(warning) sikaflex

[brent stella]

I thought I give my fellow forum readers a warning about sikaflex. This past weekend I was getting ready to plank the bottom of my boat. I loaded a tube of Sikaflex LOT 291 into my caulk gun, poked a hole in the seal, and tried to squeeze the handle to push the pulnger into the tube. Well the bottom of the tube is on so tight that I had to squeeze with all my might. Then it finally let go and the tip of my left index finger got pinched in and cut off buy the handles of the clauk gun. Just wanted to let you guys know.

[Klaus]

Oh dear, and I thought I was the only clumsy boatie .
Seriously, there must be something wrong with your chaulking gun or the sikaflex had gone off in the top of the tube.
All the sika I have used always came out of the tube easily once I had removed the hardened plug in the nozzle. I keep the stuff in the shed fridge, it keeps much longer when kept cold.

Remember next time: Sikaflex applies very easily with a chaulking gun, if it does not, stop squeezing, take the tube out of the gun and see where the obstruction is. Trying to squeeze harder is asking for something to give, your finger in your case, unfortunately .
Klaus

[guillemot]

Yikes!! Sorry to hear that. I've had a simliar experience with Lifecaulk, although I slipped out with just a nasty pinch. I'll definately be more careful!

Jeff

[boatbuilder.org]

Two things need to happen to get it out of the tube. The first is to puncture the seal and the second is to remove the plate at the butt of the tube. There is an aluminum "knock-out" piece at the end of the tubes. Once that is removed you will be able to see the plastic plunger. I do not know why they do it, does someone out there know?
---Joel---

[Ken Hutchins]

Some products in cartridges or tubes will start to cure in the cartridge with the slightest bit of air leakage, so they add the bottom seal to prevent any air leaks. I don't know about sika-flex but 5200 states in the instructions on the cartridge "puncture seal in nozzle and knock out bottom end seal before placing cartridge in caulking gun"

[brent stella]

Boy, do I feel stupid. There is a plate at the bottom but it didn't look like I could pull it out. On the next tube I'll give it a try. Maybe I'll save some more finger tips.

[rbgarr]

Yo're not alone. I had to learn that the hard way, too.

[Jamaica Mike]

Originally posted by Ken Hutchins:
Some products in cartridges or tubes will start to cure in the cartridge with the slightest bit of air leakage, so they add the bottom seal to prevent any air leaks. I don't know about sika-flex but 5200 states in the instructions on the cartridge "puncture seal in nozzle and knock out bottom end seal before placing cartridge in caulking gun"

When all else fails, read the instructions.

[Paul H]

Hmmm, you learn something new every day. I had a cheapy caulking gun that just folded up the formed steel handle when I tried to push the plate through the tube. I upgraded to one of the orange industrial type caulking guns, and managed to get it working. I'll be sure to pull the metal disk on my next tube.

[Chayco]

My first reaction was to laugh at the poor chaps mistake.......and then, I remembered my own first attempt to squeeze that metal cap up through the Sikaflex tube....damned hard, but it CAN be done with enough misdirected determination.

Yep, best to remove it.

...Ken

[Tom Robb]

Wouldn't to be a bit more fair to call this "Warning, read the instructions" or at least "Warning, calking gun mishap"?
That is to say, what did you think that Sikaflex had to do with the accident? (asked as one who has participated at least his share of stupid accidents )
I hope there was enough finger left for the MDs to repair.

[brent stella]

I just lost the top 1/8" and some finger nail. Nothing to have to go to the hospital for. Another tip for you all. Don't walk around in your shop waving your hand going ouch, ouch, ouch. Cause you'll fick blood all over the walls , floor, ceilng, boat...

[brent stella]

I just lost the top 1/8" and some finger nail. Nothing to have to go to the hospital for. Another tip for you all. Don't walk around in your shop waving your hand going ouch, ouch, ouch. Cause you'll flick blood all over the walls , floor, ceilng, boat...

[brent stella]

I just lost the top 1/8" and some finger nail. Nothing to have to go to the hospital for. Another tip for you all. Don't walk around in your shop waving your hand going ouch, ouch, ouch. Cause you'll flick blood all over the walls , floor, ceilng, boat...

[Hughman]

Looks like the other fingers are working overtime!!

Sorry to hear of the mishap. I've tried to use caulk without noticing the seal cap also. [img]redface.gif[/img]

[seafox]

when they first started putting saft seals on food a neighbor didn't know about taking off the top of the catsup bottle and removing the seal...
she squoze so hard she blew the seal out of the 1/8th inch hole in the cap

sorry to hear about your finger but thankyou for the lesson about the bottom tin cap
jeffery