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If you do a fair amount of caulking, there’s only one answer to worn-out wrists – a cordless caulking gun. That said, with quite a few different models on the market, it can be difficult to choose the right one for you. To help you, we took a close look at some of the main products available in the market.
Long story short, the DeWalt DCE560D1 cordless caulking gun is our favorite. It is relatively lightweight and equipped with a variable speed trigger that allows for applying just the right amount of caulk depending on the situation.
Top Pick
DeWalt DCE560D1 20V MAX Cordless Caulking Gun
A user-friendly cordless caulking gun. Features a quick-change canister system and an LED work light.
My top choice is the DeWalt DCE560D1 20V MAX Cordless Caulking Gun, which is equipped with a variable speed trigger, allowing you to adjust depending on the project at hand. This will prevent overflow and creating a mess so, in the long run, it will save you adhesive.
Moreover, it even has an anti-drip feature to prevent such accidents. This anti-drip feature retracts the plunging rod automatically so that the adhesive flow is completely controlled.
If you want to make a quick change between different canister sizes, it has a quick-connect design that allows better productivity and usability. The cordless caulking gun will take up to 10 ounces or 300 ml of any adhesive.
What I like about this cordless tool is that it has an LED light, which is useful when you’re working in difficult positions and low-light situations. As with most cordless tools, it has a hanging hook for convenient storage.
The tool has a max speed of 21 inches per minute and weighs just 4 pounds, so it’s not too heavy to carry around. The caulking gun comes ready to use with a 20V MAX lithium-ion battery and a charger. It is backed by a 3-year limited warranty.
For more information, read my full DCE560 review.
Things I Like About This Product: Aside from the variable speed trigger, it has an LED work light for low-light situations.
Things to Keep in Mind Before Buying This Product: It doesn’t come with a hard storage case.
Runner-Up
Milwaukee 2641-20 M18 Caulk Gun
A solid caulking gun that sports a sausage barrel for carrying extra adhesive among other convenient features.
The next unit on my list is the Milwaukee 2641-20 M18 Caulk Gun, which has a 10-ounce capacity. Like my top pick, it has a variable speed trigger to adjust the flow rate depending on your project material. It even has controls for the bead width. Moreover, the all-metal gears on this caulking gun will deliver up to 950 pounds of dispensing force.
When it comes to conserving adhesive, this pistol-grip caulking gun has an anti-drip mechanism when you release the trigger, ensuring that each use will maximize the caulk without any waste. With its 6-speed dial, you have up to 21 inches per minute (IPM) of flow rate depending on your needs.
Using its Constant Flow Technology, the beads remain the same throughout use of all viscosity levels. If you prefer to use a sausage barrel, this caulking gun also accepts up to 20 ounces thanks to its rotating quick-change collar.
It even accepts a 10-ounce carriage or a quart-size type. Spanning at 18.5 inches in length and weighing 4.9 pounds, this cordless caulking gun is backed by a 5-year limited warranty.
Things I Like About This Product: The caulking gun has an anti-drip mechanism and is also compatible with a sausage barrel for carrying extra adhesive.
Things to Keep in Mind Before Buying This Product: The caulking gun is a little on the heavy side when compared to others of the same specs.
Budget-Friendly Option
Ryobi P310G 18V Pistol Grip Power Caulk and Adhesive Gun
A lightweight and easy to hold caulking gun. Great for weekend warriors and beginners.
With up to 500 pounds of pushing force, the Ryobi P310G 18V Pistol Grip Power Caulk and Adhesive Gun is a 10-pound carriage tool that will dispense up to 200 tubes of caulk on a single charge. When it comes to design, it has a balanced weight and an ergonomic handle which makes it easy for anyone to carry around.
As with most cordless caulking guns, it has a variable speed feature to work on different bead sizes without affecting productivity. Since it has an on-board puncture tool, you’ll be able to multitask on the jobsite (or while making home repairs). This will come in handy if you need to break the tube seal in an emergency.
What I like about this caulking gun is that it only weighs 3.70 pounds, so it’s not something too difficult to handle, especially for long hours. The GRIPZONE over-mold makes handling this caulking gun convenient for hours of sealing.
As with many power tools out there, it has a switch lock that will prevent accidental start-ups. As well, it has a durable all-metal manual plunger rod with a hook end to change out tubes simply.
Things I Like About This Product: It is lightweight and has a comfortable grip. There’s also a switch lock to prevent accidental start-up.
Things to Keep in Mind Before Buying This Product: The plunger could be better designed to avoid a buildup of caulk at the backside of the tube.
Premium Option
Albion E18T600 Cordless Multi-Component Cartridge Epoxy Adhesive Gun
A powerful caulking gun with a quick charge and a convertible design to work with different mix ratios.
For heavy-duty purposes, the Albion E18T600 Cordless Multi-Component Cartridge Epoxy Adhesive Gun is a powerful choice. This portable caulking gun has a 1:1 mix ratio with 950-pound thrust and 167-psi pressure. It also comes with the accessories necessary for converting the caulking gun into a 2:1 mix ratio (300 x 150 ml) to meet different needs.
On trigger release, there’s an instant drive disengagement that allows you to control the flow of your adhesive. It also bears a lightweight and ergonomic design with drip-free mechanics to avoid wasting caulk.
It has a quick 30-minute charger to increase productivity on the jobsite. The variable speed dial is easy to use due to its convenient location. And because it has no motor oscillation, it will keep the flow of the adhesive as constant as possible.
The gear case is quite durable as well. I also like that it has a fuel gauge so you’ll know when to charge the unit to avoid ruining the battery (and the tool).
Things I Like About This Product: It has a convertible design that allows you to vary between 1:1 and 2:1 mix ratio. It also charges quickly (as fast as 30 minutes) to help you get more work done.
Things to Keep in Mind Before Buying This Product: Since it’s for larger projects, it doesn’t work with 200 ml tubes, it’s only compatible with cartridges up to 400 ml and above.
Worth Considering
Makita XGC01T1 18V Cordless Caulk and Adhesive Gun Kit
Another powerful caulking gun with a strong dispensing force and a 360-degree holder.
If you’re a fast worker, the Makita XGC01T1 18V Cordless Caulk Adhesive Gun Kit is for you since it has a flow rate of up to 66 IPM. The flow rate is adjustable between five speeds using the onboard dial. Because it dispenses up to 1,100 pounds of force, it can handle troublesome adhesives and sealants that have higher viscosities.
What’s more, it has a drip reduction feature to keep your work area mess-free since it automatically relieves pressure after trigger release. The cartridge holder of this caulking gun will hold up to 300 ml or 10-ounce cartridges. What’s more, the holder is rotatable up to 360 degrees to allow flexibility on the job site.
With a size of 15-7/8 inches and a weight of 5.1 pounds (with battery), this heavy-duty caulking gun is powered by an 18V LXT Lithium-Ion 5.0Ah battery. It already comes with a charger and bag so it’s ready to be used on the job site.
I also like that it comes with a built-in LED light to illuminate your work area. Another safety feature that I found useful is the overload indicator, which alerts you if the tool is nearly overloaded to protect the sealant cartridge.
Things I Like About This Product: It has a strong dispensing force and a 360-degree holder.
Things to Keep in Mind Before Buying This Product: The carbon fiber plunger could be better, to avoid creating any further mess.
Worth Considering
Dianamix 20V Cordless Caulking Gun
A mighty caulking gun with an LED light and a rotatable barrel for difficult caulking positions. Ideal for heavy-duty tasks.
With a 2-inch diameter aluminum barrel, the Dianamix 20V Cordless Caulking Gun has up to 23 IPM of speed and a dispensing force of up to 1,250 pounds, making it ideal for heavy projects. It is compatible with up to 20 ounces or 600 ml sized cartridges and sausages barrels.
For better force, it includes two pistons. The switch trigger is easy to locate while the LED light will help in low-light situations. The 6-speed dial is conveniently located on the side of the tool to adjust for different projects. It also has a smart anti-drip function in which the plunger rod automatically retracts after the release of the switch trigger.
The caulking gun has a 360-degree rotatable barrel that keeps an even bead size and orientation, which is ideal for difficult positions, such as corners. If you intend to use a sausage setup, it will fit 400 to 600 ml cartridges.
As for this cordless caulking gun’s lithium-ion battery, it has five to six hours of operation on a single charge. It is backed by a 1-year warranty (and limited lifetime warranty upon registration of the product).
Things I Like About This Product: It comes with an LED work light and is compatible with sausage barrel setups. It also has a rotatable barrel for difficult caulking positions.
Things to Keep in Mind Before Buying This Product: Fitting the cartridge kit into the metal holder takes a bit of a learning curve.
Worth Considering
DeWalt DCE580B 20V MAX Cordless Caulking Gun
A powerful and user-friendly caulking gun that can handle the tough tasks.
Made with a variable speed trigger, the DeWalt DCE580B 20V MAX Cordless Caulking Gun is a sausage pack for heavy-duty jobs, since it will take 300 to 600 ml cartridge sizes. Like many of my picks here, it has an anti-drip feature in which the plunging rod is automatically retracted.
Switching between canister sizes is also a breeze thanks to the quick-connect trays on this caulking gun. It has an LED light to help you work in dim areas of the jobsite (or when making home repairs). For storage, there’s a hanging hook on the caulking gun to keep it properly organized in your garage.
Because this allows you to change the plunger to make it compatible with smaller tubes, this will be quite flexible for both small and big jobs. The tool weighs 4.9 pounds and has a caulking speed of up to 21 IPM. It is backed by a 3-year limited warranty.
Things I Like About This Product: It will accept 300 and 600 ml cartridge sizes, allowing you to use both standard and sausage setups to vary between projects. It also has an LED light for working in low-light conditions.
Things to Keep in Mind Before Buying This Product: You have to buy the battery and charger separately.
The Methodology: What I Considered When Picking the Cordless Caulking Guns Featured Above
Do you want to know how I came up with the list above? To choose the best cordless caulking guns, you should consider the following:
Tool Weight and Comfort
Usually, cordless caulking guns weigh somewhere between 3 and 4 pounds. Having a lightweight yet durable caulking gun is important because it will decrease your hand and wrist fatigue at the end of the day. No one likes working with achy hands and having a comfortable caulking gun will give you some relief from that.
Moreover, an ergonomic grip on the caulking gun will help you to keep a stable hand, reducing and even avoiding errors altogether when applying your adhesive or sealant.
Speed
The speed of a caulking gun is measured in inches per minute (IPM) wherein the norm is up to 21 IPM. It also helps that a cordless caulking gun has a variable speed feature to make it adaptable to any situation or project. In most cases, the variable speed will also affect the bead size of the caulking gun.
Usually, variable speed features are adjustable using an on-board dial. Typically, you’ll have five or six settings for the caulking gun. The Makita XGC01T1 18V Cordless Caulk Adhesive Gun Kit has up to 66 IPM so it’s more suitable for urgent or quick jobs.
Cartridge Capacity
Most battery-powered caulking guns will accept 10-ounce cartridges (300 ml). However, if you need a sausage barrel setup for bigger projects, you need a caulking gun that will take up to 20 ounces, or 600 ml. You should know first whether you’ll only need a 10-ounce caulking gun for casual use or if you’ll need to use a sausage barrel for heavy-duty tasks.
There are, however, some caulking guns that have a convertible design that allows you to use both typical sizes of caulk cartridges, such as the Albion E18T600 Cordless Multi-Component Cartridge Epoxy Adhesive Gun and the DeWalt DCE580B 20V MAX Cordless Caulking Gun. These models are recommended for when you’re working on a jobsite or if you have a business.
Dispensing Force
The dispensing force is measured in pounds and affects your productivity if you’re working with stubborn adhesives and sealants. You will get somewhere between 900 and 1,300 pounds of dispensing force for the average cordless caulking gun. If you know that your caulk is very high in viscosity, consider a higher dispensing force for that.
Usability
Usability should be a great consideration in any DIY tool – caulking guns with a simple variable speed trigger and easy setup will save you time and boost productivity. Even if you’ve never done caulking before, it should be hassle-free to load and aim versus a manual caulking gun.
Anti-Drip Feature
The majority of cordless caulking guns on the market today have an anti-drip feature. One problem that occurs in manual caulking guns is the excessive mess. Battery-operated caulking guns, on the other hand, prevent this mess from happening due to the plunger’s automated design. This not only avoids the mess but also conserves adhesive to avoid wasting money and material.
Battery
As these caulking guns are battery-operated, I recommend getting a tool that’s powered by lithium-ion so it holds a charge longer and will have no “memory effect” that will slowly drain its charge when not in use. Not to mention, lithium-ion charges faster than traditional Ni-Cad batteries.
LED Work Light
An LED work light is useful for dim situations, whether you’re making repairs at home or doing work on the jobsite. Fortunately, many cordless caulking guns on the market have this work light as not to compromise accuracy when aiming your tool.
Summary
As a whole, the DeWalt DCE560D1 20V MAX Cordless Caulking Gun is my top choice due to its quick-change canister system, just-right weight, and LED work light. The second product on my list is the Milwaukee 2641-20 M18 Caulk Gun, which is sausage barrel-compatible. My budget pick is the Ryobi P310G 18V Pistol Grip Power Caulk and Adhesive Gun, which is lightweight and easy to hold for beginners and weekend warriors.
For those who want a convertible unit for different projects, especially heavy-duty needs, the Albion E18T600 Cordless Multi-Component Cartridge Epoxy Adhesive Gun, and the DeWalt DCE580B 20V MAX Cordless Caulking Gun are great picks for you.
If you want something with a strong dispensing force, the Makita XGC01T1 18V Cordless Caulk and Adhesive Gun Kit is a great choice (1,100 pounds), as well as the Dianamix 20V Cordless Caulking Gun (1,250 pounds). These will work best for heavy-duty jobs, especially if your adhesive or sealant is high in viscosity.