A while back there was a discussion on sealing opened [used] rtv tubes..Yes did a search but nothing tangible showed up..Maybe if I am real lucky an opened tube of RTV will seal and not harden; 99% of the time I have to drill the hardened stuff out and then its a fight to keep it from plugging as you try to use it..Most recent problem is the caps break apart so don't seal, who and why do others not have a problem?
Same problem here. I've come to hate those plastic caps, they always break. Maybe I'm making them too tight trying to keep the RTV from curing.
I've used little rubber condom type things available at a specialty, high end hardware vendor. Seem to work ok.
Then with a mighty squeeze the dried booger finally shoots out, followed by most of the remaining contents, landing on your shoe.
I don't have the answer, but those like myself who were late in figuring out what the rtv in rtv silicone means, it's room temperature vulcanizing. Just threw that out here 'cause I'm sure there are others who have been using the stuff for all these years and didn't know what it stood for.
It hardens when exposed to air. So the trick is get some saran warp or small baggie and an elastic band handy. Push out a little fresh stuff then as quick as you can slap the wrap or baggie over the exposed end seal it before there is much exposure to air. Hold the saran wrap or baggie in place with the rubber band. You may get a small portion of hard stuff but not as much as if you took your time sealing it up. If that doesn't work same as posted above small Philips head in the side of the tube then seal new holes with tape.
One thing I have found that works really well on caulking gun tubes is to cut a finger off of a nitrile type glove, pull it down over the end and pump some caulk out. It fills the end up and seals off the end of the tube. Next use just pull it off and your good to go. Haven't tried on a rtv tube but may work the same.
I recently had to throw out thirty-eight tubes of black RTV. Every damn one of them was cured in the tube. None of my clear, white, or aluminum filled RTV was like that. Never opened. Man I hate that stuff.
I get the out-of-date tubes from work. So far they all work down to the bottom of the tube. All 3M stuff. I got clear, white and hi-temp red.
I have started buying it in the smallest tube available. There are some in my local autoparts store that are as small as the small toothpaste tubes.
I work as a buyer for an ISO tank facility. Nothing like finding your whole supply of black RTV solidified. Good thing the stuff is relatively cheap.
I do the same as @Chucky and make sure there is a bit of RTV hanging out the end of the stepped plastic tube. The black does seem to solidify back into the clear tube a ways, so I try to remember to pull the plug every few days and squeeze a bit of fresh stuff out to make a new plug. I am a fan of the UltraBlue instead of the black, as it doesn't seem to cure so quickly inside the tube. I will have to try the nitrile glove deal to see how that works.
thing to do is save all the work you have needing it then open and go like hell till none left in tube.you may curse everything sitting around waiting but what the hell saved money buying more rtv
Try putting some transmission fluid in a Jar. Stand the tube tip down in the ATF. As long as it is submerged it will never harden. Been doing it this way for over 40 years at my shop.
I always buy 2 tubes. Next time I need to seal some thing I just throw the previously opened tube away and start with a new one, lol.
I have switched to The Right Stuff , is a tad bit better , but still brings me back to drunken sailor days when it’s hardened like a rock . I’ve done well with temper control except for cursing , not worth a damn on that one
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