3m 5200 useable life

[georgew]

The directions on a tube of 3m 5200 state that the adhisive must be used within 48 hours of the seal in the tube being broken. What has been your experience with this. Will the adhisive harden up, or can it be used a little at a time, over the course of a few weeks, or a month, if the tube is sealed with a nail between uses. Thanks for any information. George

[John Bell]

I been able to keep an open tube for a two weeks or more by sealing it in a freezer bag then tossing it (where else? ;) ) in the freezer. You have to let it warm up for couple of hours before using it, but it's better than tossing $10 away.

[landlocked sailor]

I, too, found that the freezer extends its life. The short open-tube life caused me to just stop using 5200; I switched to PL polyurethane products. They are a lot cheaper & the tube last quite a while when cured. It depends on your application though, I guess. Rick

[Paul Morris]

I too am frustrated with not being able to use all of a tube of 5200 at the price it is. Earlier this week I talked to the customer service folks @ 3M and they told me that the cure in this and most polyurethane adhesives will stop at about 40 deg.F and that sealing the nozzel with plastic electricians tape and putting the tube(s)in a refrigerator will suffice for slowing or stopping the initial cure.
Also the nozzels on this product are a threaded connection to the cartridge. Spare nozzels can be ordered from 3M through your 5200 retailer (if they are willing to do it for you).
They come as a bag of 10 nozzels.
~ Paul ~

[Torna]

Can't speak directly to 5200, but with UV4000 I form a big mushroom of goo over the nossle tip when done for the day. As long as I use again within a couple weeks it seems that twisting off the mushroom pulls all the cured goo cleanly out of the tip and it's ready to go. Successfully extended the life of a tube to 3 months at room temp this way on several occasions.
The problem that limits life is that eventually the plunger cements itself to the tube wall; next time I too will try the freezer.

-leif

[kra]

I use a vacuum bagger(freezer bag type)with tape over the nozzle and keep it for a few weeks at room temp. I cut the bag long so I can reseal the bag a couple of times before becoming to short to seal(bags are not cheap either)
I too will have to try the freezer!
Randy