Latex Painters caulk can be applied pretty much in the same way you would applly spackle. Here's a few things I do to make seams easier.
1. When constructing flats if there are internal seams, for flats taller than 8' or wider than 4' I typically take a grinder, with a sanding wheel on it, and make a small
channel rignt down the center of the seam. Depending on you favorite method then fill the
channel. I prefer Bondo, but that is not always a viable solution as regards toxicity, and vapors. If you use caulk, just run a thin bead down the center of the
channel then using a
putty knife, or a plastic squeegee,
the kind used for appying decals and vinyl signs that has been dipped in water, smooth the caulk into the
channel just like spackle. The nice thing about caulk is you can then move the
flat realitvely quickly to lean it against the wall
etc. With spackle and to a lesser extent bondo, you must be much mor careful not to flex the
flat too much or the spackle will crack, bondo is a
bit more plastic but not much.
2. I also like to grind/
round over the outside edges of hard flats. then make sure they are smooth. This way when stood up and put together it will give you a much easier area to fill with caulk. It's easier to fill a big gap then it is to fill a micro mini gap.
3. Cool things about caulk ;
a. Once applied it's easy to slice the seam with a razor knife then re-assemble the flats onstage < if you
build in a set-up floor then transport to the
theatre.>
b. It cleans up with water. Bondo does not, Spackle does but it clogs your sink, and once hard sanding is the only way to get it off.
c. When finished with a production, Latex Painters caulk will "peel" right off the side / seam of the
flat it's been applied to, sometimes you might need a knife but mostly it zips right off.
d. when applied it cleans up with water. I like to keep a rag with me as I'm seaming, if you get little beads to the outside of your squeegee / knife or you accidentally get some caulk where you didn't want it, a quick rub with a damp cloth takes it right off.
e. Caulk sticks to more surfaces than spackle does. You can use latex caulk on plastics, laminates, wood, metal, Electircal cables < No don't it pisses off the electricians.>
f. It's waterproof when "dry" < it doesn't really dry so much as set-up"> which is why it's a primary component of
VSSSD.
Hope that helps.
