Thread: got a trick for stopping silicon tubes drying up?

Hi
My trick I us on liquid nail type glue but it might work on silicone.
I put two layers aluminium foil over the screw end and then put the cap or tube back on to seal the foil in place.
This has worked for me for the last few years.

Russell

I stick my tubes in the fridge.

When I was working, I'd just put the tube back in the van as-is. It would harden in the tube and down into the main cylinder about 15mm. Next time I wanted to use it, which was usually a couple of weeks later, I'd just take the tip off, shove the tip of the air nozzle into the small end and give her a blast of compressed air. The hardened silicon would pop straight out.
Worked a treat.
Nowadays, when a year can pass between uses, not so good. Sometimes it works. Often it doesn't. So very time dependant. I've come to the conclusion that if I'm only needing it once a year or so, it doesn't hurt to buy a new one each time.
Cheers
Jim

I get a couple of extra screw on tips when I buy a tube,silicone etec.usually dries in the tip--throw it away and fit a new one,works most times

I wrap the tips in plastic tape & put them in the drink fridge.

ta.

I bought a set of these from Lee Valley years ago, but I see they are now available at Carbatec:

http://www.carbatec.com.au/twist-n-seal-stopper_c21486

Perfect seal in any nozzle, airtight, and I've re-used them several times already.

Where I can I buy the smaller tubes that are becoming more available these days. They are more expensive, but if you throw three quarters of a tube away, it works out cheaper to buy a smaller one. Of course not everything is available in smaller tubes.

I wrap mine in Gaffa tape.

I go for the smaller tubes now 2. The screw cap on them means they get a better seal as well.

I vote the fridge, but remember to pull the tube out and let it warm up for a few hours before hand.

Originally Posted by Cliff Rogers

I wrap the tips in plastic tape & put them in the drink fridge.

I'll have to think before I accept an offer of a drink in your shed but it is a good idea - if you don't have a fridge in the shed then the veggie boxes available from any "real" corner grocer also work well as the contents seem to be kept at a constant temperature. I also keep my glues, masking tape etc [even keeps trad wax in top order] in these boxes.

Reason I said the drink fridge is 'cos if you stick a tube of silicon in the house fridge you will find yourself extracting from 'you know where' by the sticky end of the tube.

Gotta be honest, I just insert a particle board screw thats a bit bigger than the hole in the nozzle and give it a couple of turns. Been doing that for years, and only had to chuck anything really old. 'Course a new nozzle is necessry everytime the tube is re-used. When buying new tubes, ask for a couple of nozzles for each tube..only been knocked back once and went to another checkout and got them anyway.