silicone sealant - preventing tube end clog

Burnham Bob

Burnham Bob

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I buy tubes of silicone sealant, use a few inches and then next time the end is solid, and i can't get any more out without somehow extracting the solid 'bung' of set sealant.

anyone got any suggestions as to minimising waste, mess and making life easier?
 
The nozzles with screw-on caps are best, but it will still set. Use a thin screwdriver to push the cone of set sealant out of the nozzle.
 
Burnham Bob said:
I buy tubes of silicone sealant, use a few inches and then next time the end is solid, and i can't get any more out without somehow extracting the solid 'bung' of set sealant.

anyone got any suggestions as to minimising waste, mess and making life easier?
Click to expand...

Some of the detachable nozzles come with an end cap, good for a few weeks other wise I usually cover with a bit of insulating tape, also good for a few weeks. Only other solution I have found is buying a bag of new nozzles (Ebay). Leave the old one on after use. Next time you want to use it take the old one off and fit a new nozzle.
 
Burnham Bob said:
I buy tubes of silicone sealant, use a few inches and then next time the end is solid, and i can't get any more out without somehow extracting the solid 'bung' of set sealant.

anyone got any suggestions as to minimising waste, mess and making life easier?
Click to expand...

cartridges with screw on caps help... a little.

I've seen suggestions that storing in the fridge might help too.

Completely excluding moisture should do the trick, so could try storing in a desicator :)
 
I remove the nozzle, place a scrap of freezer bag, or similar, over the hole in the cartridge and then screw it back on .

Lasts a while longer than doing nothing!

I have wondered about storing the whole cartridge and nozzle completely immersed in a sweet jar full of water but the only one we have contains the Old Guvnor's muesli and she [selfishly] won't release it 'for the greater good'.

nb having just read VicS's post it looks as if the sweet jar full of water is a non-starter because he says moisture has to be excluded. Maybe the fridge idea is better because the air in fridges is dryer than outside (I think)
 
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simonfraser said:
why don't they do mini tubes, toothpaste size would do for 90% of my jobs, who uses a full tube ?
Click to expand...

They do sell small tubes, not as small as toothpaste tubes. You can get small tubes of silicon sealant and some types of Sikaflex. Initially it seems an expensive way to buy it but, as the stuff won't keep, it probably works out cheaper in the end. However, silicon sealant is quite cheap, unless you buy a brand with the magic words "Marine ..." .
 
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Spyro said:
Some of the detachable nozzles come with an end cap, good for a few weeks other wise I usually cover with a bit of insulating tape, also good for a few weeks. Only other solution I have found is buying a bag of new nozzles (Ebay). Leave the old one on after use. Next time you want to use it take the old one off and fit a new nozzle.
Click to expand...

I use same principal but take the nozzle off after use and put a bit of klingfilm over the end of the tube to exclude air. I leave the "full" nozzle open to air both ends so it hardens and then pull the plug out with a screw from the wide end.

I am sure the tubes with fixed nozzles are designed that way to sell more sealant.........
 
A tip I picked up from this forum a few years ago was to store these sealants in the freezer as soon as possible after use even though some say 'Do not freeze'. I've used sealant a year after it was originally opened. I do put some cling film round the nozzle first.
 
Coincidental post !! Jusy defrosted the freezer at home and wife said are you going to use these sealants,Yes I replied, have used them successfully 6 months after been put in the freezer.They need moisture to set and in the freezer there is non ,only ice.
 
It's odd that the tiny amount of moisture that enters through the nozzle can soon make the whole tube set hard. Must be some chemical reason for it.

No incentive for the manufacturer to do anything about it though. Wastage is good for business. As Mr Colman, the wealthy mustard sauce manufacturer said, "I made my fortune from what got left on the side of the plate!"
 
They also 'defrost' very quickly - within minutes.

Mrs Dipper is always asking me if I still want them in the freezer. Women seem to think freezers are for storing food. :rolleyes:
 
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