Categories: Mark's blogTools

Tool Review: Best Caulk Gun is the Dripless Caulk Gun

Caulking may not be my favorite job in home improvement, but it’s important to getting a tight seal and clean look and having the right tool like the best caulk gun. This Dripless caulk gun makes the work so much smoother, faster, and cleaner.

Who wants to mess around with cleaning up caulk after a long home improvement project? Not us.

Top Line Notes of the Best Caulk Gun

  • Excellent design
  • No release tab needed
  • Super rugged
  • On-board spout cutter
  • On-board puncture rod
  • 95% perfectly dripless
  • 12:1 squeeze rate

Real Deal Review: Best Caulk Gun

Ah, the lowly caulk gun. How many do you have?

Is the one you use a nice tool or is it just whatever because you can’t find the one you were certain you had with all of your paint stuff? Or is the one you do have a POS because, well, it’s just a caulk gun?

Well, I do a fair bit of caulking inasmuch as I’m usually the painter of my trim carpentry, door replacement, or other remodeling projects. So–like every other tool I own–I want one that does what I need it to do, and to do that with a minimum of headaches and wasted time.

And for a simple caulk gun, the Dripless caulk gun I’ve been using for well over a year hits on all cylinders. It’s the best caulk gun I’ve used, and I’ve used a lot of them.

While some others don’t have it, there’s no PITA release tab at the back of the tool that if you forget to hit it when you put the tool down to wipe the bead or move the ladder.

Is the caulk gun really 100% not dripless?

Not quite. Every so often I’ll see that some caulk has slowly tried to escape the tube while I’m not looking, but it’s not enough to complain. And, it’s moving so slowly that it practically dries before it can do much harm.

The Dripless gun‘s 12:1 squeeze rate is a nice sweet spot for the caulks I use sealing up trim, inside and outside of the house.

How’s the caulk tube cutter and piercer?

An on-board spout cutter and piercer should be building code.

The Dripless leaves a decent cut on the tube. Some of that is operator error, however, I like to tune up the spout sometimes with my knife.

The on-board piercer is a stroke of genius.

It is on TOP of the tool and NOT in the handle which is the first place you put your hand after piercing the tube. I love it. Have I picked up the gun to move or adjust something and gotten caulk on my hand? Of course. But do I have to put my hand where there is wet caulk? Nuh-uh.

How’s the handle?

I even like the C-shaped handle. Its smooth contours snag less than other bracket-shaped tools I’ve had. It hangs nicely on a ladder run or step and it’s easy to retrieve when needed.

The composite body is all but un-bend and un-breakable so this tool will last a long time. At about $25, it’s more than paid for itself in smooth operation.

Real Deal Rating: Is it the best caulk gun?

What’s not to love? The Dripless caulk gun tool lives up to its name and does all the things all the other caulk guns I’ve had do, but better and cleaner.

About the Author

Mark
Mark is a licensed contractor, tool expert, wood and outdoor enthusiast, and elite Spartan Race competitor. He writes about home improvement and tools for national magazines and websites, and teaches hands-on clinics for other remodeling professionals. Check out his book, The Carpenter's Notebook.
Mark

Mark is a licensed contractor, tool expert, wood and outdoor enthusiast, and elite Spartan Race competitor. He writes about home improvement and tools for national magazines and websites, and teaches hands-on clinics for other remodeling professionals. Check out his book, The Carpenter's Notebook.

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