Caulking Gun & Applicator Gun Range

A caulking gun holds a cartridge or sausage of sealant, adhesive, or foam and dispenses it at a controlled rate through a trigger or ratchet mechanism, and the right gun makes a visible difference to bead consistency and hand fatigue over a full day’s work. Soudal’s applicator gun range covers standard skeleton guns for light DIY use through to reinforced, high-ratio guns built for high-viscosity MS products and heavy trade use.

How to choose the right caulking gun

Gun selection depends on the cartridge size, the viscosity of the product being dispensed, and how often the gun will be used.

Light or occasional use. A lightweight skeleton or dripless gun suits standard 300-375ml cartridges for general DIY sealant and adhesive jobs, with a simple mechanism that’s easy to control for infrequent users.

Daily trade use. A reinforced ratchet gun with a stronger pawl design handles daily use and higher-viscosity products without the mechanism wearing out, and is generally rated for a higher output ratio per trigger pull, reducing hand fatigue over a full day.

High-viscosity MS and thick sealants. A dedicated high-viscosity gun, built with a reinforced pawl and barrel, is suited specifically to thick MS Polymer sealants and adhesives that a standard gun can struggle to dispense smoothly.

Cartridges versus sausages. Some guns are designed to fit both standard cartridges and foil sausage packs, useful for trades who buy in whichever format is available, while others are cartridge-only.

Foam. A dedicated foam gun is needed for expanding foam canisters, since foam guns use a different valve and flow-control mechanism to standard sealant guns. See the full Expanding Foams range for compatible foam products.

Technical differentiators

• Cartridge compatibility: Most guns fit 290-380ml cartridges; sausage guns accept 600 ml foil sausage packs and can often be converted to also accept cartridges.
• Mechanism: Standard ratchet for general use, reinforced pawl and barrel for high-viscosity MS products and daily trade use
• Output ratio: Higher-ratio guns dispense more product per trigger pull, reducing the number of squeezes needed for a given bead length
• Build: Lightweight frames for DIY and occasional use, reinforced aluminium barrels for daily trade use
• Foam compatibility: Foam guns use a dedicated valve system and are not interchangeable with standard sealant or adhesive guns

Caulking gun application guidance

Match the gun to the product’s viscosity before starting a job. A standard gun forcing a thick MS Polymer sealant can lead to an inconsistent bead, excess hand strain, or premature wear on the ratchet mechanism. Load the cartridge or sausage fully home before applying pressure, and cut the nozzle at the angle and width specified on the product’s datasheet for the joint size being sealed. For foam guns specifically, check the valve is compatible with the foam cartridge thread before fitting, and clean the gun with a dedicated foam cleaner after every can to stop the valve clogging with cured foam.

Not sure which caulking gun suits the job? Use our product selector tool, download the product catalogue, contact us directly, or find your nearest stockist. 

Browse the full Sealants, Adhesives, and Expanding Foams ranges for compatible cartridges and sausages.