Keeping adhesives from drying out after opening.

[cosmokenney]

I have a couple dozen of various adhesives in the garage. Stuff like RTV, shoe goo, caulk -- the usual suspects. I usually open one, use half a teaspoon then close it up and throw it in a plastic tub in the garage. Then 6 months later I go to use it again and the entire contents are dried out and hard. Is there any trick to keeping them alive while stored after opening them? Its a lot of money down the drain otherwise.

 

[LeonardY]

This is what I use. They work really well.

Amazon.com

If it's a can. I will use a piece of plastic wrap lay it over the surface of the adhesive to seal the air out. Then place the lid on and tap it down with a hammer. That works for the most part.

 

[no704]

For things like pvc glue store the can upside down.

 

[FMB4]

A very good question and some great answers. Thanks LeonardY for the Red Cap tip. And no704 is dead on with the 'up-side down' suggestion (I've been doing this successfully for some years with several liquid type adhesives).

​

 

[4xdog]

Plastic films, depending on which polymer or multilayer polymers it's made from, can be surprisingly porous to various materials. Barriers to, say, moisture, can be highly porous to, say, oxygen.

Rather than sweat the type of barrier needed and the barriers available in my junk, I usually use aluminum foil. NOW we're talking barrier. I may sandwich it with plastic films to prevent corrosion and make reopening easier.

 

[nadogail]

I stick 16 penny nails into the hole in the tube spout.

 

[Jswain]

If you have a vacuum sealer it works awesome to keep silicone etc fresh. I used to have the same problem until I decided to try it. I make the bag nice and big for the contents so you get many open/reseals

 

[p00p]

Canning jars & vacuum seal it. Reusable & the upfront cost pays off over time if you have a bunch of stuff that you want preserved for a while in between uses.

 

[Showkey]

Drying out over time……..nature of the beast. You can slow it down, stopping it almost impossible.

 

[Crabman]

Glad I read this. I use my vacuum sealer all the time. Now I have a new task for it.
Thanks for the posts jswain and pOOp!

 

[Grimpala]

Put the RTV in the fridge. The RT stands for Room Temperature. By keeping it cool it does not set up. Not sure what other products this might work for.

 

[toyotadriver]

I’ve had pretty good success with using hot glue on top of the spout after use.

 

[cosmokenney]

I stick 16 penny nails into the hole in the tube spout.

Do you mean you store it like that? Or after you open it back up, you puncture whatever has hardened at that top?

 

[cosmokenney]

Thanks for the tips everyone! I've always wondered why they can sit on the shelf in the store for a really long time but then dry out in a few weeks after opening even when I've take measures to keep them from doing that -- like putting plastic wrap under the cap. I am definitely going to try the nails and aluminum foil next.

 

[Gutman]

I put 3M 5200 and 4000 sealant tubes in a ziploc in the freezer and I have used them over a year later with no adverse effects. I let them sit at room temp for 1-2 hours before use.

I intend to experiment with some permatex products soon, as I just discarded my stocks of several flavors recently that had hardened after, in some cases, years of not being used.

 

[yatg]

I've used the rat condoms in post #2 with good results. When I don't have them handy, I'll stick a screw or nail or whatever into the opening and seal with aluminum foil tape.

 

[Tman]

This is what I use. They work really well.

Amazon.com

If it's a can. I will use a piece of plastic wrap lay it over the surface of the adhesive to seal the air out. Then place the lid on and tap it down with a hammer. That works for the most part.

I use those as well. Finally running out after 15 years and gotta buy another can

 

[Daedalus]

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

 

[bigmaq]

For caulking tubes use the toilet bowl wax. Just pull back a bit on the plunger to give some space in the tube then shove the tip in the wax. Works great.

 

[Skiff Builder]

I stick the caulking tube tip in a skinny jar with the appropriate solvent in it, ie mineral spirits for poly urethane, water for latex caulks. I have never lost a partial tube.

 

[JasonF]

Shoe goo and different types of RTV go in the freezer!

 

[nbpt100]

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.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

This is what I use. They work really well.

Amazon.com

If it's a can. I will use a piece of plastic wrap lay it over the surface of the adhesive to seal the air out. Then place the lid on and tap it down with a hammer. That works for the most part.

Great idea; miniature condoms for your caulk! Lol.

But does anyone need THIRTY FIVE of them at one time? If they sold them in much smaller groups or something!

 

[p00p]

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.

In theory, it should be ok to freeze it until it's needed. I'd vacuum seal it & toss it in the freezer. I'm thinking about trying it with the glue used for tire/tube patches.

 

[MikeC55]

Anyone come up with a way to keep POR-15 (rust treatment) from forming a thick, hard, layer on top that must be broken through before using again (short of vacuum seal). They sell the stuff in regular paint cans and I haven't tried the 'turn-can-upside down' method for fear some will get in the lid groove (and then forget opening again without destroying the can). They really should make small quantities available in one of those collapsible containers that some of the anaerobic sealers come in...

 

[nbpt100]

Anyone come up with a way to keep POR-15 (rust treatment) from forming a thick, hard, layer on top that must be broken through before using again (short of vacuum seal). They sell the stuff in regular paint cans and I haven't tried the 'turn-can-upside down' method for fear some will get in the lid groove (and then forget opening again without destroying the can). They really should make small quantities available in one of those collapsible containers that some of the anaerobic sealers come in...

For Por 15 I use a sheet of Seran wrap between the can and cover. It works pretty good. Of course you have to go to great lengths to keep the product out of the top groove in the can. If you get some in there use a paper towle to try to pull it out. As much as practical.

 

[Dumber than lumber]

If you have a vacuum sealer it works awesome to keep silicone etc fresh. I used to have the same problem until I decided to try it. I make the bag nice and big for the contents so you get many open/reseals

Seal a Meal ….. if i only had one.

 

[LeonardY]

Great idea; miniature condoms for your caulk! Lol.

But does anyone need THIRTY FIVE of them at one time? If they sold them in much smaller groups or something!

I thought the same thing. Your supposed to toss the one you used and put on a new one when your done. With some adhesives it gets torn when you take it off. I had one fail because there was dried caulk at the tip after I reused it. I finally read the instructions and haven't had a failure since. You squeeze out about a 1/4 inch of material. Put the cover on. it forms a seal that drys. When you pull off the cap, it goes with it.

 

[nbpt100]

I thought the same thing. Your supposed to toss the one you used and put on a new one when your done. With some adhesives it gets torn when you take it off. I had one fail because there was dried caulk at the tip after I reused it. I finally read the instructions and haven't had a failure since. You squeeze out about a 1/4 inch of material. Put the cover on. it forms a seal that drys. When you pull off the cap, it goes with it.

There are reusable types of caulk plugs out there. I have some I bought locallay and they work good. I wish I saved the packaging to be able to share this with folks. Can not recall what they are called or the brand name. If you google search I am sure you can find stuff that is reusable.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I thought the same thing. Your supposed to toss the one you used and put on a new one when your done. With some adhesives it gets torn when you take it off. I had one fail because there was dried caulk at the tip after I reused it. I finally read the instructions and haven't had a failure since. You squeeze out about a 1/4 inch of material. Put the cover on. it forms a seal that drys. When you pull off the cap, it goes with it.

Ah, ok. That makes sense. I hadn't considered that you toss them. I'll order some to keep on hand. Thanks for the explanation!

 

[Meursault74]

Saw this suggestion from amazon when I looked at the others. Love the name, have never tried them :

Lil Pecker Caulk Saver Sealer Caps​

Amazon.com

 

[4xdog]

Anyone come up with a way to keep POR-15 (rust treatment) from forming a thick, hard, layer on top that must be broken through before using again (short of vacuum seal). They sell the stuff in regular paint cans and I haven't tried the 'turn-can-upside down' method for fear some will get in the lid groove (and then forget opening again without destroying the can). They really should make small quantities available in one of those collapsible containers that some of the anaerobic sealers come in...

I turn the POR-15 can upside down, and it definitely helps extend the life of a can. If a can has such a poor seal that POR-15 leaks into the groove, the whole can is gonna be a loss anyway. I always put an upside-down can in secondary containment, and that's helped because one time I *did* have a leaker.

I've run some experiments flushing moist ambient air (it's the moisture than cures the POR-15) from the can before sealing it. I've tried several times with a Dust-Off aerosol gas spray (1-1 difluoroethane) with a straw on the nozzle. It seems to help.

 

[PugetDude]

Foil tape is the best thing I have found. I have tried nails, wire nuts, plastic wrap, etc.

 

[aallison28]

I've not tried it but I understand most of the moisture or air cure stuff in the cans will stay good if you shoot a little welding gas into the can before you seal it up. The argon/nitrogen displaces the oxygen moisture and stops the curing process.

 

[Slednut]

For POR-15 I never open the lid, just figure 8 it on the bench to stir and put metal roofing screws in the lid. This can is almost empty, have had it for well over a year.

 

[Ak Jim]

Anyone come up with a way to keep POR-15 (rust treatment) from forming a thick, hard, layer on top that must be broken through before using again (short of vacuum seal). They sell the stuff in regular paint cans and I haven't tried the 'turn-can-upside down' method for fear some will get in the lid groove (and then forget opening again without destroying the can). They really should make small quantities available in one of those collapsible containers that some of the anaerobic sealers come in...

Use baby food jars. Fill them to the top then put Saran Wrap over it then screw the lid on. Keep it in the refrigerator. At least for me when I use por 15 I usually only need a couple of oz at a time. Also the dryer the climate when you open up and transfer the longer it lasts also. The key is to have the Saran Wrap completely touching the liquid

 

[MikeC55]

Some interesting ideas on the Por-15 storage. I’ll have to try then. I do have welding gas and Saran Wrap. Baby food jars too!

 

[wildbill23c]

Not sure on bottles of adhesives, but my tubes of caulk I use a yellow or red wire nut over the tip, and wrap electrical tape around it. I've had tubes of caulk out in my shed that are 2-3 years old and still usable.

 

[Copymutt]

Anyone come up with a way to keep POR-15 (rust treatment) from forming a thick, hard, layer on top that must be broken through before using again (short of vacuum seal). They sell the stuff in regular paint cans and I haven't tried the 'turn-can-upside down' method for fear some will get in the lid groove (and then forget opening again without destroying the can). They really should make small quantities available in one of those collapsible containers that some of the anaerobic sealers come in...

you might use a mig gun to shoot a little CO2 in the can B4 closing.

 

[Copymutt]

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