How to stop Sikaflex 221 going off in the tube?

[ajlelectronics]

Three weeks ago I used a drop out of a new tube and sealed it with polythene under a clean nozzle. Came to use it today and it is solid.

 

[brightspark]

check its sell by date on the tube

 

[jsf55]

I needed a tiny bit too finish a job and it was the same, with nothing too loose i stabbed the middle of the tube with a phillips screwdriver and it was still soft !

 

[Barking Mat]

I've often cut them open with a Stanley knife, to get the rest out.

 

[Gragson]

I've had enough of this a while ago.
Started sealing more expensive and infrequently used stuff with a cheap vacuum food sealer.
The rolls do all sorts of sizes

 

[Misterg]

Put a couple of layers of foil over the end (between the nozzle and the cartridge) and put it in the fridge.

 

[smashweld]

for PU40, Purflex etc I've always just let it harden in the nozzle, replace or clean out the nozzle with a screwdriver etc next time, might have to stick the screwdriver down the tube to get it started...

 

[MetalMonkey]

Tape up the nozzle, it will still cure in the nozzle but with luck it will still be soft in the tube.

 

[Olderisbetter]

I put a sealed clean nozzle on Purflex with a bit of IPA in it, it seems to stop it going off

 

[smashweld]

sometimes you get 'peelers' in the nozzle, can reuse them as bungs

 

[RichardM]

I know it's not the same, but some tent seam glues are recommended to be kept in the freezer.

 

[Beanwood]

I've had enough of this a while ago.
Started sealing more expensive and infrequently used stuff with a cheap vacuum food sealer.
The rolls do all sorts of sizes

View attachment 503282

Does it work, and does it just seal the tube or it actually a vacuum as well?

 

[Cobbler]

I bought some screw caps to fit on cartridges, still went off, I tried again putting an O ring in the cap to make a better seal, still didn’t work. It actually seemed to go off quicker than letting it go off in the nozzle

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

When I've finished the job I usually unscrew the nozzle and stick my nitrile rubber glove over the end and then screw the nozzle over that.

I like the vac bag idea...for expensive adhesives I keep them in my garage fridge which seems to work well.

 

[Pete.]

for PU40, Purflex etc I've always just let it harden in the nozzle, replace or clean out the nozzle with a screwdriver etc next time, might have to stick the screwdriver down the tube to get it started...

Yep, never remove the nozzle just keep spare nozzles and leave the old one on. It will still cure in the tube over time but you get a stay of execution.

 

[Gragson]

Does it work, and does it just seal the tube or it actually a vacuum as well?

They are vacuum sealers, mines the same as this https://amzn.eu/d/6rZc1pp provides a decent vacuum, there are cheaper ones and much more expensive.
But clearly not practical for ten quid stuff in regular use.

 

[pedrobedro]

I've never managed to keep one longer than a week once it's been used. I just try to use as much as possible at one go then stick it in the shed and hope.

 

[angellonewolf]

dont know about silkaflex but i use ob1 screwfix tool station its a 10er a tube and i do use quite a bit of it but can be in the van for a month or more yes it goes off in the nossel but remove the nossel poke a bit of metal down remove the plug and its working again only time it stops it is if the screw part of the nossel splits and you need to swap that out asap

 

[marlinspike]

After a couple of solid tubes of Tiger Seal and Puraflex I gave up in the end and started using brushable seam sealer instead of cartridges. Tried all the tips given on the forum but none seemed to work. I do prefer the cartridges but Puraflex went up from about £4 to £7 so it's too pricy now to not get full use out of one.

 

[ajlelectronics]

I bought a tube of CT1 to try.