"Seal A Meal" to store goop

[Dave B]

This may be old news but I don't remember hearing about it before.

Over 2 months ago I opened a new cartridge of 3M 4200. Of course I only needed a tiny bit of it and hated to have the rest go to waste. In the past I've always taped off the tip and stored it in the refrigerator but that still only delayed the inevitable for a couple weeks at most, and the tip is usually plugged into a big mess.

This time, however, I taped the tip as usual and then stuck the cartridge into a large "Seal A Meal" bag and sucked the air out of it before storing it in the refrigerator.

Since then I've used the cartridge 3 times (and used the last bit tonight). The goop stayed perfect during that time and showed no indication of going bad. There was never more then a tiny plug in the end of the tip and the total amount of goop that was lost wouldn't have filled a thimble. I also re-used the seal bag each time so there wasn't any waste there, either.

I'm hoping that this works on other types of goop as well. So far it's been well worth the little effort it takes to throw the cartridge into a seal bag.

[boylesboats]

Haven't tried it... most of time product used up...
Some hardware stores carry plugs that fits on nozzles of caulking tubes...
Leftover 3M products is expensive stuff to waste after a small job..
I would think as long if you remove most of air space, it shouldn't cure..

[RFNK]

Great idea! I wonder if it would work for Sikaflex?

[paladin]

Since we only used a bit at a time in Thailand, we just used a wooden plug and stuck it in our cool room. We built a 12 x 12 room approx out of heavy wood, then insulated it on all sides with foam boxes used to transport marker rockets, surplused from the nearby base, then added a small windo air conditioner to one side....it was so well insulated we could freeze up the aircon if we didn't watch it.

[rbgarr]

Another way to do it is to use a self sealing bag and exhale heavily into the bag before closing. The CO2 in your breath displaces the oxygen some, and keeps the moisture out. If you smoke it's even better. We get a cigar smoker in the shop to carry 'bag duty'.

[boylesboats]

Another way to do it is to use a self sealing bag and exhale heavily into the bag before closing. The CO2 in your breath displaces the oxygen some, and keeps the moisture out. If you smoke it's even better. We get a cigar smoker in the shop to carry 'bag duty'.

ROTFLMAO :D
We get a cigar smoker in the shop to carry 'bag duty' that is funny

[Peerie Maa]

Another way to do it is to use a self sealing bag and exhale heavily into the bag before closing. The CO2 in your breath displaces the oxygen some, and keeps the moisture out. If you smoke it's even better. We get a cigar smoker in the shop to carry 'bag duty'.

I wonder whether Butane or Propane would work? Some say it stops paint skinning if you displace the air in the paint tin with it before resealing the tin.