The $14 harbor freight caulk smoother that fixed my trim work

I spent 14 bucks on one of those little silicone caulk tools after fighting with my finger for years. First try on the bathroom baseboards in Seattle and it came out cleaner than anything I'd done before. My finger method left these weird dips that I'd always have to sand and redo, this thing just glides over the bead. Ended up redoing all the trim in the hallway last weekend, about 30 linear feet, and it took half the time. Anyone else use those things or am I late to the party? Curious if the metal ones are worth the extra cash.

2 comments

2 Comments

carr.luna1d ago

Different strokes, I guess. I tried one of those silicone things after my brother swore by it, and it just made a mess on my baseboards. The bead came out uneven and I ended up scraping it all off and using my thumb, which I've been doing for fifteen years and can do in my sleep. Those plastic tips flex too much for my liking, so you can't get consistent pressure. Metal ones are probably better for a harder edge, but at that point, just learn to use your finger and save the cash. Good that it works for you, though, my thumb is just more reliable for me.

wade_anderson19h ago

Ha, my thumb leaves trails that look like a worm had a seizure, so ANY tool is an upgrade for me. Sounds like you've got the magic touch though, I'll keep my $14 crutch.