the right place, the tool gives absolutely faultless beads. When it comes to something tricky the finger aproach is almost always needed. But I'm always first to try any new tool designs I've seen.
Also, that video of "How not to do it" sorry but he is purposely doing a bad job. I promise you I can get a bead straight from the gun that anyone would be more than happy with on a straight run of smooth surfaces.
Also.... Am I thick or is he thick, because the do not stick to three sides of the corner?? Even as he's showing, and counting, there's very clearly only two sides he could possibly adhere the silicone too .. why does he keep counting three??
Never really understood why people wet their finger for this, always seems to make it worth than using a dry finger and some blue roll to clean it off.
As said above, if you have done a lot of it there is a lot of be said for just putting in on perfectly first time everytime, typically you get a mildly convex filet rather than concave, pros and cons.
Daniel
As said above, if you have done a lot of it there is a lot of be said for just putting in on perfectly first time everytime, typically you get a mildly convex filet rather than concave, pros and cons.
Daniel
Ladders said:
Just an update on this.
Started siliconing round the bath today with grey silicon. Started with my usual, wet finger method, and it quickly went badly, started smearing the silicon either side of my finger. I suppose with using white or clear you didn’t usually notice this!
Tried the silicon tools and what a revelation! Work brilliantly! Will never use my finger again! ????
It's silicone not silicon, that's something entirely different.Started siliconing round the bath today with grey silicon. Started with my usual, wet finger method, and it quickly went badly, started smearing the silicon either side of my finger. I suppose with using white or clear you didn’t usually notice this!
Tried the silicon tools and what a revelation! Work brilliantly! Will never use my finger again! ????
Why is it so many people can't spell or pronounce this stuff, do we have the Americans to blame for this as usual?
samdale said:
Either stop and wipe your finger or use less silicone.
However I'm glad you found a method that works for you. How did you get on with sliding the tool over tile joints?
I was just very careful with the joints and tried not to put any sideways pressure into them.However I'm glad you found a method that works for you. How did you get on with sliding the tool over tile joints?
I'm sure if I did it day in day out as a job like some of the pro's then I would eventually get the hang of it, but the tool makes it so much easier.
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