Pistol discord: how to apply sealant

In order to apply the sealing compound as accurately and evenly as possible, it is worth using a construction gun for sealant. It is perfect for all kinds of repairs, while greatly facilitating and speeding up the work of the master. A rather large selection of such devices is presented on the market, and before buying, you must first determine the requirements.

Content:

• Pistol Features
• Device and specifications
• Types of Pistols
• Amateur pistols
• Skeletal
• Reinforced skeletal
• Half-shell
• Cylindrical
• Professional pistols
• Rechargeable
• Pneumatic
• How to work with a gun
• Limiter removal and tube preparation
• Pulling rod
• Sealant Release
• Manufacturers and prices
• Gun Selection Tips

Pistol Features

In appearance, the device for supplying building sealants resembles a regular firearm, which is why it is called accordingly. However, some instruments are more like a syringe without glass, although they are also included in the group of pistols.

The devices are used to supply various adhesives, sealants and foams with the aim of making seams or for applying sprayable products over large areas. Most often they are used to extrude compositions based on silicone, acrylic and polyurethane, which are packaged in cartridges or soft packaging tubes. Sealants themselves are available in unified versions, so they are suitable for almost all types of guns.

Device and specifications

The design of the guns can vary, as well as the principle of operation, the power source. Nevertheless, each tool is arranged in a similar way, has the same components:

• frame (case) - a tube is inserted into it;
• rod with a piston - helps push the mass to the nose, it is smooth, toothed, hexagonal;
• the handle with the trigger - after pressing it allows squeezing the sealant in the desired portion;
• safety lock - keeps the piston from returning.

More expensive models may additionally have disposable or reusable nozzles for certain types of work, for example, for performing spot drops, applying tape seams, leveling suture material at the joints, to seal hard-to-reach places. Most often, the body of the guns are plastic or metal, and the second is much more expensive. As metal, stainless or tool steel with the addition of chromium, vanadium, aluminum is usually used.

The mounting gun for the sealant has a length of 220 or 440 mm to fit well under the tubes of 310 and 600 ml. The weight of simple devices does not exceed 200-250 g, while professional devices can reach 1-2 kg or more. Good guns additionally have leakage protection, a trigger lock mechanism for automatic operation, and adjustment of the speed of application of the composition.

Types of Pistols

Mounting guns are classified as follows depending on the housing design and capabilities.

Amateur pistols

Such devices are easy to use, even a beginner can use them with their own hands. They are divided into skeletal, reinforced, half-hull and cylindrical.

Skeletal

These are inexpensive devices, because they are purchased for one-time work, for minor repairs in the house.They are intended only for tube packages of sealant and cartridges, are not suitable for liquid, two-component and bulk materials, since they have an open housing. Pistols are made of steel, they have stiffening ribs that hold the tube firmly and also enhance the smoothness of the piston stroke. The mixture is supplied to the seam by the pressure of a moving rod.

A skeleton gun for a tube with a sealant requires mechanical action, otherwise the composition will not extend to the surface of the product. To work, you have to squeeze and unclench the handle with the spring, and in the simplest versions, the springs are often very tight and uncomfortable. Before buying, it is better to immediately test the model and choose the one that is comfortable to use.

Reinforced skeletal

By design, they are the same as the previous type of pistols. The only difference is the use of stronger materials of greater thickness, as well as a rod with a cross section of at least 8 mm. The service life of such products is quite large.

Half-shell

These guns are made of thin steel (up to 1 mm) or plastic; their design does not imply the presence of stiffeners. Such devices are cheap and suitable for single use by non-professionals. Half-body pistols have a short service life: usually after the end of 1-2 packings of sealant they irreparably deteriorate. The cause of the breakage is jamming of the stem or skew of the frame into which the tube is inserted.

Cylindrical

The basis of the gun body is a closed cylinder made of aluminum or plastic, which is suitable for packaged and bulk sealants. Cylindrical (tubular) devices are more expensive, but more efficient to use, last a long time, are reliable, ensure even seam due to the smooth stroke of the rod. Usually, several additional nozzles are included with the gun.

Professional pistols

Most devices for professional use are electric - network or battery. They are available only in specialized stores or large construction supermarkets, are expensive and are purchased mainly not for home use.

Rechargeable

The cordless gun is used for various works: body repair, installation of products in glass production, construction sites. Due to the difficulties in operation and the high cost for domestic needs, devices are not bought. In appearance they look like a “mixture” of a screwdriver and an ordinary closed cylindrical pistol.

Advantages of battery packs for sealant are as follows:

• the ability to perform a large volume of tasks and long continuous work;
• the presence of customizable parameters - feed power of the sealant, the speed of release of the composition;
• smoothness of applying sealant and high quality of the finished seam;
• the ability to fill the case with a tube diluted with a dry mixture or even a homemade product;
• the presence of additional nozzles in the configuration, as well as the ability to find the necessary nozzles separately.

Pneumatic

Such pistols are in great demand due to their high quality and ease of operation. They create perfectly even seams regardless of the type of sealant used; cartridges and soft tubes can be installed. You don’t have to make big physical efforts during the process: the tool works from displaced air flow. The presence of a regulator for supplying the composition and pressure allows you to strictly control the volume of the outgoing sealant, so the layer will be as large as the user needs.

Syringe guns usually work from manual exposure, expensive professional models - from a connected air compressor. High-quality pneumatic pistols have a special silencer, which makes their work silent. The body of the product can be simple or rotatable, and some designs also include a counterweight to evenly distribute the load on the arm.For bulk sealants, special self-priming guns are used: in them the suction mechanism operates in an automated mode.

How to work with a gun

Instructions for using the most popular skeletal and half-shell models are approximately the same. The procedure is simple and does not take much time, but still requires attention to achieve a qualitative result.

Limiter removal and tube preparation

First, check if there is a restrictive bottom on the tube with sealant. If it is present, it should be removed. Next, with a clerical knife, cut off the top of the safety valve with a thread, screw on the nozzle-applicator. The tip is cut at an angle of 45 degrees. A hole of the required size is pierced in the cartridge (it should be slightly smaller than the planned thickness of the seam). If the gun is suitable for bulk sealant or “sausage” composition, carefully cut off the corner of the bag, put the container in the case so that the hole falls on the tip area.

Pulling rod

Pull out the pistol rod, for which they push the lever all the way, as a result, the part is easily removed. A cartridge is placed in this place, a couple of times they are pressed on the trigger to secure it.

Sealant Release

Before applying the seam, you can attach the nozzle, which is suitable for a specific type of work. With a pneumatic or battery gun, you need to set the necessary parameters in advance using the adjustment buttons, levers.

At first, it is recommended to try squeezing the sealant on the rough surface and only then proceed to the main stage. The sealant should come out smoothly, without interruptions and thickenings. The excess mass is immediately collected from the working area until it has frozen.

At the end of sealing the tube is removed, the tool is washed with a solvent. If you do not clean the nozzle barrel and other parts of the gun from sealant, the material will solidify tightly inside, and the device will become worthless.

Manufacturers and prices

The gun for applying sealant is a popular product that is produced by many manufacturers under the OKPD 2 code - 28.62.30.999. You can buy it in any large store - Castorama, Maxidom, Leroy Merlin. The most popular brands are Stayer ("Stayer"), Kraftool ("Craft") and Wolfcraft ("Wolfcraft"). The best models of these and other brands are described below:

1. Stayer 0673-60-Pro. The mechanical pistol, closed by design, has an aluminum body. Designed for sealant in 600 ml containers.
2. "Bison Expert". Professional pistol with a half-open case made of high-quality metal for 310 ml tubes.
3. Hilti CFS-DISP. Professional body gun that works with high performance and is suitable for sealant, glue, foam.
4. Tajima Convoy Super 26. The Tajima heavy duty pistol has a reinforced sealant extrusion mechanism and is equipped with a pressure relief system and a rotating handle. The tool compartment is designed for a 225 mm tube.
5. Rodcraft It is used to fill voids, cavities with silicone, polyurethane sealants. It has the function of quickly stopping the flow of material without droplets, is able to work for a long time, is resistant to overloads.
6. Avon Hand-held multi-purpose gun for tubes, sealants in buckets, bulk products. It has a plunger mechanism, a convenient nozzle for application, and a reliable design. Great for warm seam technology in wooden houses.
7. 3M. Designed for applying one-component automotive sealants, it is used to produce joints of any width, as it allows you to adjust the size of the spray pattern.
8. Teroson Multi-Press. Universal gun for adhesives, sealants, designed for sprayed material, as well as for creating tape and spot seams.
9. Radex PGS.A professional electric device with high performance, it can be applied by spray and extrusion.
10. Hammer Flex. An inexpensive tool for 225 mm tubes, helps to make smooth, high-quality seams on any surface.
11. "Vortex". The device with an aluminum pipe closed. The cylindrical housing is well suited for cartridge and tube.
12. Topex 21B360. Designed "under sausage" - for sealants in special tubes of 600 ml. Equipped with a rotating mechanism that speeds up work and prevents the material from moving backward.
13. Sturm 1073-05-310. It has a closed cylindrical body, manual control, the maximum capacity of tubes or cartridges for the device is 310 ml.
14. Santool Profi 010502. A semi-open type mechanical pistol with a smooth stem that can be combined with any type of sealant.
15. Inforce 01-13-01. A professional tool that works in two modes: forced, "with etching." It has a convenient handle and a cleaning needle in the kit.

The cost of construction guns can vary greatly depending on the type, brand, quality, functionality. The cheapest are Chinese skeletal models; they can be found at a price of 80-300 rubles. Higher-quality European brands offer similar products for 500-1000 rubles. Professional devices usually cost 2,000-4,000 rubles, although Soudal pneumatic devices are sold at 10000-12000, and the price of Makita even reaches 25000.

Gun Selection Tips

Skeletal pistols are an excellent option for a small amount of work when you do not want to overpay. It is worth choosing an inexpensive, but high-quality device made of durable material (steel, alloys with a thickness of 2 mm or more). If you plan to repair the whole house, apartment, you should choose a pneumatic gun, it is not as expensive as a cordless gun, but it allows you to apply sealant tirelessly, quickly and smoothly. Professionals prefer battery models that have the highest performance.

Before buying, in the device it is important to check the quality of the rivets fastening, evaluate the convenience of the handle, the tightness of the case (in closed devices), the weight of the gun, the ease of switching modes (if such a function is available). Without the use of a gun, applying a neat seam will fail, therefore it is better to invest in its purchase and make repairs reliably and beautifully!