diff --git a/src/equipment/point_spray/point_spray.gd b/src/equipment/point_spray/point_spray.gd
index 8cb1c98..28487da 100644
--- a/src/equipment/point_spray/point_spray.gd
+++ b/src/equipment/point_spray/point_spray.gd
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ class_name PointSpray extends Spray
 ## Simple single-point spraygun
 
 @export var spray_scale := 1.5
+@export var damage := 0.3334
 
 @onready var laser: LaserCast = %LaserCast
 
@@ -16,4 +17,4 @@ func _spray() -> void:
 				point, laser.get_collision_normal(), point_scale
 			)
 		if collider is GunkNode:
-			(collider as GunkNode).hit()
+			(collider as GunkNode).hit(damage)
diff --git a/src/equipment/toothbrush/toothbrush.gd b/src/equipment/toothbrush/toothbrush.gd
index 3220bf9..372d65f 100644
--- a/src/equipment/toothbrush/toothbrush.gd
+++ b/src/equipment/toothbrush/toothbrush.gd
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ extends Tool
 const PAINT_COLOR := Color(1, 0, 0, 0.3)
 const BRUSH_SCALE := 0.2
 
+@export var damage := 0.0063  # ~8 seconds to destroy standard nodule
+
 @onready var raycast: RayCast3D = %Raycast
 
 @onready var texture_idle: TextureRect = %TextureIdle
@@ -23,7 +25,7 @@ func _fire() -> void:
 				PAINT_COLOR
 			)
 		if collider is GunkNode:
-			(collider as GunkNode).hit()
+			(collider as GunkNode).hit(damage)
 	else:
 		brush_animation.stop()
 
diff --git a/src/equipment/wide_spray/wide_spray.gd b/src/equipment/wide_spray/wide_spray.gd
index fc9799d..e4bc954 100644
--- a/src/equipment/wide_spray/wide_spray.gd
+++ b/src/equipment/wide_spray/wide_spray.gd
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ class_name WideSpray extends Spray
 const SPRAYCAST_GROUP := "SprayCast"
 
 @export var spray_scale := 1.0
+# NOTE: this is damage _per spray_, so multiply by up to 7 damage per frame depending on spread.
+@export var damage := 0.015
 
 var _horizontal := true
 var _busy := false
@@ -56,7 +58,7 @@ func _spray() -> void:
 				prev_point = point
 				prev_normal = normal
 			elif collider is GunkNode:
-				(collider as GunkNode).hit()
+				(collider as GunkNode).hit(damage)
 
 
 func _on_animation_finished(anim_name: StringName) -> void:
diff --git a/src/world/gunk_node/grunk_nodule.gd b/src/world/gunk_node/grunk_nodule.gd
index e594d9f..8447a27 100644
--- a/src/world/gunk_node/grunk_nodule.gd
+++ b/src/world/gunk_node/grunk_nodule.gd
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@ extends GunkNode
 @onready var mesh_instance: MeshInstance3D = %MeshInstance3D
 
 
-func _process(_delta: float) -> void:
+func _process(delta: float) -> void:
+	super._process(delta)
 	var shader: ShaderMaterial = mesh_instance.mesh.surface_get_material(0)
 	var value := _sustained_damage / durability
 	shader.set_shader_parameter("jitter_time_scale", value * jitter_scale_factor)
diff --git a/src/world/gunk_node/gunk_node.gd b/src/world/gunk_node/gunk_node.gd
index 5aad6d9..4c03eeb 100644
--- a/src/world/gunk_node/gunk_node.gd
+++ b/src/world/gunk_node/gunk_node.gd
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ class_name GunkNode extends StaticBody3D
 ## but before it's removed from the scene tree
 signal destroyed
 
-const JITTER_FADE_RATE := 0.6
+const JITTER_FADE_RATE := 0.8
 
 ## Time in seconds the player must hit this node with a sustained beam before it's destroyed.
 @export var durability := 1.0
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@ var _hit_this_frame := false
 ## Called each frame this node takes a hit.
 ##
 ## Derived types should override `_hit()` as a lifecycle method.
-func hit() -> void:
+func hit(damage: float = 0.05) -> void:
+	_sustained_damage += damage
 	_hit_this_frame = true
 	_hit()
 
@@ -29,10 +30,8 @@ func _hit() -> void:
 	pass  # Implemented in derived type
 
 
-func _physics_process(delta: float) -> void:
-	if _hit_this_frame:
-		_sustained_damage += delta
-	else:
+func _process(_delta: float) -> void:
+	if not _hit_this_frame:
 		_sustained_damage *= JITTER_FADE_RATE
 	_hit_this_frame = false