Push or pull?

[orezok]

I'm talking about caulking guns of course. My dad who was a professional construction painter taught me to always push a caulk gun. What do you guys do?

 

[Looking4new]

I am the opposite. I pull.

 

[pinetree10]

I cut the tip at an angle and pull. Still talking about caulk gun of course.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Pushing causes the caulk to penetrate deeper into any void areas.

 

[dave1949]

I push but only slightly, not a radical angle.

 

[KennyG]

Pushing doesn't feel as natural but will give a better fill and smoother finish.

 

[Walt 2002]

Pushing causes the caulk to penetrate deeper into any void areas.

That is the preferred method but sometimes hard to make yourself do it.

Walt Conner

 

[buckeyefarmer]

push usually, depending on what I am caulking.

 

[RalphVa]

I pull but finish up by running over the caulk with a finger. Finishing up with the finger gives a nice, smooth finish and also helps to push the caulk into where you've caulked.

Ralph

 

[Sysop]

I generally mask the area to be caulked, squirt it into place whatever way is easiest, smooth it out with a finger or properly angled scraper, and peel the tape off before it sets up. Gives a nice professional, nearly machine applied type of finish without much practice, effort, or learning curve.

 

[Qapla]

I hung wallpaper for about 15 years. Most of the time I pulled - partly for a nice even bead and partly for speed. After applying the bead, I used a "wet finger" to smooth. Keep in mind that I cut the tube on an angle way down the tip so that the opening was very small. When I was finished I had a nearly invisible bead that held the edge of the paper down, filled the gap and looked really finished.

Once you develop a technique that works for you, it is hard to change to another style/method.

 

[PILOON]

A trick I learned about and tried that works.
To create a nice finish you draw an ice cube along the calk seam.
It of quite a good trick for those that difficulty with the other methods.

Personally I am capable of the either push or pull technique but probably use the pull with a good bevel cut more often followed with the wet finger.(and a handy rag to wipe the finger)