Great tips. A 'slightly' less messy way to get to the good goo in a part cured tube is to just drill through the cured material to create a fresh path, flush the 'kerf' out and fit a new nozzle (and often the cured sealant plug will pull easily out of a used nozzle).
In the States I use a fencing end cap - that happens to be 1 5/8” in diameter- perfect for the back end of the cartridge; which is then wrapped in good ol’ black tape. I also use a “Sharpie” pen to make hash marks on the lower end of said tube to indicate how much product I have left.
I wrap the tip with packing tape and then squeeze out material to fill the gaps under the tape. The material filling the gaps under the tape cure and help seal off the nozzle, and is also easy to clean off. Works well for caulks and sealants that are a bit soft after curing.
I can't believe a didn't see the diy version! I put kitchen plastic wrap around the nozzle and squeeze a little bit of material from the tube forming a "blob cap" that gets trapped in the film sealing the tube, later I remove the dried top and its ready to use, so far worked fine for me. This is one of my favorite channels on yt, thanks for your content it's really informative and entertaining.
I run a small building team in the NHS where we fit home adaptations including occasional wall mounted shower chairs and grab handles. We don't use enough silicone to warrant wielding a gun and had boxes of spare refills going off in the store or van. We now use toothpaste tubes of sealants - much more easily carried in a tool-bag and our spend has reduced by 75%
@@meetim2931 not theory. I have a team of 6 Technicians using them daily for over 3 years since we switched from the guns ;;; works well for us and saved a fortune. They'd soon let me know if there was a problem
Guys, just throw your opened sealant and adhesives into the freezer! It just works! You don't even need to close the nozzles or use condoms if you don't want to! The sealant/adhesives react with the water (humidity) in the air, not the air itself! A freezer is for the most part a zero humidity(no liquid water) environment. You will lose nothing by trying it! I've got sealant /adhesives in my freezer that is still usable after 7 years! Using the freezer even works for my opened superglue ( cyanocryalate) which is still usable after 3 years! Maybe Proper DiY could do a show and tell on using the freezer for preserving sealants /adhesives and CC!
Thank you!! I just bought an upright freezer, so have extra space. Last time I needed sealant, I cut a used cartridge in half. Do you let it sit to thaw before using, or does it stay pretty pliable? Are there any sealants that get wrecked through freezing that you know of? I know some paints and products say not to freeze. I’m assuming anything with water in it would potentially separate and form water crystals…
Hi Toni. I have only put sealant, sealant adhesive and superglue in the freezer. It is cold coming from the freezer, but immediately pliable and useable on the intended surfaces! It's a nice feeling knowing that the sealant and CC is immediately useable when needed even after a few years! Good luck!
Was going to say the same. If the freezer isn't working out, put the entire cartridge in a bag, put in silica moist absorber pack suck out remaining air and put a tight knot in it. Those rubber caps wont work for years, the seal around the nozzle threads and the plunger in the back of the cartridge aren't perfectly air tight but do seal for much thicker materials. Moist air still gets in and harden the silicone.
Seems a very good tip...I'll give it a go. Did you try with expanding foam?
3 місяці тому+35
You could as well take the cutoff part and clean that out heat it up a little and put it back on. No need to buy empty cartridges for that purpose. You could also take one from an empty cartridge that you used previously.
I learned the hard way that silicone sealant has a shelf life regardless of the use and closure of the tip. Check the date code stamped on the tube. If the seal and is past its date code, throw it out. When you use old silicone, understand that it may not ever set. I found this out when sealing a new shower cabinet with my son. After four days, the silicone was still wet to the touch. After a little research, I discovered information about the date code. We literally wiped away the old stuff and replaced it with newly purchased silicone. Total success.
Never seen that but handy to know. Often had an old unopened tube set solid. Guess it’s like old plaster that can do the same ( sets very fast or not at all)
Thats a very good point. For most jobs its by far best to use a new tube as it goes off more quickly which is important round sinks and shower trays which have to be used within hours. I tell my customers 'Never wipe it! as it makes ridges which never come out!
@MrJohnnyboyrebel I did the same thing when setting a sink in a vanity. What a mess. If the acetic acid evaporates, it won't catalyze or harden. I had never had it happen before and definitely learned the hard way.
Great idea! That's all they are good for. You'd be better off with the tape. This guy must be making some money promoting these products. None of them will stop the curing in the nozzle. Almost all of his tubes have the removable nozzle option. Why not do what he suggested in the first place? It must be standard across the pond, cause here in the US the nozzles cannot be removed. So I just put a cut off piece of coat hanger with a wrap of duct tape at the top and it keeps a pathway for the good caulk to travel. I do have 1 or maybe 2 Male friends that could use those "condoms " on a hot date though!
@@dalehunt8191 I put a screw in and then tape that. Have yet to have even a nozzle I can't just use like I just cut it. (tip, once the screw is in place, I use one piece of tape sealed against itself that does the bulk of keeping the air out. I use a second longer piece of tape on top of that, mainly just to ensure the first piece does its job. I just use blue painters tape).
The only problem I've found with sawing ends off a tube, is that you get plastic saw dust in the product. A nightmare if it's something you're trying to get a clean finish on. Keep up the good work.
I’ve found a box cutter works best to cut the tube. Press the blade tip to penetrate the tube wall then slowly rotate the tube on the bench holding the box cutter steady. Just toss the dirty blade. Minimal cleanup and zero plastic bits in the caulking.
Take the nozzle off, push a 150mm screw into the bottom to purge the content, wrap in kitchen paper and clean the nozzle. For the tube, I use a hot glue gun to seal the tube, works everytime and takes a couple of mins. Been using this technique for years
How long does the hot glue keep it fresh? Do you make sure there is no air gap between the sealant and glue? Do you put a blob on the end or squeeze some glue in the nozzle and leave it at that?
@@Tonisuperfly ... Hello, Just be sure that the tip of the nozzel screw is clean and rougly 2 mm into the tube. I then set a plug of hot glue on it that looks simmilar to the original tube before one has opened it. It may well depend on what one is sealing, glue, sealant or what ever. As I stated above the last tube I repened was rougly a year old and still good.
@@Tonisuperfly i've had tubes of silicone that are re-usable up to a year later. I didn't do anything particularly special, wiped the top clean and just smother the end with hot glue. The nozzle I try to clean before it sets as best as I can.
Don’t throw away bunged up nozzles just screw a large screw into the ‘fat end’ and the cured sealant will just pull out. I’ve never had to buy replacement nozzles.
Hi Stuart, I’ve been using those caulk cap covers for well over a year. They do “nearly work”. I have had far better results combining taping the end of the tube and then fitting the caulk cap cover over the top. Another thing I do is cut off the ring tab around the tapered tube. This is for transport I think and that then allows the tapered tube to be screwed on more fully. One more thread.
What i tend to do is when I'm finished with the job and there's still adhesive left or silicone I push some out of the end and seal it with the stuff already in the tube. Come back to it at a later date and pull it out. Works for me
I do that with black silicone we use to seal engine housings. Pull out the hard sealer, pump out the dick cheese for a few seconds and you're back in business.
In a shed or workshop you could store the tubes with the nozzle ends submerged in water in a bucket or paint kettle. It stops the air getting to it and curing the product. That is how I store my solvent based paint brushes when in use.
That is impressive. For all my years I have been removing the nozzle & putting a plastic membrane in between .... I had never thought of such a simple solution. Thanks.
I do the same. For emulsion brushes and rollers, I use zip-lock food bags, sealing almost all the way and using a cycle pump with a football inflation needle to extract the remaining air before finally sealing the bag. I've found this keeps brushes from drying out for over a week.
@@astrecks as a decorator I can recommend just wrapping them in a normal plastic bag without all the faffing about. They stay soft for at least a month.
One tip if you have a decent compressor and want to unblock a nozzle, take the nozzle off and press the air blower attachment onto the nozzle end to make a seal and then blow the contents out. Make sure you aim it into a bin as it can make a bit of a mess!
Great tips, thank you. It occured to me that I have some rubber finger protectors, that I use over a plaster when I have cut myself. Thanks to you I have found another use for them.
For years now I have dipped mine in candle wax. I keep some wax in a small metal cup and warm it up and tip the tip a few times and I have not had a problem with tubes getting hard anymore. It also peels off every easy.
Love the suggestions. Unfortunately, the best one (replacing the nozzle) is a non-starter in the US as the nozzles are part of the tube and don't come off.
The trouble with fitting a new top to the tube is that the empty tubes are quite expensive to buy. If you're cutting the top off, couldn't you clear out the set sealant and reuse the old top?
Exactly what I was thinking. The hardend tuff should be eay enough to pry out and discard, so the empty cut off top portion of the catridge should be re-usable in the same way. Just a thought.
Next time you use an entire cartridge, cut it in half as the new empty one was in the video, soak it and then clean it and keep it for when needed. Boom. Free new cartridge.
Tried the last one, the little rubber condom thing. Doesn't work. The sealant still goes off just the same. Nice idea though, just useless. It'll be interesting to see if the first two seals work.
I wonder if you can re-use the top of the tube you cut off? Clean out the old contents, then heat it up and fit onto the remaining part of the tube. I've never tried that, but it might work. Could be worth a go before buying bare tubes. Might need a new nozzle.
Great tips thanks Stuart. Looking at that last solution I suppose you could clean out the cut off end and flare that back over the end of the cut off tube for reuse, and just replace the nozzle with a new one, although sometimes the cone of cured silicon will pop out of the old one. Given the mess would be about the same it’s worth a try.
A nozzle that's been ruined previously with sealant/glue gone off in it makes a perfect end-cap for a new tube - just remember to mark it u so you don't try to use it!
Love those empty tubes. Makes me wonder if you couldn't cut the clogged end off, clean it out from inside, warm it up and put it back over the tube it came off. Don't think boiling water would be enough, need a hot air gun probably and might take too long to be worth it. I'll try it and see.
@@bobbobberino2306 - If they're half the length, they'd literally be able to fit twice as many in the same space, simply by stacking them. And they would contain _less_ than half the sealant, so it would probably end up being more profitable. But, of course, it's not more profitable than selling you a _full_ tube and hoping you'll waste half and buy another one.
As we all know there is far too much plastic floating around the world, I'm no eco warrior but I find that the silicone in the sausage packs a far better way ,
Gosh those are all excellent ideas. Yet more inspired ideas that never occurred to me..... Anyway, re slipping the top of the empty tube over an old tube, I would think these new top parts can be had for free by simply saving and wiping out the tops of tubes which were fully depleted. I will be trying that from here on.
Great video! Love the condom! In the operating room, we use sterile condoms for the light handles above the bed. Even after 40 years, every time a surgery tech asks for one, someone snickers.
In the US, most caulk/adhesive nozzles are fixed and not removable. A tip when working with dried caulk is to use isopropyl alcohol. It will dissolve the caulk (even silicon) so it can be wiped away. I put IA into a plastic squeeze bottle with a pivot top (not to be confused with a flip top) for easy application..
Great video but I think the whole retubing thing is only worth it for almost unused tubes or really expencive tubes. I have no clue about pricing where you live but here in sweden the tubes costs between 80-300 sek = 8-30 usd or 6-22 gbp I can´t find empty tubes here in sweden so I would have too import them. But lets say I was able too buy the 4 pack for the 14gbp =3.5gbp each =47sek. for one of the cheap once the cost of the new tube already cost more than a half filled tube is worth and the pre done tube a new is even more expencive than a new tube of most of the once I ussually use. Then we have too concider that you need somewhere too store these that is conveniant enough that you would rather do this than get a new tube. Then we have too value our time and all of a sudden this method is not worth it unless it is your last tube and all the stores are closed or it is one of the really expencive tubes that are almost full.
I watched the video then a quick scroll through the comments, and was SHOCKED !! Not a single comment on the "MICRO CONDOMS" ! 😅😅 Very un-You Tube-like !!! A mature audience! GOOD VIDEO, TOO!
If you use several tubes all at once, for example when fitting lots of skirting boards then reuse the nozzle from the first tube. That way you collect lots of spare unused nozzles.
All the cr@p this guy shows DOES NOT WORK. Maybe electrical tape or duct but duck and masking does not work. The best is just inverting the tube in a cup of water.
I place a piece of thick polythene bag, [compost or dog food bags, even crisp bags will do], over the top and screw the nozzle back on just as demonstrated at 2:54. You might lose the nozzle or have to dig out any set sealant but the tube will remain useful for long over a year. There is some exhaust fitting paste I used to fix fiberglass tape to my woodburner just last week. That tube was bought in 2020 to repair a friend's bus exhaust during the lockdown. The nozzle is set like stone but under the plastic sheet, the tube is fine and probably will be for four more years. There's a tube of Crystal clear Stixall hanging by my bench dated 29th Sept 2022 that I use once every few weeks to seal small solar lights, still fully workable since I opened it back in Feb or March last year. I've done this for decades without it ever failing.
There is another possibility. Caulking profs use " sausages" of product in a caulking gun for that purpose . Sausages are cheaper ,so if you bye product by the box -it addsup. These caulking guns consist of a alu tube and have the normal configuration . Cut the top of the 13:38 hardenend tu be,empty it by pushing it with f.i. a screwdriver grip ON A SHEET OF GLADWRAP or saranwrap. Roll a sausage, ,twist the ends , frontload you caulking gun ,puncture the visible en of the sausage ,place the front end with a nozzle and Bob is yr uncle. Price of these caulking guns from € upwards
Thanks for all the good tips, as always. You convey great ideas for us mere DIYers, with a touch of welcome humour. Your channel is a fantastic source of knowledge and inspiration 👍
Good tips...but why buying extra nozzles and empty cartridges? What about re-using the old nozzles? I've done it - it's easy to remove the stuff once it's dried out. I've never reused the top of old cartridges (I just break them and take the stuff out (most of it anyway) and store in a plastic jar....but I do remember - the dried silicon come out easily from the cartridge too. In fact, from now on - I'll try to reuse the old cartridges and flare them to try your way (some learning from you then...but improved the extra mile for the environment and our pokets too). A lesson to anyone out there - (not just DIYers)....think twice before chucking stuff away.
after working with every type of caulk and sealant known to man, I can guarantee you that the little red mini rubbers will not keep a solvent based sealant or cock from drying out through the rubber membrane for more than a few weeks. I have thrown away so much sealant from working on roofs and windows, because I tried everything under the sun and anything that was a plastic sheet or a rubber membrane of any thickness would simply not keep the solvent from leaching out and drying out the caulk in the nozzle. I probably had the best luck with various size screws and eye rings. I like the other gizmos you show though. Good video.
What has worked for me so far is to simply remove the nozzle, take a knitting needle and poke around tube until I get deep inside. Once I reach the soft caulk, I just get a new nozzle and away I go on my merry way sealing up gaps again. I like the caulk condoms and will get a pack.
One thing to consider with stored/old tubes is any expiry date on the tube. I had the misfortune to use one which was out of date, the sealant line had lumps in which totally ruined the seal.
Been using Little Red Caps for various sealing problems for 10-15 years. I really wish someone would make nozzles with curves, or flexible to go around a corner or ???
I haven’t tried this yet, but I believe it would work perfectly. Get some beeswax and warm it in your hand and then use that to seal the nozzle. It’s impermeable to air and it sticks to plastic. I bet that works 100% Your tube fix is quite a good idea. Though I would probably use a heat gun
Now I live in Australia now and yes this has been a problem for me for many years and like you said have thrown away more than I care to think about it. Then researching this situation came up with some pretty cool fixes but my favourite one fix like you showed are those small red rubber condom-like pieces which are so cheap to buy on say eBay and I have not had any problems finding them and keeping my tubes fresh at as I said very little cost. Hmm that replacement tube fix is a great idea too I have never seen this fix before now.
I have a few 'new' now old cartridges that I bought in case I needed them one day a good few years back, I am hoping in spite of the sell by date on them that these will still be as good as new!
Are the condoms not the same as the packing tape (just more reusable)…..but if the tape doesn’t work, why would a condom? I also picked up a 3d printed cap with a thread and an o-ring seal on the main tube…..from eBay……works ok but not perfect
Some very useful solutions. I knew one guy who always used cling film to seal tubes between uses. He was the one who also wrapped a paint roller tightly in a plastic bag to stop the paint drying overnight. Both ideas seemed to work well.
You literally unscrewed the bunged up nozzle, put your finger in the still-pliable silicone, and said 'you can stop this going off by putting a piece of plastic between the nozzle and cartridge'. It hadnt gone off. Leave the nozzle on!
I found that really useful. I've always used packing tape or the odd screw in the past but they never last long. Looks like I need to buy some condoms :)
For starters.. understand the difference between compounds that dry.. out.. vs cure .. .. most mastics cure typically in reaction with moisture in the air as a catalyst.. not the air itself.. most tapes still let moisture through.. once catalysing has started it needs to be headed off & sealed before the reaction reaches the tube exit without contacting air & the moisture in it.. aluminium foil tape over the exit (not the nozzle) & squeezed out past the foil then pressed firmly against the cleanly cut exit hole has been the ONLY way I've found to work.. research catalysing.. drying🤧😷🤕🙃
If you have access to a 3D Printer you can print a cap, the one I used screws onto the end of the tube and has a thread on it so you can still screw the nozzle back on rather than lose it. I can't remember where I found it now but if anyone is interested let me know and I'll hunt out the original design which is a free to use download.
@ProperDIY thanks for taking the time to make the video and the comparison to save us money. I'm thinking if I run a bead of glue gun glue on the tip it should seal it nicely and peel off easy. Have not tried it yet. What do you think? Perhaps we could store leftover stuff in mason jars and used pastry bags would work as well.
My top tip even cheaper.... Get a torx 100mm screw, impact driver and screw in the end and rotate till all that hard silicone has gone into lumps and then new nozzle, get all the gunk out and bobs your uncle 😊
Left me a bit puzzled at first. If the bit in the nozzle dries up but the rest is useable when you remove the nozzle, what's the point of sealing the tube with a piece of plastic? You still lose the bit in the nozzle so you haven't achieved anything. But it's a good idea if you remove the nozzle and clean it out first, a bit of old cloth wrapped around a thin screwdriver clears most of it. Then using the plastic seals the main tube and the nozzle is already clean for the next use. But to prevent it clogging in the first place, to be honest I just use a large enough screw to make sure it's a tight fit, even cutting into the nozzle with the screw thread and it pretty much always works perfectly. It's only using too small a screw that fails completely. Alternatively, wrap some cling film around the nozzle tip and secure it with something like duct tape and it has the same effect as the condom. No need to buy anything. I must admit I didn't know you could buy extra nozzles and tubes, but to free a blocked up tube I would remove the nozzle then drill into the top of the tube. Cut the top bit of dried up product off with a stanley knife to get a flat surface so your drill doesn't slip, then use any 10-12mm drill bit and slowly drill down into the tube through the top opening. As soon as you stop feeling any resistance you're through the dried up bit and into the usable product, and you've now made a hole through the dried up bit for it to come through. Put the nozzle back on, or a new one if required, and you're good to go.
I've been caught out too, now I just use a spirit pen and write the date of purchase inside the bottom of the tube, doing that simply means I don't find myself shaping up to do a job: only to discover the sealant in the tube has gone solid. :( Best wishes to all, John, Perth, Au'
Over a few decades of using various cartridges, I’ve never had one with a removable nozzle. I don’t recall noticing them or any mentioning of them at the multiple places I’ve shopped in. I’m betting that cartridges with replaceable nozzles are more expensive than non replaceable ones to the point it stays cheaper to just toss the cheap one rather than mess with repairing the more expensive ones.
Great video Stuart with some useful tips. I rarely use anything in a tube so by the time I do need to use it again it has passed its expiry date and the whole lot has gone off in the tube. These tips are great for anyone regularly using tubes of stuff though 🙂 I think I will get some of those wee 'condoms' to try out and also for my sons' xmas presents though! (They're in their 30's and both have kids!)😂
I always remove the nozzle and insert a big screw into it and chuck it into a box. If it dries simply pull the screw out and the "plug" will come out too........
Great tips. A 'slightly' less messy way to get to the good goo in a part cured tube is to just drill through the cured material to create a fresh path, flush the 'kerf' out and fit a new nozzle (and often the cured sealant plug will pull easily out of a used nozzle).
That's how I have always done it, and then cleaned the bit with acetone or Isopropyl alcohol (Whichever comes to hand first)
Snap. Cheapest easiest way to do it
Me too. Can really fuck up the tube though but works.
I have a dedicated drill bit just for this 😉.. don't even need to fully clean that one.
That is a good one, never thought of that.
In the States I use a fencing end cap - that happens to be 1 5/8” in diameter- perfect for the back end of the cartridge; which is then wrapped in good ol’ black tape. I also use a “Sharpie” pen to make hash marks on the lower end of said tube to indicate how much product I have left.
I wrap the tip with packing tape and then squeeze out material to fill the gaps under the tape. The material filling the gaps under the tape cure and help seal off the nozzle, and is also easy to clean off. Works well for caulks and sealants that are a bit soft after curing.
tip ive used to seal ends is simple kids pack of water bloons ,very much like the caulk condoms but alot cheaper
Screwing plastic between the nozzle and the tube? Dammit I thought I'd invented that! (You can use aluminium foil as well.)
Don’t forget nozzles are most likely free at the hardware shop.
I can't believe a didn't see the diy version!
I put kitchen plastic wrap around the nozzle and squeeze a little bit of material from the tube forming a "blob cap" that gets trapped in the film sealing the tube, later I remove the dried top and its ready to use, so far worked fine for me.
This is one of my favorite channels on yt, thanks for your content it's really informative and entertaining.
I run a small building team in the NHS where we fit home adaptations including occasional wall mounted shower chairs and grab handles. We don't use enough silicone to warrant wielding a gun and had boxes of spare refills going off in the store or van. We now use toothpaste tubes of sealants - much more easily carried in a tool-bag and our spend has reduced by 75%
Great in theory. I've found that the tubes are devilish hard to squeeze the stuff out. I bought them once or twice, never again.
@@meetim2931 not theory. I have a team of 6 Technicians using them daily for over 3 years since we switched from the guns ;;; works well for us and saved a fortune. They'd soon let me know if there was a problem
And they are very expensive too
@@Zuludarkthirty nu
The tunes are too expensive in my country.
I use candle wax, it seals the end really well and is easy to break off when you need it again.
Loads of ideas - do you seal the nozzle or tube?
Same. Light a candle, and dip the open end in a few times to seal it.
Guys, just throw your opened sealant and adhesives into the freezer! It just works! You don't even need to close the nozzles or use condoms if you don't want to! The sealant/adhesives react with the water (humidity) in the air, not the air itself! A freezer is for the most part a zero humidity(no liquid water) environment. You will lose nothing by trying it! I've got sealant /adhesives in my freezer that is still usable after 7 years! Using the freezer even works for my opened superglue ( cyanocryalate) which is still usable after 3 years! Maybe Proper DiY could do a show and tell on using the freezer for preserving sealants /adhesives and CC!
Thank you!! I just bought an upright freezer, so have extra space. Last time I needed sealant, I cut a used cartridge in half.
Do you let it sit to thaw before using, or does it stay pretty pliable? Are there any sealants that get wrecked through freezing that you know of? I know some paints and products say not to freeze. I’m assuming anything with water in it would potentially separate and form water crystals…
Hi Toni. I have only put sealant, sealant adhesive and superglue in the freezer. It is cold coming from the freezer, but immediately pliable and useable on the intended surfaces! It's a nice feeling knowing that the sealant and CC is immediately useable when needed even after a few years! Good luck!
@@hermanussi well it’s worth it just for adhesives and sealants. Thanks for the reply
Was going to say the same. If the freezer isn't working out, put the entire cartridge in a bag, put in silica moist absorber pack suck out remaining air and put a tight knot in it.
Those rubber caps wont work for years, the seal around the nozzle threads and the plunger in the back of the cartridge aren't perfectly air tight but do seal for much thicker materials. Moist air still gets in and harden the silicone.
Seems a very good tip...I'll give it a go. Did you try with expanding foam?
You could as well take the cutoff part and clean that out heat it up a little and put it back on. No need to buy empty cartridges for that purpose. You could also take one from an empty cartridge that you used previously.
Spot on advice.
and do the same with the nozzles - done it many times...no need to buy.
I was about to suggest the same test.. I thought about it watching the video, but have never tried...
Cool tip!
@@tonyharion9816You clearly beat me to it, I just had the same idea myself so I will remove my comment.
I learned the hard way that silicone sealant has a shelf life regardless of the use and closure of the tip. Check the date code stamped on the tube. If the seal and is past its date code, throw it out. When you use old silicone, understand that it may not ever set. I found this out when sealing a new shower cabinet with my son. After four days, the silicone was still wet to the touch. After a little research, I discovered information about the date code. We literally wiped away the old stuff and replaced it with newly purchased silicone. Total success.
Never seen that but handy to know. Often had an old unopened tube set solid. Guess it’s like old plaster that can do the same ( sets very fast or not at all)
Thats a very good point. For most jobs its by far best to use a new tube as it goes off more quickly which is important round sinks and shower trays which have to be used within hours. I tell my customers 'Never wipe it! as it makes ridges which never come out!
@MrJohnnyboyrebel I did the same thing when setting a sink in a vanity. What a mess. If the acetic acid evaporates, it won't catalyze or harden. I had never had it happen before and definitely learned the hard way.
Me too it never cured
Depending on brand. I had no-nonsense lasting years. Some ebay ones go solid after 1 year unopened.
Those condoms are a nice novelty gift for friends at Christmas, wrap them up as actual condoms. 😂
Great idea!
That's all they are good for.
You'd be better off with the tape.
This guy must be making some money promoting these products. None of them will stop the curing in the nozzle. Almost all of his tubes have the removable nozzle option. Why not do what he suggested in the first place?
It must be standard across the pond, cause here in the US the nozzles cannot be removed. So I just put a cut off piece of coat hanger with a wrap of duct tape at the top and it keeps a pathway for the good caulk to travel.
I do have 1 or maybe 2 Male friends that could use those "condoms " on a hot date though!
@@dalehunt8191 I put a screw in and then tape that. Have yet to have even a nozzle I can't just use like I just cut it. (tip, once the screw is in place, I use one piece of tape sealed against itself that does the bulk of keeping the air out. I use a second longer piece of tape on top of that, mainly just to ensure the first piece does its job. I just use blue painters tape).
The phrase "small but perfectly formed " springs to mind. Happy Christmas my friend.
The only problem I've found with sawing ends off a tube, is that you get plastic saw dust in the product. A nightmare if it's something you're trying to get a clean finish on. Keep up the good work.
It does help using a metal blade for finer plastic chips or if you have it, a hot wire cutter (used for cutting insulation).
I’ve found a box cutter works best to cut the tube. Press the blade tip to penetrate the tube wall then slowly rotate the tube on the bench holding the box cutter steady. Just toss the dirty blade. Minimal cleanup and zero plastic bits in the caulking.
@@larryg3038 nice
Take the nozzle off, push a 150mm screw into the bottom to purge the content, wrap in kitchen paper and clean the nozzle. For the tube, I use a hot glue gun to seal the tube, works everytime and takes a couple of mins. Been using this technique for years
How long does the hot glue keep it fresh? Do you make sure there is no air gap between the sealant and glue? Do you put a blob on the end or squeeze some glue in the nozzle and leave it at that?
@@Tonisuperfly ... Hello, Just be sure that the tip of the nozzel screw is clean and rougly 2 mm into the tube. I then set a plug of hot glue on it that looks simmilar to the original tube before one has opened it. It may well depend on what one is sealing, glue, sealant or what ever. As I stated above the last tube I repened was rougly a year old and still good.
@@Tonisuperfly i've had tubes of silicone that are re-usable up to a year later. I didn't do anything particularly special, wiped the top clean and just smother the end with hot glue. The nozzle I try to clean before it sets as best as I can.
I was going to suggest this. I use this method for all my glue dispensers like PVA glues.
I use golf T's which are tapered, work perfectly well.
I find it satisfying digging out the hardened stuff from the wide end of the nozzle with a little screwdriver.
Yes same ..I've a specific screw driver for shoving in the top of the nozzle & pushing out the blob .. very satisfying 👌
2:51 People watching this video in 50-years time thinking WTF is a "plastic carry bag?!?!" 😂
Thanks for the great tips Stu 👍
In the USA, the nozzles don’t unscrew. They are part of the tube. Very frustrating.
Fair dinkum?
That's unfortunate.😂 US capitalism
In south africa they unscrew too.
Not true
Superb, it really is annoying wasting part empty cartridges . Decent Silicone isnt cheap either. Thanks Stuart. 👌
Don’t throw away bunged up nozzles just screw a large screw into the ‘fat end’ and the cured sealant will just pull out. I’ve never had to buy replacement nozzles.
"Micro nozzle". "Fits any size". We love your channel.
Hi Stuart, I’ve been using those caulk cap covers for well over a year. They do “nearly work”. I have had far better results combining taping the end of the tube and then fitting the caulk cap cover over the top.
Another thing I do is cut off the ring tab around the tapered tube. This is for transport I think and that then allows the tapered tube to be screwed on more fully. One more thread.
What i tend to do is when I'm finished with the job and there's still adhesive left or silicone I push some out of the end and seal it with the stuff already in the tube. Come back to it at a later date and pull it out. Works for me
I do that with black silicone we use to seal engine housings. Pull out the hard sealer, pump out the dick cheese for a few seconds and you're back in business.
In a shed or workshop you could store the tubes with the nozzle ends submerged in water in a bucket or paint kettle. It stops the air getting to it and curing the product. That is how I store my solvent based paint brushes when in use.
That is impressive. For all my years I have been removing the nozzle & putting a plastic membrane in between .... I had never thought of such a simple solution. Thanks.
I do the same. For emulsion brushes and rollers, I use zip-lock food bags, sealing almost all the way and using a cycle pump with a football inflation needle to extract the remaining air before finally sealing the bag. I've found this keeps brushes from drying out for over a week.
@@astrecks as a decorator I can recommend just wrapping them in a normal plastic bag without all the faffing about. They stay soft for at least a month.
@@6panel300 Cheers, good to know!
One tip if you have a decent compressor and want to unblock a nozzle, take the nozzle off and press the air blower attachment onto the nozzle end to make a seal and then blow the contents out. Make sure you aim it into a bin as it can make a bit of a mess!
Would be interested if you came back to this in say 12 months & see which of the closures did best.
Great tips, thank you. It occured to me that I have some rubber finger protectors, that I use over a plaster when I have cut myself. Thanks to you I have found another use for them.
I absolutely HATE wasting these. thanks for awesome tips for my tips!
This something the manufacture should include. I wonder why they do not. Wink Wink.
Thank you for raising awareness of Micronozzle ✊
Does it fit
For years now I have dipped mine in candle wax. I keep some wax in a small metal cup and warm it up and tip the tip a few times and I have not had a problem with tubes getting hard anymore. It also peels off every easy.
Missed a vital top tip in the middle of the video there, always ensure you use a borrowed tenon saw to cut the tube of silicone 😜😂
Love the suggestions. Unfortunately, the best one (replacing the nozzle) is a non-starter in the US as the nozzles are part of the tube and don't come off.
Micro nozzle 😂😂
The trouble with fitting a new top to the tube is that the empty tubes are quite expensive to buy. If you're cutting the top off, couldn't you clear out the set sealant and reuse the old top?
Exactly what I was thinking. The hardend tuff should be eay enough to pry out and discard, so the empty cut off top portion of the catridge should be re-usable in the same way. Just a thought.
Next time you use an entire cartridge, cut it in half as the new empty one was in the video, soak it and then clean it and keep it for when needed. Boom. Free new cartridge.
The worst product for going off in the bottle I find is Gorilla glue.
Tried the last one, the little rubber condom thing. Doesn't work. The sealant still goes off just the same. Nice idea though, just useless. It'll be interesting to see if the first two seals work.
Best way I've found is self-amalgamating tape wrapped over the end.
I wonder if you can re-use the top of the tube you cut off? Clean out the old contents, then heat it up and fit onto the remaining part of the tube. I've never tried that, but it might work. Could be worth a go before buying bare tubes. Might need a new nozzle.
Not nearly as upset as when half the contents of a tube squeeze out of the back of the tube due to shoddy manufacture.
Great tips, thanks a lot. I do very little DIY and it always seemed such a waste to throw away unused tubes.
Great tips thanks Stuart. Looking at that last solution I suppose you could clean out the cut off end and flare that back over the end of the cut off tube for reuse, and just replace the nozzle with a new one, although sometimes the cone of cured silicon will pop out of the old one. Given the mess would be about the same it’s worth a try.
or just drive a long screw in the cured top and yank it out with a plier and you get a route for the good material beneath?
"Just because I think it's funny"... 😂😂😂
Great tips👍👍
Excellent tips, thanks. Of course the manufacturers could easily add a screw on top to replace the nozzle when not in use, I wont hold my breath!
They do, I have some which I jealously guard! Don't know why they don't all do it.
A nozzle that's been ruined previously with sealant/glue gone off in it makes a perfect end-cap for a new tube - just remember to mark it u so you don't try to use it!
@@sroberts605 Just about conceivable that they realise people buy a lot more of their product when 80% gets thrown away.... 🤔
Love those empty tubes. Makes me wonder if you couldn't cut the clogged end off, clean it out from inside, warm it up and put it back over the tube it came off. Don't think boiling water would be enough, need a hot air gun probably and might take too long to be worth it. I'll try it and see.
Brilliant! Can't believe it's taken this long for someone to show this. Kudos to you Stu.
Congratulations, regards from Athens Greece...😊
The empty caulking tubes on Amazon UK currently lead to a page selling shower heads.
The empty tubes are in their shop tho.
Why don't manufacturers make 1/2 or 1/3 length products?!
They'd make 1/2 sizes at 2/3 the price and quickly raise the price of the full size cartridges by 1/3.
Careful what you wish for
@@bobbobberino2306 - If they're half the length, they'd literally be able to fit twice as many in the same space, simply by stacking them. And they would contain _less_ than half the sealant, so it would probably end up being more profitable. But, of course, it's not more profitable than selling you a _full_ tube and hoping you'll waste half and buy another one.
They do - you can buy sealants in toothpaste sized tubes now
As we all know there is far too much plastic floating around the world, I'm no eco warrior but I find that the silicone in the sausage packs a far better way ,
Gosh those are all excellent ideas. Yet more inspired ideas that never occurred to me.....
Anyway, re slipping the top of the empty tube over an old tube, I would think these new top parts can be had for free by simply saving and wiping out the tops of tubes which were fully depleted. I will be trying that from here on.
Always good to see one of your video’s drop Stuart, good ideas,tips and sealant condoms.👍👍
Use water balloons over the ends a lot cheaper 💪
Every day's a school day. Thanks for tips. Got at least half a dozen of these kickin around.
Stuart, why didn’t you use the metal ‘pin’ attached to the side of your sealant gun to make a hole through ?
That’s what it was meant for.
7:23 No tasteless jokes please.
Great video! Love the condom!
In the operating room, we use sterile condoms for the light handles above the bed. Even after 40 years, every time a surgery tech asks for one, someone snickers.
In the US, most caulk/adhesive nozzles are fixed and not removable.
A tip when working with dried caulk is to use isopropyl alcohol. It will dissolve the caulk (even silicon) so it can be wiped away. I put IA into a plastic squeeze bottle with a pivot top (not to be confused with a flip top) for easy application..
That caulk nozzle stopper is like that horrific visit to the STI clinic 😮
Great video but I think the whole retubing thing is only worth it for almost unused tubes or really expencive tubes.
I have no clue about pricing where you live but here in sweden the tubes costs between 80-300 sek = 8-30 usd or 6-22 gbp
I can´t find empty tubes here in sweden so I would have too import them.
But lets say I was able too buy the 4 pack for the 14gbp =3.5gbp each =47sek.
for one of the cheap once the cost of the new tube already cost more than a half filled tube is worth and the pre done tube a new is even more expencive than a new tube of most of the once I ussually use.
Then we have too concider that you need somewhere too store these that is conveniant enough that you would rather do this than get a new tube.
Then we have too value our time and all of a sudden this method is not worth it unless it is your last tube and all the stores are closed or it is one of the really expencive tubes that are almost full.
I watched the video then a quick scroll through the comments, and was SHOCKED !!
Not a single comment on the
"MICRO CONDOMS" ! 😅😅
Very un-You Tube-like !!!
A mature audience!
GOOD VIDEO, TOO!
Drill out the hardened hole in the tube... getting down to the good stuff..
If you use several tubes all at once, for example when fitting lots of skirting boards then reuse the nozzle from the first tube. That way you collect lots of spare unused nozzles.
Hi Stuart. This video was very helpful many thanks. I have used tape in the past to seal my tubes without much success.
All the cr@p this guy shows DOES NOT WORK.
Maybe electrical tape or duct but duck and masking does not work.
The best is just inverting the tube in a cup of water.
I place a piece of thick polythene bag, [compost or dog food bags, even crisp bags will do], over the top and screw the nozzle back on just as demonstrated at 2:54.
You might lose the nozzle or have to dig out any set sealant but the tube will remain useful for long over a year.
There is some exhaust fitting paste I used to fix fiberglass tape to my woodburner just last week. That tube was bought in 2020 to repair a friend's bus exhaust during the lockdown. The nozzle is set like stone but under the plastic sheet, the tube is fine and probably will be for four more years.
There's a tube of Crystal clear Stixall hanging by my bench dated 29th Sept 2022 that I use once every few weeks to seal small solar lights, still fully workable since I opened it back in Feb or March last year.
I've done this for decades without it ever failing.
There is another possibility.
Caulking profs use " sausages" of product in a caulking gun for that purpose .
Sausages are cheaper ,so if you bye product by the box -it addsup.
These caulking guns consist of a alu tube and have the normal configuration .
Cut the top of the 13:38
hardenend tu be,empty it by pushing it with f.i. a screwdriver grip ON A SHEET OF GLADWRAP or saranwrap.
Roll a sausage, ,twist the ends , frontload you caulking gun ,puncture the visible en of the sausage ,place the front end with a nozzle and Bob is yr uncle.
Price of these caulking guns from € upwards
Wouldn’t it be easier to drill through hard sealant and make a new channel for it to run through?
The hole tends to expand under the drill then close after so the sealant doesn't flow. Think trying to drill a hole in thick water.
Thanks for all the good tips, as always. You convey great ideas for us mere DIYers, with a touch of welcome humour. Your channel is a fantastic source of knowledge and inspiration 👍
Good tips...but why buying extra nozzles and empty cartridges? What about re-using the old nozzles? I've done it - it's easy to remove the stuff once it's dried out. I've never reused the top of old cartridges (I just break them and take the stuff out (most of it anyway) and store in a plastic jar....but I do remember - the dried silicon come out easily from the cartridge too. In fact, from now on - I'll try to reuse the old cartridges and flare them to try your way (some learning from you then...but improved the extra mile for the environment and our pokets too).
A lesson to anyone out there - (not just DIYers)....think twice before chucking stuff away.
Bad habit pronunciation
NOT "a-dee-siv"
SAY "ad-hee-siv"
DON'T say "elfie"
DO say "H-ealTHy"
after working with every type of caulk and sealant known to man, I can guarantee you that the little red mini rubbers will not keep a solvent based sealant or cock from drying out through the rubber membrane for more than a few weeks. I have thrown away so much sealant from working on roofs and windows, because I tried everything under the sun and anything that was a plastic sheet or a rubber membrane of any thickness would simply not keep the solvent from leaching out and drying out the caulk in the nozzle. I probably had the best luck with various size screws and eye rings. I like the other gizmos you show though. Good video.
What has worked for me so far is to simply remove the nozzle, take a knitting needle and poke around tube until I get deep inside. Once I reach the soft caulk, I just get a new nozzle and away I go on my merry way sealing up gaps again. I like the caulk condoms and will get a pack.
One thing to consider with stored/old tubes is any expiry date on the tube. I had the misfortune to use one which was out of date, the sealant line had lumps in which totally ruined the seal.
Been using Little Red Caps for various sealing problems for 10-15 years. I really wish someone would make nozzles with curves, or flexible to go around a corner or ???
The reused cartridge idea is absolutely fantastic . Super cool 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻. Hello from Brazil 🇧🇷
I haven’t tried this yet, but I believe it would work perfectly.
Get some beeswax and warm it in your hand and then use that to seal the nozzle.
It’s impermeable to air and it sticks to plastic. I bet that works 100%
Your tube fix is quite a good idea.
Though I would probably use a heat gun
I like this idea.
Now I live in Australia now and yes this has been a problem for me for many years and like you said have thrown away more than I care to think about it. Then researching this situation came up with some pretty cool fixes but my favourite one fix like you showed are those small red rubber condom-like pieces which are so cheap to buy on say eBay and I have not had any problems finding them and keeping my tubes fresh at as I said very little cost. Hmm that replacement tube fix is a great idea too I have never seen this fix before now.
I have a few 'new' now old cartridges that I bought in case I needed them one day a good few years back, I am hoping in spite of the sell by date on them that these will still be as good as new!
Are the condoms not the same as the packing tape (just more reusable)…..but if the tape doesn’t work, why would a condom? I also picked up a 3d printed cap with a thread and an o-ring seal on the main tube…..from eBay……works ok but not perfect
Some very useful solutions. I knew one guy who always used cling film to seal tubes between uses. He was the one who also wrapped a paint roller tightly in a plastic bag to stop the paint drying overnight. Both ideas seemed to work well.
Even the dried silicone is useful, it’s great for cleaning sandpaper on belt sanders.
You literally unscrewed the bunged up nozzle, put your finger in the still-pliable silicone, and said 'you can stop this going off by putting a piece of plastic between the nozzle and cartridge'. It hadnt gone off. Leave the nozzle on!
I found that really useful. I've always used packing tape or the odd screw in the past but they never last long. Looks like I need to buy some condoms :)
For starters.. understand the difference between compounds that dry.. out.. vs cure .. .. most mastics cure typically in reaction with moisture in the air as a catalyst.. not the air itself.. most tapes still let moisture through.. once catalysing has started it needs to be headed off & sealed before the reaction reaches the tube exit without contacting air & the moisture in it.. aluminium foil tape over the exit (not the nozzle) & squeezed out past the foil then pressed firmly against the cleanly cut exit hole has been the ONLY way I've found to work.. research catalysing.. drying🤧😷🤕🙃
If you have access to a 3D Printer you can print a cap, the one I used screws onto the end of the tube and has a thread on it so you can still screw the nozzle back on rather than lose it. I can't remember where I found it now but if anyone is interested let me know and I'll hunt out the original design which is a free to use download.
You may find you can clear out bunged up nozzels by taking them off and blowing compressed air backwards through them.
@ProperDIY thanks for taking the time to make the video and the comparison to save us money.
I'm thinking if I run a bead of glue gun glue on the tip it should seal it nicely and peel off easy. Have not tried it yet. What do you think?
Perhaps we could store leftover stuff in mason jars and used pastry bags would work as well.
Unbelievably simple but so worthwhile, now I can see how to use my old silicon tubes. Thank You
🎉🎉🎉
My top tip even cheaper.... Get a torx 100mm screw, impact driver and screw in the end and rotate till all that hard silicone has gone into lumps and then new nozzle, get all the gunk out and bobs your uncle 😊
Left me a bit puzzled at first. If the bit in the nozzle dries up but the rest is useable when you remove the nozzle, what's the point of sealing the tube with a piece of plastic? You still lose the bit in the nozzle so you haven't achieved anything. But it's a good idea if you remove the nozzle and clean it out first, a bit of old cloth wrapped around a thin screwdriver clears most of it. Then using the plastic seals the main tube and the nozzle is already clean for the next use.
But to prevent it clogging in the first place, to be honest I just use a large enough screw to make sure it's a tight fit, even cutting into the nozzle with the screw thread and it pretty much always works perfectly. It's only using too small a screw that fails completely. Alternatively, wrap some cling film around the nozzle tip and secure it with something like duct tape and it has the same effect as the condom. No need to buy anything.
I must admit I didn't know you could buy extra nozzles and tubes, but to free a blocked up tube I would remove the nozzle then drill into the top of the tube. Cut the top bit of dried up product off with a stanley knife to get a flat surface so your drill doesn't slip, then use any 10-12mm drill bit and slowly drill down into the tube through the top opening. As soon as you stop feeling any resistance you're through the dried up bit and into the usable product, and you've now made a hole through the dried up bit for it to come through. Put the nozzle back on, or a new one if required, and you're good to go.
I've been caught out too, now I just use a spirit pen and write the date of purchase inside the bottom of the tube, doing that simply means I don't find myself shaping up to do a job: only to discover the sealant in the tube has gone solid. :( Best wishes to all, John, Perth, Au'
Over a few decades of using various cartridges, I’ve never had one with a removable nozzle. I don’t recall noticing them or any mentioning of them at the multiple places I’ve shopped in. I’m betting that cartridges with replaceable nozzles are more expensive than non replaceable ones to the point it stays cheaper to just toss the cheap one rather than mess with repairing the more expensive ones.
Great video Stuart with some useful tips. I rarely use anything in a tube so by the time I do need to use it again it has passed its expiry date and the whole lot has gone off in the tube. These tips are great for anyone regularly using tubes of stuff though 🙂 I think I will get some of those wee 'condoms' to try out and also for my sons' xmas presents though! (They're in their 30's and both have kids!)😂
I always remove the nozzle and insert a big screw into it and chuck it into a box. If it dries simply pull the screw out and the "plug" will come out too........
I tried to order a pack of TubeANew from Amazon, but was informed it could not be sent to my address in NE Scotland!! Any ideas?
Who is going to buy "Sticks like Sh*t" They already told you it doesn't work. lol Cheers from the Western Hemisphere.
I use these condom like things, but I always remove the tip because I feel that screwed on connection is never tight enough.
Good video.