Keeping adhesives from drying out after opening.

[Dan in Pasadena]

For caulk or construction adhesive tubes I‘ve had great success rolling up those cheap disposable earplugs & push em into the nozzle.

Seems like a good idea. But having used those earplugs many times I don't THINK they totally exclude all air though.

 

[Hal]

Buy the absolute smallest container you can, even if it costs more. You have a better chance of using it up before it goes bad.

 

[PugetDude]

Buy the absolute smallest container you can, even if it costs more. You have a better chance of using it up before it goes bad.

I have never understood this logic. Why would you pay more for a smaller container of anything?

 

[4xdog]

I have never understood this logic. Why would you pay more for a smaller container of anything?

I hear ya, @PugetDude. But for a product like POR-15, unless one is gonna use it up fairly quickly, the small cans are the cheaper route despite their higher unit cost.

 

[PugetDude]

I hear ya, @PugetDude. But for a product like POR-15, unless one is gonna use it up fairly quickly, the small cans are the cheaper route despite their higher unit cost.

I understand unit cost, but paying more for a pint than a quart ( or 125ml vs 250ml for the rest of the world) makes absolutely no sense to me. At least with the larger container you aren't going to run out and you'll stand a chance of using it later.

 

[Sumboodie]

I have those caulk condoms, but they got brittle and cracked just sitting in the container in my garage.

Odd. I have a case that's going on 10 years old and they are fine.

 

[Dagny]

long screw or nail then 33 or 88 electric tape.

 

[WordMan]

I have never understood this logic. Why would you pay more for a smaller container of anything?

When you're dealing with a product like POR15, many adhesives, etc, which absolutely will go bad once you have opened them, paying a bit more per ounce for a smaller container saves you money in the long run when you don't throw large amounts of it away.

 

[nbpt100]

When you're dealing with a product like POR15, many adhesives, etc, which absolutely will go bad once you have opened them, paying a bit more per ounce for a smaller container saves you money in the long run when you don't throw large amounts of it away.

If it were something that spoils in your refrigerator in 10 days more people would get it.

 

[PugetDude]

If it were something that spoils in your refrigerator in 10 days more people would get it.

Nope. The original assertion was that it makes sense to buy the smaller container “even If it costs more”
To phrase it in your terms….
Cottage cheese… small size sells for $1.00
Large size selling for $.89. Neither one has a specified shelf life. You don’t know how long it is going to take for your family to consume it. Which one do you buy ?

 

[4xdog]

I understand unit cost, but paying more for a pint than a quart ( or 125ml vs 250ml for the rest of the world) makes absolutely no sense to me. At least with the larger container you aren't going to run out and you'll stand a chance of using it later.

It comes down to likely wasted product.

If we stay with POR-15 as an example, a quart (32oz, 946mL) of the standard glossy black rust-resistant coating costs $60, or $1.88/oz. A pint (16oz, 473mL) costs $39, or $2.44/oz. The form I buy, 6 x 4oz cans (24oz, 710mL) costs $67, or $2.79/oz.

If one is going to use it all pretty quickly, get the quart. Or even a gallon. But for the projects where I use POR-15 I rarely use even a full 4oz can, and that only once a year or so. I'd end up wasting 80% or 90% of that quart can. That means I'd be paying at least 3x - 4x more for the quart than the tiny cans when waste is considered. The little cans are the best choice for the way I use POR-15.

 

[MrSurly]

When storing the POR 15 or other coatings in 'paint-cans' use saran wrap but use a large enough piece that you can put the wrap inside the can, directly on the POR or paint so that there is a barrier between the paint and the air in the can. Once you have 'skinned' it with the Saran Wrap, the lid seal is pretty much irrelevant, as long as the can doesn't get moved or stirred.

 

[zak77]

Blue painters tape for tubes of caulk. I've tried everything and the tape trick seems to be just as good as anything else but an added bonus is when you cut the tip off a little too much but you need a small bead, the tape creates a "new, fine-tipped" nozzle.

 

[great white tj]

Will those things work on Gorilla Glue or super glue? I have learned to never buy a large container because you never get to use half of it.

I keep my Gorilla Glue in a window sill, it will not yellow and I found that it will last longer if I do this. I had a little bottle in a drawer for some time and turned in to a rock....

 

[kelpaso1]

I have a hand operated vacuum pump and adaptors and use masonry jar.

https://www.foodsaver.com/parts-accessories/jar-bottle-sealers/foodsaver-jar-sealing-kit-with-wide-mouth-jar-sealer-regular-jar-sealer-and-accessory-hose-white/SAP_FCARWJAH000.html

 

[great white tj]

I have had good results reusing the little caps from gear oil.

 

[WordMan]

Nope. The original assertion was that it makes sense to buy the smaller container “even If it costs more”
To phrase it in your terms….
Cottage cheese… small size sells for $1.00
Large size selling for $.89. Neither one has a specified shelf life. You don’t know how long it is going to take for your family to consume it. Which one do you buy ?

I think you've misunderstood the "cost more" part. It's not the a quart sells for $10 while a pint sells fo $12, but that the cost per quart for an individual quart is more than the cost per quart when buying a gallon (e.g. $5 per individual quart as compared to $16 for a gallon).