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Best way to preserve opened PU/ mastic tubes
johnH20 - 17/3/15 at 06:42 PM

Something I have never found the answer to. Sikaflex and the like are not exactly locost and I seem to waste a lot. I have tried a screw in the nozzle but you cannot get the 'bung' out due to the taper of the nozzle. I have tried removing the nozzle but then you have two air inlets. A screw in the wide end of the nozzle will usually get the bung out but you need to repeat the process with the tube which is more difficult. I have tried tape seals at various points as above, none seem to work satisfactorily.
I try and group my jobs so that all my sealing work is done in one session but there are limits to that approach. So what do other locosters do to avoid half used tubes that are throw away ?

theconrodkid - 17/3/15 at 06:49 PM

i will be watching this with interest,the other day i had to bin an unopened tube that had gone off

designer - 17/3/15 at 07:16 PM

My mate filled a nozzle with Vaselin and put it onto any part used tube.

kenton - 17/3/15 at 07:17 PM

I apply a little grease on the nozzel threads before its first put on. After use I smear some around the inside of the cartridge to seal the plunger end and also on the nozzel tip. This stops all air and moisture, 6 months later it was still useable.

bigfoot4616 - 17/3/15 at 07:24 PM

i cut a finger of a disposable glove, put it over the nozzle and fill the end with the PU making sure the end of the nozzle is in the middle of it. then tape the glove to the nozzle. eventually it will go of in the nozzle but that way does last well.

its shelf life is pretty poor anyway so not matter what you do it wont last very long.

richmars - 17/3/15 at 07:25 PM

Wrap it in cling film.

minitici - 17/3/15 at 07:38 PM

quote:
Originally posted by bigfoot4616
i cut a finger of a disposable glove, put it over the nozzle and fill the end with the PU making sure the end of the nozzle is in the middle of it. then tape the glove to the nozzle. eventually it will go of in the nozzle but that way does last well.

its shelf life is pretty poor anyway so not matter what you do it wont last very long.


I also do this - I usually use some every week so I don't know how long you could store this way without the PU in the nozzle curing.

Chris_Xtreme - 17/3/15 at 07:38 PM

personally I never find clingfilm makes it air tight enough..

MikeR - 17/3/15 at 08:20 PM

Take the nozzle off, clean, put 3 or four layers of going film or some other thin plastic over the cartridge nozzle thread and reattach the nozzle. For me this tends to last.

joneh - 17/3/15 at 10:52 PM

Sh!t loads of cling film works for me.

MikeR - 17/3/15 at 11:29 PM

Going film is my phone attempt to change cling film into something less meaningful