You mean that crap that DAP makes? Pretty much everything that is Siliconized you can buy at a paint store is better. Something like Moorlastic 40 Year Siliconized Caulk 467, or Crown and Trim 464.

 

I stay away from the standard Alex caulking. I like the Dynaflex 230 for interior and some exterior stuff. It's still a Dap product but I've had good luck with it. For exterior I really like Duo-Sil and use it on PVC trim. I'm pretty sure you can use it inside but it's also $7 a tube

 

Sikaflex 1A its the best interior exterior caulk hands down. its flexible, sticks to anything & its paintable.:thumbsup:

 

I agree....one of the best. I use it sometimes, but use duo-sil more but only for availibility reasons.

 

Have you guys had trouble with getting caulk that has been frozen? I've gotten to the point where, when I buy a case (or cases) of caulk, I test one from every case before leaving the store. If it's good, I screw a wire nut on it and go on. On more than a few occasions, I've had them alternately squirt out a clear fluid and then seize up. I'm pretty sure this is evidence of freezing.

 

No problems here...maybe due in part to our climate. Depends on where it is shipped from.

 

Like dude I live in California 38* is considered cold here! :laughing::laughing::laughing:

 

No, I'm not talking about keeping the caulk from freezing or even warming it up for use. I'm talking about buying it in August in Texas and finding out when I go to use it that it has been frozen (won't flow or shoots out a watery liquid then clogs up). It was probably old stock from the previous winter. Once I buy it, I keep it in the house if the temp outside is going to get below 40 degrees.

Last August, I bought a case (at HD)and got it home and had problems with the first and second tube. I took it all back and got another case and took it to the paint counter and tried it - it was bad. Another case -pulled one out - it was bad. Scrounged around and found a case with a vastly different lot number and it was O.K.. This isn't the super cheap stuff. It is DAP but it is the 35 year "Alex Fast Dry" "Fast Dry Acrylic Latex Caulk PLus Silicone".

 

sashco big stretch has always been one of my favs, but hard to find locally, so if I run out, dynaflex 230 fits the bill.

 

I have 3 tubes of big stretch but haven't used it yet :laughing:
it's probably no good either it was in unheated storage for half a year

For Mrmac, you can find it locally at Dick's Lumber or Curtis Lumber around here

 

Mrmac - find yourself a commercial caulking supplier.

There are a few good caulks as already mentioned for interior. When it comes to exterior you really need to go commercial grade.

I use mostly dymonic out of a sausage gun for exterior. Tremco will advise you on any special caulking needs. There are actually a lot of different caulks made specifically for certain applications.

One example would be what you would use for wood to brick is different than what you would use for glass to steel.

 

For interior I like the Mono Ultra Trim & Baseboard

At the very least, it's better than Alex :laughing:

 

See if you can order direct through smalley&co. probably add .com to the name and it'll come up I hate dap Sika is good except its a urethane, kinda like playing with bubble gum and it stinks:whistling But Its good... I used to use a brand called "pecora" I think check with smalley. Its cheaper than sika and doesn't stick to everything that walks within 3 feet of it. Nicer tooling than dap I remember and still a latex caulking water base. But Sika is nice, be sure to get the smooth not the grainy if you are trying sika.

 

geocel 2300 or 2320 for exterior, clear or what. great caulk. i don't use it much for interior but then again. I rarely caulk inside. that's the painter's job.

 

geocel 2300 or 2320 for exterior, clear or what. great caulk. i don't use it much for interior but then again. I rarely caulk inside. that's the painter's job.

bump for geocel 2300. also like lexel and sikafelx 1a. problem with all of these in my opinion is cleanup. when i do interior around trim and whatnot i actually don't mind the alex quick dry (for some reason i think it's better than the standard stuff). cleans up/tools really nicely with just a damp sponge and finger.

 

25 yr exp. & still learning.

After reading this thread I'm reminded of a saying an old painter once told me.
" A little putty & a little paint makes a carpenter what he a'nt !!!.":notworthy:notworthy:notworthy

 

Alex sucks. White Lightning is my new favorite.
Steve

 

:thumbsup:

I don't know why, but the stuff is cheap, sticks to everything and is flexable and remains that way. I used to use Alex Plus, then Alex Dynaflex 230, now I only use White Lightning 3006


I get it from Blows as I get it for about $1.50 a tube.

 

Just about all we use is Quad. It is an exterior product and I called the company to see if we could use it indoors. They wouldn't even discuss the option with me. Regardless, we tried it and have had great success with it.

 

I use Big Stretch and PolySeamSeal by the case load...

 

This stuff holds like a sonovabeech

 

There is much more then holding. The caulk NEED to remain flexable other wise it will crack with seasonal movements. I worked for a guy who used nothing but Phenoseal...while it stuck to everything very well, it dried hard as rock and cracked insead of flexing with seasonal movement of the substraights.

This is why I use 3006 or Dap Dynaflex230

 

better than Alex? You understand mrmac that you could open a box of instant oatmeal, eat a bowl.. and your spit would be better than Alex on a good day..

I use Acrylic1 from Glidden Pro stores or some other flavor if I need a heavy heavy duty caulking like the big stretch or quad.

 

Geocel, my favorite for outside caulking, great stuff!!

 

Is it my imagination or do the clear caulks shrink more than the white or other colored caulks? More than once I've accidently grabbed a tube or two of clear when buying less that a case (not very often).

 

I work with all type of caulking in my glass company. What are you caulking? Depending what your doing makes a big difference. Cosmetic, waterproofing, paintable, same substrates or different.

 

I used to use the alex quick dry and still do if I need to paint in the same day and it doesn't shrink as much as regular alex, but recently got a case of shermax and it seems to be OK, nothin special, I hate having to caulk twice due to shrinkage though

 

There's no caulking better than Dow Cornings products. There's a specific type to whatever type of job your doing. No shrinking or cracks with air bubbles being a rare occurrence. Ive used their products to hold glass onto skyscrapers with no other fasteners crazy how different quality caulk is outside the home depot aisle.

.dowcorning.com/applications/search/products/default.aspx?Ntt=Silicone&N=0&Ntx=mode+MatchAllPartial&WT.svl=4&Nty=1&Ntk=ProductFinder_en&bhcp=1

 

To keep caulk from running out, I will release the pressure on the gun, gently squeeze the tube with one hand and then put with my fingertip on the tip of the tube, release pressure on the tube and then remove my finger from the tip. That makes it suck a little air into it. That stops it from running out every time. Gee, I hope I said that right. It has become so second nature with me that I'd almost have to do it to be sure.

 

Cool tip, but too much work for me. LOL....i want it to stop when I hit the release with my thumb and thats it. :laughing:

 

If you figure it out, let us know. It really pisses me off.

 

If you figure it out, let us know. It really pisses me off.

It's the packaging from manufacturer. If you use the sausage gun it'll eliminate all that plus it's cheaper.

 

I use geocel 2300 for anything on a roof. I thought it was a silicon for a long time for some reason. I think a roofer was calling it that.

For interior / exterior, I've been using Porter Top Gun 200, or SW nr4000. Both are about $2 / tube, and are way better than anything you can get at blowes. Alex wipes off my hands with a wet rag. The porter / SW stuff takes some effort.

Hold the caulk on hands jokes