# How do I put down a nice bead of caulking? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 23, 2011, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-put-down-a-nice-bead-of-caulking/586566 "2011-06-23T15:51:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-put-down-a-nice-bead-of-caulking/586566/41 "2011-06-26T05:11:50Z")
> [@Daylate](#): > > Be careful of those powered pressure guns. READ THE INSTRUCTIONS! > > I tried an air powered one the first time without going too deeply into the instruction manual and it turned out the air pressure was set way too high. Shot a solid stream of caulk at least ten feet. > > Luckily I was outside at the time and the caulk eventually wore off the grass. If you have to accidentally launch a bead of caulk ten feet across your property, grass is probably the best place is could land. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-put-down-a-nice-bead-of-caulking/586566/42 "2011-06-26T13:36:37Z")
> [@Daylate](#): > > I tried an air powered one the first time without going too deeply into the instruction manual and it turned out the air pressure was set way too high. Shot a solid stream of caulk at least ten feet. I think that also happened to Al Borland once when Tim’s assitant bent over in front of him. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-put-down-a-nice-bead-of-caulking/586566/43 "2011-06-26T14:47:17Z")
> [@Minnie\_Luna](#): > > What is it about you guys that you can’t even handle a little caulk without making a mess of it? And you would have done what? Swallowed? ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-put-down-a-nice-bead-of-caulking/586566/44 "2011-06-28T06:22:13Z")
> [@Minnie\_Luna](#): > > What is it about you guys that you can’t even handle a little caulk without making a mess of it? WHO said it was a _ **“little”** _ caulk!? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-put-down-a-nice-bead-of-caulking/586566/45 "2011-06-28T10:12:05Z")
Instead of a wet finger you can sometimes use an ice-cube - stays wet, keeps things cool and has a nice smooth rounded surface. ---
**Author:** ![Ken001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@Ken001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ken001)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-put-down-a-nice-bead-of-caulking/586566/46 "2011-06-28T10:31:07Z")
Like the ice-cube idea. I smooth the caulk/sealant with my finger dipped in turpentine. That gives a nice finish and makes the excess easy to remove. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-put-down-a-nice-bead-of-caulking/586566/48 "2011-07-05T13:21:25Z")
Reporting back - Mrs Piper and I re-caulked the bath/shower last weekend. Not to professional standards, but much better than the last time we had to do one of these jobs. Thanks for all the advice! Oh, and there were no gouts o’high pressured caulk flying about or getting in anyone’s eyes ;), and the caulk gun was always placed down on some paper towels when not in use, so the leakage was always contained. I asked for “how to” and I also got useful “how not to” tips. Thanks, all! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-put-down-a-nice-bead-of-caulking/586566/49 "2011-07-05T21:25:57Z")
> [@Sparky812](#): > > Whoa! Hold on, you should not be caulking your toilet to the floor! > With a correctly installed toilet, caulk is, in the least, unnecessary, you could potentially be causing way more damage than you believe you are preventing. > By sealing the area under your toilet you are preventing it from drying out if moisture were to penetrate the area causing rot, mold, bacteria to grow. > Secondly, you would be masking any indication that your toilet seal may be leaking. Anything wrong with using plumber’s putty? I use plumber’s putty when I do any plumbing work. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-put-down-a-nice-bead-of-caulking/586566.md?page=2)