OT capping a tube of silicone caulk

Heavy aluminum foil isn't too bad. Whatever it is, it must be impervious to moisture and CO2.

Joe Gwinn

Resinite aka plastic film wrap. Some works better than others, notice I didn't say Saran or Glad... /mark

RTV style or latex?

For latex I slip a push on cap over the end that usually comes with the tube and then wrap it with electric tape (duct tape sucks for anything longer than a week or two). Pull and stretch good in a warm environment (the tape). Store in a cool location like an unheated basement, but not where it can freeze. I've kept tubes like this for going on

RTV style just doesn't store super well. I've had the best luck keeping it in a cool, dark location. These were just the small screw top tubes. Do not over tighten the top or the cap will split and then...

A miniature condom just the right size for caulk tube nozzles. They'll keep Alex tubes usable for months, silicone for weeks, at least twice as long as any other methods I've tried. I usually re-use the previous one, and then put a new one over it for good measure.

They still fit after you cut the tube back to the large diameter part so you can force a hardened plug out of the end.

Hmmm... They say, "Note: For long term storage of any caulking or adhesive, lay tubes horizontally or slightly tip down." I wonder what the reason for that is? I've been keeping mine tip up - I'll have to try following instructions.

Loren

I wonder if you put some acetic acid aka vineger or stop bath if a photo guy in the cap before capping if it would slow down the hardening?

Wes

I've been using glad press and seal. Seems to work with everything I've put in my caulk gun, though I can't remember if I've used silicon caulk since I started doing that.

I usually run a drywall screw, or some such, down the spout. When I need to use it again I just unscrew it and it's ready.

Jim

On Jan 19, 2:56 pm, JoanD'arcRoast

Yep - if its the big tubes that have a nozzle on them that goes into a frame type gun - screw in a 4 inch self drilling screw(yes) with lots of thread - the type used to fix particleboard,wallboard etc. Works well - it stops air getting into it, so it doesnt set.....

Andrew VK3BFA.

IIRC, acetic acid is the accelerator for some versions of RTV, so that would be counterproductive for those versions.

Enjoy, DoN.

William Wixon wrote in article ...

I've had good luck using electrical wire nuts as screw-on caps........

On Sat, 19 Jan 2008 17:55:42 -0800 (PST), with neither quill nor qualm, snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com quickly quoth:

Lee Valley sells condoms for your caulk which work really well. (You should recite that out loud to get the full effect. ;)

-- You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus. -- Mark Twain

I use a ~300 mm long x 3mm brass welding rod pushed into the tube as far as it will go. I normally cut the dispenser end to about a 3mm diameter hole so the rod is a snug fit. Even if the caulk has hardened in the dispenser tube, removing the rod leaves a hole right back to the moving end to allow the soft caulk to exit.

Alan

A poster inquired about sealing partially used caulk tubes and to this I say: I am A building engineer for a large police department. I have A vacuum food sealer that I found at work. (Former drug dealer no longer needed it as his new address is the gray bar hotel) It was heading to the trash tank so I took it home. Works for all kinds of things. Bag up used caulk tubes, paint cans. machine tools. Anything you don't want air or moisture to get to. Wally World sells A small one for

Good Luck. H.R. "If the facts don't fit the theory,change the facts" Albert Einstein

Lee valley sells these as well. They've worked well for me.

Pete