I just got a copy of Defender's 2001 catalog in the mail and noticed in their section on caulking materials that they had empty caulking cartidges for sale. I think thery were under a dollar. I'm sure such things are available at paint or hardware stores -- if not on a regular basis, then on special order.

The question is, then: Has anyone tried using a caulking gun and a clean cartridge filled with thickened epoxy for making small fillets?

My thought is that the tip of the cartridge tube would be cut so that the bead that was applied would be smoothed as it went on, in much the same way that caulking materials are put on. The tip looks like it is a polyetylene type plastic so it should slide over the epoxy fairly well. Besides, it gets replaced when you go on to the next tube.

A tube of caulking gives a bead that can go for 20 to 30 feet. With this in mind, you would need one empty cartridge for each full-length seam on a S&G boat. Add on a couple more for fillets on bulkheads.

This *should* be a neat process. Mix the filler and resin, spoon it into the tube, tap the tube to relace big air bubbles, and press in the end cap on the cartridge. Drop the cartridge in your caulking gun, and away you go. When the filler runs out you dump the cartridge, mess and all.

PGJ