Re-Using Caulking Tubes

[spaceman]

As Well As Construction Adhesives, Etc... Forget About Taping The End Or Using Any Tip That Might Come With The Tube, Also Don't Use A Nail In The End Trick Either, Using ANY Of These Methods Are Almost SURE To Result In A Clogged Caulking Tube Tip.... ..Instead, After You Are Done, Squirt Out A Blob Of Caulking/Glue & Cover The TIP Of The Tube With This Blob & Let Dry. Next Time You Want To Use The Tube, Just Pull Off The Hardened Blob On The Tip & You Can Re-Use The Tube Like You Hoped To. -=DF=F8=FE

[greg6755]

I agree.

I've been doing that for years and it works like a charm.

Also for silicone which seems to harden in the tip no matter what you=20 do I've found sending a drill bit through the harden stuff into the=20 the usable stuff unplugs it quite nicely.

Your drill bit will be covered with silicone afterwards but drilling a=20 hole into wood removes it.

[beecrofter]

The other quick and dirty method is to slit the nozzle in two , remove the plug and then take a few wraps of electrical tape around the nozzle.

[LayPerson Tom]

imho:

For me that glob always managed to rub up against myself, tools, wall, or my clothing. So for a buck I picked up two caulk nozzle caps. They work very well. As for construction adheasive, I clean off any eposed glue and put in a large nail. Any exposed glue, even that glob manages to harden and become very permenant.

Now if I don't plan to reuse the tube soon, I then evaluate chucking it.

tom @

[New & Improved - N/F John]

How about wrapping the tip of the tube with masking tape in manner that permits caulk to escape? Then pump some out and squeeze the tape together. No mess.

[LayPerson Tom]

Understand, but so far the cheap caps seem to work best for me with basic caulk.

tom @

[JimRd]

I screw in a red (large size) wire nut from my box of electrical supplies. The caulk in the spout stays flexible until the entire tube fails a few months after opening.

[George E. Cawthon]

Wind several layers of plastic wrap around the spout and put a rubber band on to hold it, then use several layers of plastic wrap held with a rubber band on the rear end of the tube and it won't fail in a couple of months. Standard house caulks last 2-3 years with several intervening uses during that period.