In this article we want to talk about such a necessary construction tool as a sealant gun. More precisely, we will try to give the most detailed classification of these tools, talk about their features, advantages and benefits, as well as give advice on choosing from their diversity for various categories of citizens.
In the beginning, let's talk a little about what a sealant gun is. This tool is called a pistol because of the external resemblance to this type of weapon. It has a handle, a mechanism with a trigger, and a guide that can be compared to the barrel of a pistol.
Silicone sealants are mainly used as consumables for the tool. Externally, in stores they can be immediately identified by their appearance and packaging.
Silicone sealant is packed in special tubes or cylindrical containers, in which the bottom is movable (it can move along the package body), and various nozzles can be attached to the tip of the tube to give the extruded sealant the desired shape.
The bottom of the tube moves due to the piston in the pistol connected to the trigger mechanism. By pressing the trigger, we push the piston and it, transferring pressure to the bottom of the package, squeezes the sealant out of the package through the nozzle. Since the sizes of containers for sealants are unified, you can not worry that the tube will not fit the brand of sealant gun in your arsenal.
In modern stores you can find a large number of different models of sealant guns and choosing the right one from their variety can be quite difficult. Note that all instruments of this type are divided into amateur and professional. Amateur can be divided into several types according to the type of case. Let's talk about them in more detail, since these types of pistols are used in everyday life. Since all amateur pistols are manual, we will not note this every time during the description.
Professional sealant guns
From this category, it should be noted pneumatic pistols and battery.
We will devote a separate article to the description of their characteristics and qualities, but for now we will only briefly talk about them. Professional tools of this type have high performance and are designed for a significant service life. As a rule, they are used in large-scale production, where there is a need for sealing work.
The main feature of this type of guns is that, as a rule, they are designed not only for the use of sealants in tubes, but also for the use of bulk sealants sold in bags.
The principle of operation of an air pistol is slightly different from how it is implemented in a mechanical pistol. That is, the sealant is squeezed out not due to mechanical pressure, but due to air pressure. This greatly reduces hand fatigue. It is also worth noting that most of these tools are equipped with pressure regulators. With their help, you can easily adjust the air pressure, which allows you to evenly squeeze out the required amount of sealant into the seam.
Cordless caulking guns are the most expensive and almost never used in domestic construction. What's the point of buying a gun for 2000 rubles when you can buy for 50 - 100 rubles. Moreover, sealing seams in construction is a one-time and small work. Cordless guns, by adjusting the parameters, allow you to pre-set the extrusion speed, which significantly improves the quality of the work performed.
Like pneumatic guns, they can be used for sealants in tubes and bulk.
A feature of professional pistols is the presence in the kit of a large number of various nozzles for creating seams of various thicknesses and widths.
Types of amateur guns for sealant
In modern hardware stores, you can find 4 types of amateur (household) caulk guns.
1. Skeleton caulk gun
This type of gun is most preferable for those people who need to perform one-time sealing work. Compared to, for example, a semi-body pistol, it has greater strength, and is only slightly more expensive in cost. Due to the rigid ribs, the design holds the sealant tube well, while the piston rod moves relatively smoothly and without significant distortions. As a material for the body of this tool, steel with a thickness of 1.5 mm is used, for the handle 2 mm, and for the stem a hexagonal steel bar with a cross section of 6 mm. 
2. Reinforced skeletal caulk gun
In fact, constructively, he repeats the first type of pistol. The difference is reflected only in the more durable materials used in their production, as well as in increased reliability and durability. Steel 2 mm thick is used as a material for the body of the pistol, 3 mm for the handle, and the rod is more powerful and has a cross section of 8 mm.
3. Half body caulk gun
This type of pistol is the cheapest available in stores. If you look for information on the Internet about this pistol, then often in terms of its characteristics it is ranked higher than the skeleton pistol. Actually it is not. The semi-body pistol has the shortest lifespan. It is usually very difficult to use after several packs of sealant have been used.
Due to the design features, the tube with sealant is constantly warped, and the stem goes through the extrusion process with great difficulty. In the production of this type of pistols, very thin steel is used, only 1 mm thick. If it is carelessly thrown, the body is easily dented or damaged. It also has a rather small stem thickness - a cross section of only 6 mm. 
4. Caulking gun with cylindrical body
This gun is the best of the variety of amateur tools. Despite the significant price, it is worth noting that in return you get the opportunity to use, including bulk sealants. The design of this gun makes the work more convenient.
In this gun, the sealant tube does not skew, and it also has the smoothest stroke of the rod. As a rule, models with a cylindrical body have several different nozzles in the kit. If you plan to carry out sealing work often enough, this tool is just for you.
At the end of the article, we note several features of the choice of guns for sealants .
A good pistol should feel good in the hand. When pressing the trigger, there should not be an excessive effort of the muscles of the hand. If you are buying a cheap model, check the quality of the rivet joints of the parts of the gun, they should not be loose. It is best if the pistol grip is made of aluminum. This indicates the strength and quality of the tool.
Of course, it is better to choose well-known manufacturers of this tool, but you can often find cheaper options from among little-known companies. If you are not too lazy and wisely approach the selection of a tool, you can always buy a cheap and high-quality tool without overpaying for a brand.
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