Silicone sealing

[Ali]

Just given the bath an annual tidy up, need a lie down in a dark room now. My attempts with a silicone gun are much like my welding - I can lay down 12 inches perfectly, then have to change position or release the trigger and stuff up the good bit trying to make the messed up bit tidy. No matter what - bog roll, baby wipes, soapy water, special tool, expensive silicone - forget it.

That’s about the tidyest bit. Otherwise

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Use flat side first to force silicone in.
Flip and finish
Don't bother with water/fairy as a release agent anymore.
Just makes touching up errors hard

 

[rikrobson]

i just run a wet finger over it and it looks fine usually. you can get special "spatulas" to run over it just after you have applied it.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Survey says no
To Wet finger

 

[cheb]

I smooth it down with my finger but I wear a lightly wetted nitrile glove.

 

[daleyd]

After a recommendation on here I got the Cramer fugi kit the @eLuSiVeMiTe posted above - excellent finish around the shower, I’ve always used the wet finger method previously but this really is a step above.

 

[brightspark]

masking tape on the wall then on the bath or shower gun it in .run over with middle finger then pull it off .perfect results every time

 

[decca]

Masking tape along top and bottom edge at the width you want the fillet, put the silicone along the joint, wipe with finger, remove the tape while still wet. Job done to perfection.

 

[decca]

masking tape on the wall then on the bath or shower gun it in .run over with middle finger then pull it off .perfect results every time

Just beat me to it by a second.

 

[Parm]

Masking tape along top and bottom edge at the width you want the fillet, put the silicone along the joint, wipe with finger, remove the tape while still wet. Job done to perfection.

Just wot I was gonna say. Works every time for those of us that aren’t professional mastic appliers

 

[sg66]

Angle cut on end of nozzle to required width, put down a bead, don't worry about relocating gun just make sure no gap, get a tin of pledge, spray the lot, go over once with finger to take off excess, walk away and go back next day with cloth to wipe up excess Polish.

Works with frame sealant and mastic too. Soon as excess starts to come our spray the lot, tighten up, spray the lot, scrape off with plastic scraper etc.

I have spent half my life doing silicone and mastic.

 

[brightspark]

I sometimes just run it down one handed . the trick is don't stop or p...ss about and u get a good even finish I caulk down the edges a lot of mini trunking so had plenty of practice on uneven surfaces you can watch the sealant go in under the tip and gauge how fast and how hard to pull to fill the void evenly

 

[Ali]

I’m writing all this down for next time...I’m pretty good at taking it off now

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

I’m writing all this down for next time...I’m pretty good at taking it off now

I clean with upvc solvent cleaner
Run a decent bead then use the applicators I posted above use the flat side first then the angled side
Bone dry no fairy.
Tried all sorts over the years. This works best.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

I’m writing all this down for next time...I’m pretty good at taking it off now

 

[Ali]

Thanks, will have a watch later. Came across a skill builder vid using that tool you mentioned but I wasn’t too impressed, not sure the guy using it knew what he was doing.

Most of what I’ve done round the bath isn’t a right angle, it’s against a profiled seal. It’s a good seal but I’m kind of double insuring against the kids jumping up and down and splashing everywhere. In hindsight masking it might be better for this job but I think I tried that years ago and it didn’t work at the time. Re: cleaning, another parallel with welding...

 

[sg66]

I came across a rep doing a demo of the plastic things, against tiles and a flat surface, I just laughed, I made him an offer, I said I would buy all his stock if he was quicker and better than a tin of pledge and a finger, I was finished, sprayed and excess removed before he had done a third, he had ridges that still needed smoothing over.

Needless to say It didn't cost me a penny but he said it was aimed more at diy folk. Well don't peddle it in a plumbers merchants.

 

[Nomad]

I used to use masking tape, now converted to shaped silicone "tools" (same as above, but £3 from the local cheap shop). Personal choice, I've tied soft tools and hard plastic versions, I prefer the soft type. A kit with a narrow tool to fit behind taps is useful. Always use anti-fungal/mould silcone for bathrooms / kitchens. Be prepared, get lots of kitchen roll and a bin bag. For baths, half-fill with water before starting and leave overnight to set.
Apply a lot of silicone for a couple of feet, hold the tool at 90* to the joint and use it to scrape off surplus silicone and leave a neat profile. Wipe tool clean with kitchen towel etc. Repeat until done.
When done, have a coffee (5-10 mins) then use UPVC solvent cleaner to wipe off any smears.
Pro tip : if you have a large gap to fill (behind bath etc) jam some kitchen roll etc in to make a foundation otherwise you end up using gallons of silicone to fill the void.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

I came across a rep doing a demo of the plastic things, against tiles and a flat surface, I just laughed, I made him an offer, I said I would buy all his stock if he was quicker and better than a tin of pledge and a finger, I was finished, sprayed and excess removed before he had done a third, he had ridges that still needed smoothing over.

Needless to say It didn't cost me a penny but he said it was aimed more at diy folk. Well don't peddle it in a plumbers merchants.

A rep. You beat a rep. well done
Now race someone who uses them daily in their trade and compare the results in 6 months time.

A squirt bottle with diluted fairy does a better job as a release agent

Being a plumber doesn't instantly make you good at sealing.
Seen some horrors in my time.

These days I leave a day on my price for cleaning and sealing. Not a job to rush for a quality finish.

 

[Kayos]

I dont mask but I use a tool to get it a nice even shape, clean the excess with screwfix wipes