Silicon Tube

[Pistolero]

How do you guys seal your silicon tube to preserve for next use, I tried weather strip tape, latex gloves finger tip tied on the tip with small blob squeeze out, still doesn't last that long, want to get idea on how you do it.

 

[Jlarson]

Like RTV gasket maker? I usually try any number of things to preserve a partially used one but have plenty of new tubes stashed so when that fails I'm not stuck saying, **** I need to go get more gasket maker. Most effective option found to date, especially out on service calls.

 

[Copymutt]

I like the foam ear plugs. That said, i just threw out 6 tubes that solidified and were never opened. I now longer stock up on sale.

 

[seanb02]

Stick a long nail in the end of the tube. Nail goes in deep enough that when the silicone sets up in the neck of it when you pull the nail back out it leaves enough of an opening to squeeze what is still soft in the tube back out. Sometimes pulling the nail out will pull the entire set up blob out, but most of the time it just leaves a good enough passageway.

 

[HMCFab9]

Stick a nail in the end, or put a wire nut on the tube.
No matter what you do, unless you use it often it's
probably going to be junk.

"The Right Stuff" gasket maker seems like it's the longest lasting in the container.

 

[Bigmo1]

Its all a scam...the manufacturers know that rarely will you need or use an entire tube of RTV or silicone. But they continue to produce the same size tubes, knowing that it will be a rock on the shelf sooner or later. So we have to go buy ANOTHER tube and i starts the cycle all over again. Prob at least 100 tubes ive thrown out only half used over the years. And ive tried every trick to keep them viable....bastages

 

[rlitman]

Going solid in the tube is bad. But what's really bad when it comes to silicone is an old tube that decides to never cure. There's nothing worse than applying silicone and having it stay as paste forever. Once I've seen that happen, I've given up on stocking old silicone and check the dates on any tubes I buy.

 

[lardy1]

Three inch drywal screw. Sometimes the silicone "plug" will pull out with the screw.

 

[matt_i]

If I'm going to lay down a long bead then its a brand new tube.

I have had a little luck with letting it cure in the dispense nozzle, use a wood/drywall screw to back out the tapered plug inside the dispense nozzle, try to clear the tube orifice and fill it back up.

As a last resort, if the tube itself is not fully hardened, I usually jab a hole in the side of the tube if I feel its still liquid and I need a dab. Then it can goto rest in the trash.

 

[monkeyspanners]

Electrical tape, wind it round the nozzle in a spiral fashion and off the end for a bit and squash the tape together, won't stop it going off but will slow it down.

 

[Skiff Builder]

I invert silicon, polyurethanes, polysulfide tips into an old skinny olive jar , filled with mineral spirits. Just make sure it won't tip over.
A year later, give it a squeeze and go.
Same with water on the latex stuff.

If you have a tube w dried product in tip, cut a slit the full length of tip. hog out dried stuff, than tightly wrap tip w/ elec tape and go.

 

[homebuilt burner]

I use Ultra Black in the chaulk gun tube. When done with it, I pump a little extra out and dab it over. In a week or so when I need it again I pull the first half inch out and the rest is good. The tooth paste tube always seems to cure out on me.

 

[metaldad]

x2 on 'lectric tape

 

[bonneyman]

I repurpose rubber wine "corks" for this job. Works for about a week. Longer than that and the dang stuff sets up. (Though I agree with Bigmo - they design it this way).
Though they do make this little widget, and it does seem to work. Helps stop the stuff from hardening, and the threaded part pulls out the plug in the tube.

https://www.harborfreight.com/caulk-saver-97561.html

 

[plinker]

Lately I've been using either a wire nut or better yet one of those vinyl thread protector caps sort of like a vacuum cap. If it fits tight enough, it (so far) works good. Never had a lot of luck with nails/screws for whatever reason.

I've also decided not to keep any more on hand then necessary or planned for.

 

[gizardlizard]

Make sure the nozzle is fairly emptied out before you store it, and screw on a large blue or gray wire nut tight. Just used a tube last weekend that was almost a year old, came out easy.

 

[pizza]

i was thinking about this problem recently. after reviewing the chemistry, this is what i will try next time:

first, eliminate partially cured residue from the nozzle area.

give the exterior of the nozzle a really good wipe with paper towel. then take a clean toothpick or paperclip and scrape/wipe the interior nozzle surface near the tip to dislodge partially cured material.

next, squeeze the tube to liberally dispense fresh product and flush that residue out of there.

with partially cured residue removed, the next step is to prevent further exposure to moisture in the atmosphere.

immediately wipe the nozzle clean a fresh paper towel and dip it a few times in hot paraffin wax (or similar). i think you want an anhygroscopic material that's easy to apply a thick coating of (to fight diffusion) and also easy to remove later.

this is an untested method, but i think it's worth a shot.

 

[bwringer]

All you can do is slow it down.

I've poked holes in the sides of old half-hardened tubes many times in a desperate attempt to excavate just enough for one more job.

And yeah, I've found unopened tubes that have somehow cured before I could use them. I've also had to deal with old stuff that won't cure, which truly *****.

If a job is important (for example, many oil pans nowadays are intended to be installed with RTV and no gasket), I usually just buy a new tube along with the part so I can be sure I'll get stuff that's still soft and that will cure as expected. Just part of the cost of the job. Any future use is just a bonus.

I've also run into things like water pumps a few times that came with a wee tube of the needed RTV. That was nice.

It would be a good idea to scribble the purchase date on your goo tubes so you can quickly review your inventory before getting stuck in the middle of something.

 

[DeeKay]

I use the nail/screw method, throw the tubes in your beer fridge too.
I've noticed RTV lasts a lot longer on my service truck in the winter rather than when it's a million degrees in the summer.

 

[whateg01]

... In a week or so when I need it again ...

I'm gonna guess that most of us don't need it every week or so. Most probably only need it once or twice a year. Many need it once every couple months. Few probably need it every week. JS

 

[Pistolero]

so far latex glove rubber band and with squeeze out blob of silicon last me a month or so, but depends on how nicely you have sealed the later glove with the rubber band.

 

[Bigmo1]

I repurpose rubber wine "corks" for this job. Works for about a week. Longer than that and the dang stuff sets up. (Though I agree with Bigmo - they design it this way).
Though they do make this little widget, and it does seem to work. Helps stop the stuff from hardening, and the threaded part pulls out the plug in the tube.

https://www.harborfreight.com/caulk-saver-97561.html

Never seen one of those Harbor Freight gizmos, might give it a shot. Ive used homemade similar stuff for years...screws, dowel rod tapered, saran wrap and caps, tape, just about everything...pisses me off when i lose a $8-$10 tube of damn silicone. They produce it by the ton for pennies per ounce

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[American Locomotive]

Basically even if you perfectly seal the tube, air and moisture will slowly permeate through the plastic and cause is to set up.

That's why the metal RTV tubes are fine until you pierce them.

 

[pcmeiners]

The only thing that has sealed a tube of silicone for use months down the road for me is paraffin wax.

 

[dsgreen3]

I have had great results with hot melt glue

 

[bonneyman]

Dang, why haven't I thought of these last two suggestions? They sound great!

 

[esvee]

I'm gonna be that guy:

Silicon - 14th element of the periodic table. Naturally occurring substance used in the manufacture of all kinds of things.

Silicone - Synthetic polymer containing silicon as one of its many ingredients.

Silicon is not silicone. Silicone contains silicon.

Silicone is squishy, silicon is not (because its a chemical element)

 

[SeisMec]

Assuming a caulk gun tube.

Never, ever cut the tip at an angle. Use a razor blade or very sharp knife. You want a flat ring for the head of a sheet metal screw to seat against.

Select a longesh (1-1/4"), panhead, sheet metal screw whose shaft (not counting threads) is just larger than the hole in the tube. Squeeze out a tiny dab of silicone and gently screw the pan head in until it seats.

Here is the important part. To re-open DO NOT UNSCREW. Use a razor blade and cut the tip another 1/8" shorter. The screws threads will help pull almost all of the "hardened" silicone out of the enlarged hole.

This is good for at least 3 months between uses in 90-110 degree F. weather with moderate humidity (California central valley - Bakersfield, Fresno, Stockton, Willows).

 

[Steve_P]

I tape mine up with clear packing tape. A short piece over the top, and then wrap around it. I used some the other day that was over a year old. The first bit was NG, but after that no problem. But surely some of the other methods here are much better.

 

[kapster]

The right stuff in aerosol can, it's awesome. Maybe I got lucky but was able to use it 4 or 5 times with months between uses and got to use the whole container (on my second one now). Leave it dabbed on the tube. When your ready to reuse, unstrew the nozzle and remove the plug.


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[nodoor]

Little Red Cap from Amazon, it’s a condom for caulk tubes,

Works better than wire nuts, nail, drywall screws, tape, HF tube savers, for me

 

[frank001]

I have found that even in an unopened tube the silicone will eventually harden and be unusable.

 

[pizza]

Silicon is not silicone.

i almost said that but resisted the urge