Silicone

[djjsr]

Anybody have a good way to reseal a caulking tube of silicone? I throw a lot of this stuff away because it hardens in the tip. Nothing I've tried is working.

Thx

 

[NotEnough]

I've only done it a couple of times, but I put a wood screw into the tip of the large tubes of caulk.

I've got a small tube that has a removeable tip. On that one, I take the tip off and put a couple of toothpics into the big end (end that threads onto the tube) and wait a few minutes. As it hardens, just before it fully sets up, I pull on the toothpicks. The plug usually comes out intact and leaves the tip clean.

 

[FryZ]

Usually I use a 3" long deck screw...when it comes time to re-use it, just unscrew the screw and it takes most of the caulk in the tip w/ it.

 

[egdede]

I used to screw my caulk, but read about using nuts (wire) instead elswhere on this here interweb. It doesn't leave your caulk streaked, and works well. Squeeze your caulk until it just drips out and screw on a wire-nut! Should work for silicone too.

 

[Identaltech]

The wire nut trick works for a while.
I have started to just buy the smaller tubes.
I try to plan on using all of it in the next couple of days after being opened.

 

[mark40sw]

Have been using wide tape (~2") folded over the tip and sealed to itself along the nozzle sides to keep airtight. Seen it as a tip in a woodworking magazine. Clear packaging tape works well.

 

[ks6c]

These mini-condoms work for me - well, for the tubes, anyway....

 

[malibu101]

Have been using wide tape (~2") folded over the tip and sealed to itself along the nozzle sides to keep airtight. Seen it as a tip in a woodworking magazine. Clear packaging tape works well.

X2! I usually use electrical tape and stretch it tight over the hole and wrap it over itself, but same principal. This trick works well.

 

[rlme36]

I use a 2" gal nail as its smooth and then fold duct tape over the top 2" of tube and nail so that there is no air getting in. works great.

 

[djjsr]

These mini-condoms work for me - well, for the tubes, anyway....

Looks like a winner. I'll try it.

Thanks

 

[Torque1st]

Those mini-condoms look like finger cots made for covering bandages on fingers. They are also used for parts handling when a full glove is not needed. The finger cots are probably not as thick tho. Finger cots can be found with bandages etc. You can get them in Nitrile or latex.

 

[egdede]

Those mini condoms look like just the thing to protect one's caulk!

 

[ddawg16]

Golf Tee's....

But I have also started to buy the Dap III stuff...it comes with removable tips....unscrew the tip to pull out the dried stuff...

 

[djjsr]

But I have also started to buy the Dap III stuff...it comes with removable tips....unscrew the tip to pull out the dried stuff...

I think that's a GREAT design. I was able to buy that stuff until about a year ago but now I can't find it anywhere.

 

[byrd]

i just let a little silicone drip out of the end of the tube and hang the gun upside down, the next time i use it i pull on the hardened silicone and it will pull throught the nozzle and there will be fresh product behind it. it basicly makes its own plug, i have never had a problem with this.

 

[Phuckin' Jim]

Those mini condoms look like just the thing to protect one's caulk!

Actually, with my silicone, all I do is leave a bit hanging off the end of the tube and just pull the hardened piece out whenever I need it next.
Just like byrd said, had I read his post when I first posted thus
If you are leaving it for more than a few weeks, then you'll have to keep doing that every now and again (pull piece out, then press trigger a bit)....Or use a wire nut.
If you don't use silicone very often, buy smaller tubes.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Have been using wide tape (~2") folded over the tip and sealed to itself along the nozzle sides to keep airtight. Seen it as a tip in a woodworking magazine. Clear packaging tape works well.

+1 on the tape method

RJ