The 10 Best Caulking Guns

For most home jobs, the Newborn 250 Super strikes the right balance of push and control. Its smooth rod glides forward instead of clicking, and the frame spins so the nozzle stays aimed as you work around a corner. Strong leverage moves stiff adhesive, yet it still lays a neat bead of latex along trim. A spout cutter and seal punch are built in. It isn't drip-free, so press the thumb release after every bead.

Built almost entirely of metal, the Albion B12 B-Line comes from a New Jersey firm that has made sealant tools for close to a century. Two gripping plates and a steel trigger push the rod with little effort, and a screw takes up slack as the parts wear. The cradle swivels, a puncture wire hides in the frame, and a hook hangs it from a ladder rung. There's no spout cutter, so keep a knife in your pocket.

If your hand tires quickly, the Dripless ETS2000 deserves a look, since its composite body is far lighter than an all-steel frame. The rod eases back a little after each squeeze, which cuts down on ooze, and the barrel turns for corner work. A cutter, a poker for the foil seal and a ladder hook are part of the frame. The plastic can crack under rough use, and runny caulk can still seep from the tip.

The Tajima Convoy Super stops the bead the moment you let go: the rod pulls back on its own, so there's no thumb release to remember. A long welded steel barrel shields the tube, the handle turns all the way around, and a puncture pin rides along. Tajima, a Japanese tool maker, doesn't publish the lever ratio, and outside figures disagree, so it's hard to judge how it copes with stiff adhesive.

A low price buys a lot of extras with the Newborn Octogun 930-GTD. Its cushioned trigger is kind to the palm during long runs, and a six-sided rod moves smoothly without ratchet teeth. Tucked into the frame are a scraper for old caulk, a finishing tool for shaping beads, a spout cutter and a plug for half-used tubes. The maker calls it drip-free, but it still oozes a bit after you stop squeezing.

For an occasional tub or window job, the Bates Choice CG01 costs very little and covers the basics. In Bob Vila's cold-weather trial with acrylic caulk, it was the one gun that didn't drip once the trigger was released. The open skeleton frame has a smooth rod, a cutter and a wire to pierce the seal. The thin steel can bend or break with heavy use, so it isn't one for daily trade work.

Stiff construction adhesive and cold sealant call for leverage, and the Red Devil 3989 brings plenty, with a drive rated near a thousand pounds of push. A rubber-covered trigger keeps the squeeze comfortable, the barrel turns, and a ladder hook and seal punch are part of the frame. All that power makes thin latex hard to meter, it can drip, the swivel feels stiff, and a few frames have failed early.

For a whole house of trim, or for sore wrists, the DeWalt DCE560B does the squeezing on battery power. A dial sets the top speed, the trigger feathers the flow, and the plunger backs off when you let go to limit ooze. A light shines on the joint, and the tube tray swaps without tools. It's heavy, it comes without a battery or charger, and some units leak adhesive at the front.

Big runs of sealant cost less in soft foil packs, and the Albion B12S20 is built for them. Its aluminum barrel holds the large sausage packs, and parts in the box convert it to take standard tubes. A metal handle, two gripping plates and a wear-adjust screw keep the push steady through long days. The long barrel is awkward in tight spots, and the price only pays off on large or repeat jobs.

A longtime painter's favorite, the Cox Chilton XT is an all-steel gun with a hardened catch plate that resists wear on the rod. A switch picks between steady flow and a quick stop, and a thumb release takes the pressure off between beads. A wear-compensating part takes up slack as it ages, and a ladder hook is built in. Stock comes and goes, and outside reviews beyond one pro painter are scarce.