PVC Cement

[welder4956]

Anyone have a good tip for storing PVC cement to keep it from drying out. Seems like I have to buy a new can every time I need to glue some joints. I always buy the smallest container because no matter how tight I put the cap back on, it seems to be dried out when I need it.

 

[Innovate1]

If you close it tightly for long term storage and limit how long you leave it open it should last a couple years. You don't have to get crazy and screw the lid on after every joint but I usually set the cap back loosely on the can between joints. With the brush on the cap style you need somewhere to set the brush anyway and putting it back in the can works well. In a pinch I have resorted to putting a bit of the primer into the glue when it was getting too thick. Limiting extremes of temp should also help. Beyond that there isn't much you can do.

 

[Dumber than lumber]

Seal a meal?

 

[58Yeoman]

Store the can upside down.

 

[no704]

Store the can upside down. The vocs can pass thru the cap, but not the liquid.

 

[PCustoms]

Has anyone suggested storing it upside down?

I just buy the small cans now, and figure the next time I need to use some buy new cans.

 

[65ranchero]

I'm in the same school, small can buy and trash!
With that said why don't the cans go bad when sitting on the suppliers shelf?
Is it due to the high turn over rate?

 

[tncatadjuster]

wrapped in packing wrap and stored upside down

 

[Bucko]

I'm in the same school, small can buy and trash!
With that said why don't the cans go bad when sitting on the suppliers shelf?
Is it due to the high turn over rate?

The turn over rate does help but the fact that the can is full, threads are clean and tight, regulated climate, and has not been opened multiple times while using it all help.

Oh and I don't think it has been mentioned yet but store it upside down....haha.

 

[JohnKal]

You’re all wrong, store it downside up!

 

[Bucko]

You’re all wrong, store it downside up!

Oh, the Australian way.

 

[nadogail]

I have found that I am using so little ABS and PVC cements that the smallest sizes are the most economical for my purposes. Back in the day when I was working in a plant with miles of PVC, CPVC, and ABS I would often use a whole can before they turned to rock.

 

[Bogie1632]

Not sure how others store it, but I buy small cans and store them upside down. My current cans are about a year old and still were fine on my current remodel.



V/R
Bogie

 

[slow]

Thanks for this post, I have had the same issue, but never thought of keeping the cans up side down, I am going to flip mine now

 

[Firebrick43]

I think the plumbers in Socal just huffed it all so it didn't go to waste

 

[rharman]

Uh.... Isn't right side up here the same as upside down in Australia? And vice-versa?

 

[rharman]

On a more serious note, I was thinking the seal-a-meal idea had merit. In fact, I saved our old one that was still functional when we replaced it with the idea of sealing select chemicals in the garage. Haven't tried it yet but it, and some bag material, is sitting in the cabinet next to my workbench.

 

[sixty4]

My old pvc always turn to a jelly like substance. I have been buying the smallest cans like others have mentioned.

 

[mmb617]

Like many others have mentioned I just buy the smallest can and assume it will be junk the next time I need it unless that time comes real soon. I don't use it often enough that buying a new can while I'm buying the other supplies for the project is a big deal.

 

[Innovate1]

You’re all wrong, store it downside up!

A few people beat you to that....

 

[CraigStu]

Thanks guys. Upside down is brilliant. I just used mine yesterday after only maybe a month from new. And it was starting to thicken up. It wasn't a pipe project so there won't be any leaks so I used it anyway on some abs car parts. It worked fine but I know I will buy another glue along w/ the pvc for the next project.

 

[welder4956]

Store the can upside down.

I will give it a shot.

 

[welder4956]

Seal a meal?

Interesting idea. If storing upside down does not make it last, this will be what I try next.

 

[welder4956]

I'm in the same school, small can buy and trash!
With that said why don't the cans go bad when sitting on the suppliers shelf?
Is it due to the high turn over rate?

I'm thinking the glue starts kicking off when it is opened and exposed to air. Then when I put the lid back on with air trapped inside, the glue is still trying to harden until it uses all of the air trapped in the can.

 

[welder4956]

Oh, the Australian way.

So, if I buy glue that was made in Australia and shipped to the US, is it already upside down? Is right side up the same as upside down?

 

[PCustoms]

I believe this is all a solvent evaporation issue, there's nothing to "kick off".

 

[Innovate1]

I'm thinking the glue starts kicking off when it is opened and exposed to air. Then when I put the lid back on with air trapped inside, the glue is still trying to harden until it uses all of the air trapped in the can.

Not really "kicking off" they way some two part adhesives so I wouldn't word it quite that way but what happens is along those lines. When the can is closed the solvent evaporates until the solvent in the trapped air is in equilibrium with solvent in the liquid meaning evaporation stops. When the can is opened the solvent in vapor form exits the can and when recapped it must evaporate until equilibrium again. The more air in the can the more solvent evaporates each cycle.

Storing the can upside down won't help with the above but it will help if there are small vapor leaks in the cap seal. I am guessing the cap seal leaks are not the significant thing contributing to it getting thicker in most cases.

 

[FredWanaker]

I kept a larger can going almost 10 years once by adding a few drops of Acetone or MEK to it every time I used it. Now I just toss them once they thicken and buy a new small can. I am sure California can fix it with some kind of a special spout and dab brush......... .

 

[crasher98]

A red-letter day - a GJ discussion where thriftiness is the order of the day, instead of "Buy two, you never know when you'll need a backup!" After all, think of how many tools we can buy if we're not spending $3.52 every year on a new can of PVC cement at Walmart!

That said, I know how aggravating it is to be ready to finally go do something and the can- or tube-o-stuff is dried up and bad; this happened to me just last weekend when I needed to re-stick some flashing on my roof and my tube-o-tar was dried up. Altho come to think of it, last time I bought this stuff -- which had to have been five or six years ago -- I bought two tubes, and the one I hadn't opened was still fine so I used that one. So I guess my advice on the PVC cement is: buy two!

 

[yatg]

Another obvious thing to do is clean the threads on the can and cap. That increases the sealing and makes it way easier to get cap off the next time. Was doing some plumbing last week and found one of these in my stuff. Works better than slip-joint pliers for opening and closing cans.

 

[Jackfre]

Keep buying the new small cans. Trying to preserve it may work. It may not. The last thing I want is to have to wonder if the glue is good once I’ve done the job.

 

[engineer2]

Momentary turn it upside down to seal any gaps and then tighten the cap with channel-locks.

 

[Showkey]

Another obvious thing to do is clean the threads on the can and cap. That increases the sealing and makes it way easier to get cap off the next time. Was doing some plumbing last week and found one of these in my stuff. Works better than slip-joint pliers for opening and closing cans.

+2 on the “cap wrench”………typical pliers distorts ( bends) the cap making the cap seal leak.

 

[Jlarson]

We only keep glue for a year max off the date on the can, not going to risk a joint blowing over saving a couple bucks on old glue. We try to keep our stock low, and let HD and our pipe supplier stock it for us lol.

 

[rburke65]

Has any one suggested storing the can upside down!?……really….I love it. Read.

 

[The Cobbler]

put some primer in it to thin it. I do it with ABS glue to thin it after it starts to thicken in the can

 

[tester19]

Well since I found the spray can version I NEVER went back to the old stuff.
Try it and you will see. Just hands down far better way to handle it.


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