What "man jobs" have you done today?

[Simon42]

What is reccomended ? is some average stuff like Unibond silicone sealant ok, or is the premium stuff £9.99 stuff like dow cornering - mould resisant sealant worth going for? some of the £5 unibond ones state mould risistant, but a lot of people saying that dow cornering silicone stuff is worth paying an extra fiver for , for a 310ml cartridge?

is this all a marketing ploy ?

There are differences between silicone sealants and it's not just headline featureless such as mould resistance claims, but how good they are to apply and work with silicone tools. Unibond silicone is generally good, but I find Dow often has better adhesion and is better to apply/smooth and more durable.

However no one brand is the best in all categories so I use various brands based on experience. The only general recommendation is to avoid cheaper brands as although they can be good, its only using them and a long wait that will prove that.

 

[dlockers]

There are differences between silicone sealants and it's not just headline featureless such as mould resistance claims, but how good they are to apply and work with silicone tools. Unibond silicone is generally good, but I find Dow often has better adhesion and is better to apply/smooth and more durable.

However no one brand is the best in all categories so I use various brands based on experience. The only general recommendation is to avoid cheaper brands as although they can be good, its only using them and a long wait that will prove that.

Fwiw the BT1 stuff is awful.

 

[aVdub]

Holy Smokes I twitch when I pay £5 for a roll of Frog tape

Being able to cut in has probably saved my thousands over the years

 

[DJMK4]

There are differences between silicone sealants and it's not just headline featureless such as mould resistance claims, but how good they are to apply and work with silicone tools. Unibond silicone is generally good, but I find Dow often has better adhesion and is better to apply/smooth and more durable.

However no one brand is the best in all categories so I use various brands based on experience. The only general recommendation is to avoid cheaper brands as although they can be good, its only using them and a long wait that will prove that.

I just removed the old silicone round my bathtub

I used Screwfix white no nonsense silicone £5.60 or so for 310 cartridge for the gun..

How is sillocone so hard to apply! And so messy

I have found a worse job than painting..


I have one of these plastic 10mm pointing tools I also used for pointing patio

Pointed the gun and went along the wall line , then run the tool down it wiping away excess as I go along . Still managed to get it everywhere. In the end I was using my finger also. With a tissue..

Done my best , but it's not good enough . Going to wait to let it set properly then see if I can make it look better

 

[Orifice]

The Screwfix smoothing tools are great for getting a good silicone finish.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-smoothing-tools-straight-joints/92313

 

[dlockers]

I just removed the old silicone round my bathtub

I used Screwfix white no nonsense silicone £5.60 or so for 310 cartridge for the gun..

How is sillocone so hard to apply! And so messy

I have found a worse job than painting..


I have one of these plastic 10mm pointing tools I also used for pointing patio

Pointed the gun and went along the wall line , then run the tool down it wiping away excess as I go along . Still managed to get it everywhere. In the end I was using my finger also. With a tissue..

Done my best , but it's not good enough . Going to wait to let it set properly then see if I can make it look better

Plumbers gold is the stuff. It's much thicker and easier to work with. If you want to feel really bad follow southwest silicone on Instagram. He is the god of mastic men lol.

 

[DJMK4]

Plumbers gold is the stuff. It's much thicker and easier to work with. If you want to feel really bad follow southwest silicone on Instagram. He is the god of mastic men lol.

I am hearing that dowsil cornering or their product is the right one .

I am thinking this is a product issue or quality maybe with the no nonsense Screwfix stuff even though it had good reviess.

Maybe the way I applied it .but looking on YouTube videos it sticks and applies smoother than what I'm using.

The stuff I am using is very tacky. I'm going to have to redo it as it's not good

They also say fill bath up half way

 

[dlockers]

I am hearing that dowsil cornering or their product is the right one .

I am thinking this is a product issue or quality maybe with the no nonsense Screwfix stuff even though it had good reviess.

Maybe the way I applied it .but looking on YouTube videos it sticks and applies smoother than what I'm using.

The stuff I am using is very tacky. I'm going to have to redo it as it's not good

They also say fill bath up half way

You have no chance if you don't have a smoothing tool

 

[DJMK4]

You have no chance if you don't have a smoothing tool

If you go to Google and type this

Proops Double Ended Brick Jointer/Finger Trowel/Pointing Tool/Mortar Finishing Tool (S7853) Free UK Postage (1)

I used a similar tool to this, 10mm side probably no good though . It seemed to work but then there is a lot of excess, then it starts getting tacky

I messed up

 

[dlockers]

If you go to Google and type this

Proops Double Ended Brick Jointer/Finger Trowel/Pointing Tool/Mortar Finishing Tool (S7853) Free UK Postage (1)

I used a similar tool to this, 10mm side probably no good though . It seemed to work but then there is a lot of excess, then it starts getting tacky

I messed up

Ya useless man, get the fugi kit or Screwfix one linked above.

 

[LuckyBenski]

Took delivery of 11 sheets of chipboard and handballed them into the garage. Managed to cut and fit two of them but ran out of time and energy. I'll have to try and get a couple of sheets down each evening this week - got friends visiting next weekend and I need to pile all the **** in the spare room back to the garage!

3 more pieces down. Got home from work after 6pm and didn't want to annoy neighbours too much so stopped at 8.

 

[Simon42]

How is sillocone so hard to apply! And so messy

Finishing tools are essential as already mentioned, but I find some silicone sealants are too runny irrespective of how flexible (low or high modulus) when set. This makes them hard to finish well even with Fugi tools or similar as it drags too easily.

I've mostly been using Dow for sanitary silicones for the last few years as they are quite firm and that makes them easier to tool to a very neat finish.

 

[adamau5]

replaced a very leaky kitchen tap.

Should have been 20 minute job... instead... Touched the isolators and they started leaking. Turned off the stop **** and it started leaking so had to pack the spindle with ptfe.

Had to remove all the drainpipes and the waste to get enough space to work, got drain water in my mouth - nice.

20 minute job turned into 90 minutes replumbing the whole sink. I hate taps.

 

[Richie]

I used the finishing tools before and they are great. Takes a little getting used to as you actually use less silicone that you think you will need.... Just a matter of swiping it over for a 1st run, removing the excess as you go, then a final slow smooth run over with the tool to get it looking good.

 

[Mysterae_]

To up your silicone and caulking game I'd highly recommend a battery powered caulking gun - no more hand cramp or erratic pauses in the flow of silicone using those crap manual ones. After a bit of practice and with the tip cut correctly for the job you can achieve the perfect bead and waste less silicone.

 

[aVdub]

To up your silicone and caulking game I'd highly recommend a battery powered caulking gun - no more hand cramp or erratic pauses in the flow of silicone using those crap manual ones. After a bit of practice and with the tip cut correctly for the job you can achieve the perfect bead and waste less silicone.

Tis a a good idea.

Will also recommend to avoid those generic mastic guns found in the supermarket DIY stores and seek out what the pro's (apart from battery operated) use.

The difference, like battery operated, is night and day.

 

[Participant]

To up your silicone and caulking game I'd highly recommend a battery powered caulking gun - no more hand cramp

Lol hand cramp from a silicone gun, you ******* wotm8

Sounds like a good idea though as I definitely get the uneven squirtage problem.

 

[EH75]

To up your silicone and caulking game I'd highly recommend a battery powered caulking gun - no more hand cramp or erratic pauses in the flow of silicone using those crap manual ones. After a bit of practice and with the tip cut correctly for the job you can achieve the perfect bead and waste less silicone.

Just having a look at these as it seems exactly the sort of thing I'd buy in the name of having every completely unnecessary power tool that I will use once a year but at nearly £200 for the Makita LXT version I think I'll steer clear. Seems very steep!

 

[Mysterae_]

Lol hand cramp from a silicone gun, you ******* wotm8

Sounds like a good idea though as I definitely get the uneven squirtage problem.

When you've installed a few of shower wall panels, you'll know what I mean! Each panel requires one tube of adhesive each and then you've got to silicone the edges as well, hand cramp becomes a thing .

Just having a look at these as it seems exactly the sort of thing I'd buy in the name of having every completely unnecessary power tool that I will use once a year but at nearly £200 for the Makita LXT version I think I'll steer clear. Seems very steep!

It's the Makita LXT version I have (image above) and at the time it was a difficult purchase to justify. However, having used it a fair bit I'm a total convert. I've used it for applying silicone, caulking, grout (it comes in tubes yay!) and even pointing the patio when packing the supplied cylinder with mortar. I've yet to use it to decorate a cake though .

 

[Richie]

TBH, I just use the Unibond one that comes pressurised like this - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Unibond-Bath-Kitchen-White-Sealant/dp/B08NDCTM6X

Just pull the lever and it comes out the nozzle in a nice bead. No need for a caulk gun.


FWIW, I dry off the edges of the bath where the sealant is (just run the towel over it) and, so far after 6 years, I dont have a drop of mould appearing.