A caulking gun is a great addition to any handyman’s tool collection. Caulk can be used on a number of different jobs, and caulking guns always come in handy. Whether you are installing hardy board siding on your home and need to caulk all the seams around the doors and windows, or just repainting your baseboards in your home, a caulking gun is the right tool.

You can pick up a caulking gun for a couple of dollars at any of your local hardware stores. However there are a couple options that one caulking gun may come with that another doesn’t that can vary the amount of money you will spend to buy one over the other.

A no drip caulking gun, is the best way to invest your money if you’re looking to buy caulking tools. The worst part about a caulking gun is, when after you let go of the trigger, caulk just keeps coming out and makes a big mess. A no drip caulking gun will solve this problem. Let go of the trigger, and the caulking stops.

Most caulking guns will have a hole cut out somewhere in the handle that will allow you to cut the tip of the caulking tube that you are wanting to use. Just insert the tip of the tube at the angle in which you wish to cut the tip, and squeeze the handle and the tip is cut just like that.

After you cut the tip to the desired size and angle you wish it to be, some caulking tubes require you to break a protective membrane inside the tube that keeps the caulking from drying while inside the tube. Your caulking gun should have a metal wire, or rod on it that will allow you to poke down into the tip of the caulking tube and break the protective membrane. Once you have done that, insert the tube into the caulking gun and you’re ready to start caulking.

Caulking cleanup is easy with just a damp rag as long as it is a water-based caulk and not a silicone-based caulk.