Caulking Tubes

[cabinetman]

I can't count how many caulking tubes I've had to throw away that were 75-85% full. It's that old story of needing just a little bit for this or that, and then a simple task (so it seems) to stop the air from getting inside. Then some time later to use that tube and find it's hard as a rock.

I have tried a variety of cures to keep the tubes from drying out, for example; Large wire nuts, Saran Wrap and a wire tie, threaded screw, and the last one that seems to work fairly well is a rubber vacuum plug cap from an auto part store.

So, are there any other methods that have been tried that work well?

[Ed62]

I have used a screw that was slightly larger than the hole, and screwed it in with a screwdriver. Then I wrap the end with duct tape. Works pretty well.

Ed

[whitecobra]

Seal A Meal bag works perfectly
Works also for Poly U glues like Gorilla

Simply put the tube in the sack suck it down and seal. When you go to open it cut the bag right at the seal mark and you can reuse it again and again

Dr D

[DonHo]

Lee Valley sells what looks like little red condoms for the calking tube tip. They give an air tight fit and do a pretty good job.

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...110,42967&ap=1

DonHo

[Warren]

They also reduce the chances of finding little calk tubes running around the shop.

[Slik Geek]

Lee Valley sells what looks like little red condoms for the calking tube tip. They give an air tight fit and do a pretty good job.
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...110,42967&ap=1
DonHo

I've been using these for awhile and they work great. I just used a tube of caulk that had been sitting around for months and you would have thought that it was new. They go on and come off really quick. Every other technique that I've tried was slower or much less effective at preserving caulk.