phemens
Montreal, Canada
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Joined: 09/18/2006
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Much as I like to think I'm pretty handy with most things relating to my trailer, I'm a total clutz when it comes to caulking, and I could not draw a smooth straight bead if my life depended on it. I'm going to redo all my sidewall seams (just having redone the roof with Eternabond). Is there any consensus on whether it is 'better' to draw a bead or whether to smooth it out? By smoothing it out, I'm thinking masking both sides of the seam, draw the bead and then smooth out with finger (or glove and using thinner to keep the line even).
I'm a neat freak and sloppy beads drive me nuts, but if one way is better than the other, I'll swallow my pride and live with it...
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georgelesley
Minnesota
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Sounds like you and I are about the same with caulk. Recently I redid the bead around the kitchen countertop with the wife watching. Talk about pressure! Before caulking I put some blue tape used for paint masking around windows, etc. around the intended area. I then caulked as neatly as I could, then carefully pulled the tape off. Worked like a charm. Just don't let the caulk set up.
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deerslayerah
ELKIN N.C.
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If you use your finger to spread caulk keep it wet with water finger will glide over the calk instead of pulling threw it also keep a rag to keep finger clean tape works to just pull it off before caulk sets up
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Techie
Pahrump, NV, USA
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I use blue painters tape and if it's a large area use one of those plastic thingies you can get at any hardware store that will give you a consitent sized bead...looks like a square end with a notch cut out for the bead.
Has to be cleaned/emptied constantly but it gets me the consitent look that I like without having to redo the caulking all the time as I too hate uneven looks to the caulking.
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phemens
Montreal, Canada
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Joined: 09/18/2006
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Techie wrote:I use blue painters tape and if it's a large area use one of those plastic thingies you can get at any hardware store that will give you a consitent sized bead...looks like a square end with a notch cut out for the bead.
Has to be cleaned/emptied constantly but it gets me the consitent look that I like without having to redo the caulking all the time as I too hate uneven looks to the caulking.
Yep, I have one of those too! My biggest concern I guess is ensuring that I get good coverage if I smooth (ie that I'm not making the caulking too thin).
On another related topic, anyone have a good hint for removing the caulking around the running lights? That stuff seems to have set up like cement.
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pauldub
North of Seattle
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Masking and smoothing with a finger is the only method that suits my need for it to look neat.
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waybo418
Virginia
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I too, did not like the job that I did with caulking. Unfortunately, in my line of work, I am forced to caulk quite often. Here is the tool that I found that works best for me. With it and a roll of paper towels, I get the professional job that I am looking for.
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