Not Your Father’s
See how composite-based caulk guns present
numerous advantages over traditional metal guns,
making them the obvious choice for professionals.
Caulk Gun
Dripping
Caulking can be a messy job, but it
doesn’t have to be. A number of
factors can lead to dripping, or run-on
of caulking product after use, which,
beyond being a nuisance and a waste
of product, leads to product where it
shouldn’t be and time-consuming and
sometimes costly cleanup. These
factors include the viscosity of the
product, compressibility of the
material, cartridge swelling and more
— none of which are the gun’s fault.
But the gun can be the solution.
Non-drip mechanisms can ensure no
additional product escapes once the
gun trigger is released.
Versatility
Many lower-end caulk guns are
job-specific, but many professionals
need to tackle several different
caulking jobs within a short time, and
time spent locating or switching out
guns is time wasted. Some jobs call
for a non-drip caulk gun, while others
I t’s hard to stand out in the industrial products world. As one of the unsexiest markets around, it becomes easy to see the same type of product as ‘equal’ across many different brands. It’s a sort of ‘a tool is a tool is a tool’ syndrome. This is especially true in commodity industrial product categories like fasteners,
hand tools, gloves and goggles.
This also applies to caulking guns. The common homeowner may not see — or put
any priority on — the differences between a cheap caulk gun they can pick up that the
local hardware store. But any contractor that uses this product on a regular basis can
tell you how the sometimes subtle differences in design, features and materials used
make a world of difference when it comes to comfort, versatility, dependability and
durability that more than make up for a higher price point.
So what are these factors that make it a no-brainer for professionals to pay a little
more for a superior caulking gun? Let’s examine.
“Very impressed. Awesome feature to
adjust flow of trigger. Better than any other
gun I’ve used in over 20 years working on
residential projects. Highly recommend.
And it’s lightweight.”
2016 Amazon review
of Dripless ETS3000
require a continuous flow. For those tackling
jobs with at least some of each need, a gun
that can do both is the ideal solution.
Hand Fatigue
Like a faulty piece of factory equipment, a
tired hand simply can’t function
properly on a caulking job. It leads to
frequent breaks needed, or shoddy
craftsmanship if the user tries to power
through it. Like with dripping, several
elements come into play here: the
design of the gun, its weight, grip and
thrust ratio. Those one-size-fits-all
cheap guns typically make sacrifices on
at least one of these elements,
resulting in hand fatigue. The average
caulking gun found in a store has a
thrust ratio of 6:1, meaning it moves a
lot of product per squeeze, but it takes
a lot of force. That wears a hand out.
The higher the ratio, the easier it is to
push out heavy product.
Durability
Whether you’re a home contractor,
construction worker, maintenance
mechanic or homeowner, there are
numerous ways for your tools to
become damaged and unusable. Like
with most tools, caulk guns are
commonly damaged when dropped
from height, stepped on or run over.
And depending on the material the gun
is made of, often all it takes is one drop
to render a caulk gun inoperable. A
professional needs a caulk gun that can
take some abuse.
Standing Out
There are many caulk gun manufacturers out there, but
a lot of them fall into that ‘a caulk gun is a caulk gun’
syndrome. In many cases their product is made cheaply,
lacks time-saving and comfort-boosting features.
Thanks to a painter from Northern California and
San Francisco-area marketing firm, professionals today
“My first time purchasing the Dripless
ETS2000 was over 15 years ago when I
was painting new construction homes.
That same gun is being used today in my
finishing shop and still performs the same
way it did 15 plus years ago. This is the
only gun that I will ever purchase and the
only one that I found to be truly dripless.
The ETS model guns offer a consistent flow
of material, ease of use and outstanding
durability. The rotating barrel is great to
caulk multiple different angles without
having to rotate the caulk tube. I have since
put more of these caulk guns in the hands
of my employees and will continue to do so
as long as I am in business.”
— Jason Thibodeaux,
Owner of J&M Finishing, LLC
have an excellent choice when it comes to finding a
superior product that meets the challenges those
aforementioned factors present, and then some.
In the late 1980s, Gary Finnegan discovered a
way of stopping product run-on once he released
the trigger of his caulking gun. His new invention
saved valuable time, energy and frustration —
eliminating the cleanup required after use of an
applicator. A marketing firm bought Finnegan’s
patented tool and created Dripless Inc., which took
the original Dripless Caulk Gun nationwide and has
since expanded the line to more than 20 models,
adding more innovations along the way. Among
these innovations is Dripless’ Ergonomic Technology
Series (ETS) — a range of composite caulk guns
engineered for lightweight durability and
ergonomically designed to reduce jobsite fatigue.
So what is it that sets Dripless’ ETS caulk guns
apart in the market?
Composite Material
The composite material that comprises Dripless’ ETS
series caulk guns has numerous advantages over the
steel-based material used in most store-bought guns.
Gun weight is an obvious difference, with the
composite construction of the ETS guns significantly
lighter than common steel guns — sometimes three
times lighter.
Composite material also
makes the ETS guns more
durable. They can take a
beating — they can be
dropped from ladders or even
run over by a pickup truck
— and continue to work
properly. On the other hand,
steel guns are more rigid,
often resulting in one-and-
done accidents that put them
out of commission.
Versatility
The ETS series guns feature a
rotating barrel that helps keep
the bead profile around corners;
a precision cutter and poker
tucked right into the handle; as
well as a high quality peened
rod and a powder metal drive
dog to ensure the gun’s
longevity. The ETS 3000, 5000
and 6000 include a Drip/No
Drip option, allowing the user
control the flow of product as
they work and easily pivot
between application needs with
the flip of a switch.
“I like that I can turn dripless off when I am
using construction adhesive and masonry
sealant, but when I need to use regular old
painters caulk I just turn it back on and
nothing gets on the floor.”
2015 Amazon review
of Dripless ETS3000
The gun-specific applications of
Dripless’ ETS series guns are as follows:
• ETS 1000, 10 oz. — Geared
for the homeowner with a 10:1
thrust ratio, but considerably
tougher and longer lasting than
comparable metal guns
• ETS 2000, 10 oz. — with a medium
12:1 thrust ratio, this is geared for
gunning caulking sealants of all types
• ETS 3000, 10 oz. — with a higher
18:1 thrust ratio, this is great for all
caulk products, and is strong
enough for polyurethane adhesives
and many construction adhesives
• ETS 5000 29 oz. — All the features
of the 3000 with an 18:1 thrust
ratio, but geared for higher-capacity
applications
• ETS 6000, 10 or 20 oz. — Designed
as a professional grade sausage
pack caulker with an 18:1 thrust
ratio, this is suitable for high
viscosity products
• ETS 9000, 10 oz. — Just introduced
in 2017 and delivering a massive
26:1 thrust ratio, it’s perfect for
gunning thick materials, including semi-
frozen tubes
All ETS series guns are lightweight, durable and
feature ergonomically-designed handles and triggers.
“Best gun I have used. Plenty of power to
drive thick product. Don’t let the plastic
construction fool you. Minimizes runout
when you ease off the trigger. Better than
any other gun I have used.”
2016 Amazon review
of Dripless ETS3000
Last but not least, all Dripless caulk guns come in a
signature yellow color, making them highly visible at
the jobsite.
Beyond ETS, Dripless offers other caulk guns that
are consumer grade, contractor grade, high ratio,
bulk load and dual component, along with
accessories and sundry items.
Dripless caulking guns and other products can be
found nationwide at distributors and paint stores
across North America and several other countries.
Visit Dripless.com to find the location nearest you.
ABOUT DRIPLESS
Dripless Inc. (Dripless.com) is a manufacturer of quality
caulking guns, specialty dispensing tools and accessories.
The company was established in Santa Rosa, CA in 1992.
ABOUT THIS REPORT
The information in this report was
researched and produced by
Industrial Distribution in
conjunction with Dripless.
Statistical data was researched
and compiled by Advantage
Business Marketing in April 2018.