siliconing technique...

[Ian]

I think the key to a good Silicon bead is getting the right amount out of the tube first, a good siliconer (?) will have to do very little to profile it after, hardly any waste either.

 

[kilty55]

thats it mate the guy has zero waste

 

[andy8758]

Practice. Cutting the right profile on the Silicon tube tip. Practice. Water or better still w/up liquid and water. Practice. Use any profile that gives a consistent sealed bead (including your finger). Practice. Practice. practice. I bet Phil Hobson is the best siliconer here - he's gotta have been practicing for the last 50 years.

 

[Rookery]

I use my finger (slightly wet) for smaller beads & I have an old credit card that I've cut in all 4 corners to different profiles for larger beads where required

Is it an American Express card, so you can do the job quicker? :smilewinkgrin:

 

[Peter]

Some days I'm a master of Silicon and other days it needs hoked out and redone. :lol:

A lot of it seems to come from how neatly you get it out of the tube to start with, if you have a nice clean bead then you're flying. I tend to have a lot of waste with the Silicon tools, but as long as it's neat then I don't mind. They're hard to judge as you either seem to have far too much or far too little. Some low modulus is great, you don't even need a shaper.

Find that Mr Muscle is better than Fairy and dries off walls/joints more naturally too.

 

[charlie1]

I use wickes rubber profiling tool, it's shaped in such a way that if you turn it you can get pretty much any size profile you like. Apply, spray, profile. Always Silicon from bottom up, ie, do floors, then shower tray, then bath then last, do the corners, tis way your not adding moisture to anywhere that's not been sealed.

 

[One Day]

I've found that the quality of Silicon is the number 1 key. 2nd is getting a good end on the tip.
9 out of 10 I can now not bother tooling the bead but if I do it's just the old Karl Dahm set, used dry and cleaned up with wonder wipes afterwards.

Oh, and a skeleton gun you can trust too! I have an old rusty one which I keep alive with wd40 - somehow it just works better than any others I've tried!

 

[Peter]

Funny that, I can read my own Silicon gun like a second hand novel but when I use someone else's it can feel very vague.

 

[PaulSmith]

Masking tape with water and washing up liquid. Once tape is removed, go over once with wet finger.

 

[prceramics]

i use my finger and have wet wipes to hand so you do not need to lick your finger then use them to clean off, stops bacteria getting into the Silicon, and also stops the Silicon getting in your mouth as it causes cancer i hear .

 

[widler]

Finger,if i take my time its very neat, i go around all bath /shower at once then use my finger and bacteria,better finish with bacteria.
Im kinda joking there,how in the gods do u all know bacteria makes it go gar gar, seriously you lads would believe owt.
I want scientific proof,its goes mouldy cos of constantly wet nowt to do with bacteria
jesus h Christ

 

[Qwerty]

Seriously widler, mould on Silicon is nearly always due to the old "saliva wipe" technique.

The most common type of bacteria found in saliva is Streptococcus. People typically have Streptococcus in their mouths living benignly, although certain species are responsible for diseases such as strep throat, meningitis and bacterial pneumonia. Now tell me how that wouldn't cause mould (bacteria). Bacteria multiplies in damp and warm conditions i.e bathrooms!!

I will stick to my forming tools and fairy liquid thanks!

 

[widler]

So if that was the case wouldnt it grow everywhere in bathrooms ? I mean, its only usually around the wet areas is it not ?
I re did my ensuite last year ( or maybe the year before) with the Silicon things and a spray, not any saliva , guess what ,its still mouldy around the wet areas in the showers, not in the corners mind just where its wet.
When i did my kitchen with me fingers and saliva its got mouldy around my sink no doubt about it but everywhere else not a bit.
Seriously mate we aint flippin komodo dragons folk read stuff and believe it to be true when in fact using saliva does not make a iota of difference in wet areas.
Ps im not saying we don't have bacteria in our mouths, jeez ive had enough coldsores offa dirty women but it being the reason it makes Silicon mouldy

 

[Qwerty]

Ok widler. Im speaking from both experience with Silicon and also when I have attended mapei hq in Halesowen where I discussed this matter with the technical guys there. Here is a link to an Aussie Silicon company that specifically mention saliva in their technical specs!

http://www.insulationindustries.com.au/SiteFiles/insulationindustries2010comau/770data.pdf

Do you just disbelieve that it encourages mould growth or do you have any evidence it doesn't?

 

[widler]

Oh jesus h christ, forget it,i have proved it will grow with or without it,with using your finger and with using fairy.
If a bit of bacteria makes it happen quicker then maybe it does but even wonder Silicon with fabulous mould resistant technology with grow mould in a short while.
Its blocko aint it?
Listen bud why dont you do a test piece( i did un beknown to me) i know some of you wonder tilers like your little tests, and come back in 12 months time,pm me with pics .
Thats me done on this one, come back in 12 months with your finding prof