The Newborn 188 Super Ratchet Rod Cradle caulking gun has a steel half-barrel frame that fits 1/10-gal. cartridges and has a 6:1 thrust ratio for use with medium viscosity materials such as silicone. The ratchet-style pressure rod has teeth that hold the rod in place after each pull of the trigger. For thinner materials, this helps minimize drips. There is a welded plate in the back for securing the cartridge in place. The hook on the back allows it to hang on a ladder, and a seal puncture tool and a spout cutter are built into the side of the gun for opening cartridges without a knife.

Caulking guns, also called caulk or cartridge guns, dispense a controlled flow of products such as caulk, sealants, and adhesives from a tube or cartridge. A manual caulking gun consists of a frame which holds the tube, a trigger, and a rod which moves forward when the trigger is depressed, dispensing the product. Manual caulking guns have a thrust ratio; the higher the thrust ratio, the easier it is to dispense the caulk, sealant, or adhesive. Air-powered or pneumatic caulking guns also have a frame and a trigger, but are used with an air pressure regulator that pushes the product from the tube using air pressure instead of a rod.

Newborn Brothers Company, Inc. manufactures sealant and adhesive dispensers and accessories. The company was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in Jessup, MD.