If you have a wood element (painted or not) in your house silicone should never be applied there either. Most any other application is usually fine for silicone caulk though I use it sparingly.
Firstly you need to understand that silicone does not stick to anything other than the adhesive system or the PSA (pressure sensitive adhesive). This means silicone does not interface directly with wood or metal or any other material, instead it interfaces with the PSA itself.
Sometimes known as acrylic latex caulk, this type is best for use with drywall, wood and masonry. It's often called "painter's caulk." This caulk is inexpensive, easy to use, seals well without odors and cleans up easily with water.
However, it is important to be aware that silicone caulk is almost never the right choice for wood. If you are looking to seal wooden joints such as those around many types of windows, here are the problems you will face if you opt to use silicone caulk instead of other options like vinyl latex caulk.
Loctite Polyseamseal Acrylic Caulk with Silicone bonds to wood, drywall, plaster, metals, brick, concrete, and masonry and can be painted within half an hour if you are using latex paint.
There are no guarantees with silicone - it is almost impossible to remove. If the silicone has migrated into the wood through cracks in the old finish, you may not be able to get it all removed.
You can't caulk with silicone when a surface is wet or damp, and it can be hard to ensure that porous materials like wood are truly bone-dry when they often retain moisture for long periods of time.
Sealing joints on a damp surface should be strongly avoided, since silicone sealants generally do not adhere as well to moist substrates. If you want durable joints, never apply sealant in rain, freezing rain, snow or heavy fog.
Generally, silicone RTV mold making rubber does not stick to anything, and nothing will stick to it. The exception is that it will stick to itself, other silicones, silica, and glass.
Acrylic latex exterior caulk is a popular choice for many materials, including metal, wood, and tile, and comes at a decent price. However, like latex caulk, it will shrink during the curing process and doesn't expand or contract in response to temperature change.
To sum up the difference between caulk and wood filler, caulk is to be used to fill in corners and gaps between two materials, whereas wood filler should be used to fill nail holes and other damage on flat wooden surfaces. Wood filler can be sanded and caulking can not.
On the other hand, caulk is terrible for filling nail holes and other holes in wood because over time it will shrink and cause a divot. And wood filler is a terrible choice for filling gaps in trim – it would take forever to apply and sand. But either one in the right situation can be magical!
Painter's caulk adheres to wood, drywall, masonry, and other surfaces. And because it dries to a paintable texture in about an hour, it's a good choice for busy DIYers.
The simple answer is yes, you can use silicone as glue. But you will need to consider how strong you want the bond to be and how much you want to spend on a high-quality silicone before using it to seal and bond.
Ensure Caulk is Cured and Dry
Silicone sealant dries in 30-60 minutes, reducing the risk of smudging or damage to the caulk's surface. However, that is just dry to the touch. You should always wait at least 24 hours before attempting to shower after a caulk installation.
When the caulk gets wet, it will not cure properly. The formula that makes up your caulk will not be able to dry and cure or bond to the surface to that you have applied it. Not being able to dry in a timely manner will prevent the caulk from creating a proper seal.
Silicone is a rubber-like elastomer with high-temperature resistance. It is difficult to bond, and the only adhesives which adhere well are silicone based adhesives and cyanoacrylate adhesive after the silicone has been primed with Permabond POP.
Silicone and Caulk are both commonly used as sealants, but they are not the same thing. Caulk is composed of silicone components but the difference lies in elasticity. Using silicone as a sealant will provide objects with more flexibility; the ability to expand and contract freely.
The key distinction between caulk and sealant? Elasticity. Caulk is typically made from a mixture of latex and acrylic materials, which make it more rigid and prone to shrinking when cured. A sealant offers superior elasticity and water resistance because it primarily contains silicone.
“Silicone” is one type of sealant. There are also acrylic sealants, polyurethane sealants etc. Silicone sealants are the most prevalent type of sealant. [Note that silicones can also be used in other things, such as silicone gel pads and in plastic surgery – these are not called sealants].
Although silicone mold rubber (Mold Max®, OOMOO® and Smooth-Sil®) won't stick to much and has the best release properties of the most common mold making materials used today, it may stick to surfaces with open pores (open grain wood, very dry plaster, concrete, etc.).
A silicone sealant can last anywhere from 10 to 20 years, depending on the quality chosen and the location of the caulking in relation to the elements, such as the sun and high winds. Silicone caulking offers the best resistance to UV rays.
When you remove silicone from wood you can follow many of the same steps as you would for other materials. Use a scrap to remove what you can, then use heat, a sealant removing product, or a damp cloth to help get off any residue. However, with wood, you need to be careful that you don't make things too wet.