Expanding foam Q

[Huge]

Has anyone ever found a successful way of keeping a part used can of this stuff and having it actually work? I never use a full can, and the remaining half/twothirds is always dead as a doornail when I come to use it. And I carefully clean out the remaining foam and cover the "works" with clingfilm...

Irony; I bought some "fire rated" expanding foam to fire-stop the ceiling of my integral garage where various cables come through it. The foam is marked "Highly Inflammable". (Yes, I realise that's probably the propellant or the foam monomer, rather than the the cured foam. I still thought it was amusing.)

[1501]

I've tried it a few times and have managed it with about 50% success by dismantling the valve and flushing every thing with acetone including putting a little a few flushed of the exposed valve on the top of the can.

[TheOldFellow]

Only by buying a professional gun. The aerosol cans are one-shot for me too. With a prof gun, and a can of cleaner, never had a problem. In fact even without the cleaner, I've left the can on the gun for three months and it still worked. This is mine:

[1501]

I've tried it a few times and have managed it with about 50% success by dismantling the valve and flushing every thing with acetone including a few flushes of the exposed valve on the top of the can.

[meow2222]

With gun type cartidges, ali foil has a much better success rate than clingfilm.

NT

[Andy Burns]

larger canoes you might need this

[Huge]

20 quid buys a lot of foam.

But then it does come with nipple protectors. But doesn't everybody wear old clothes when handling this stuff? :o)

[TheOldFellow]

Until you've used one, you'll never understand the difference. You can stop halfway through a job, go out for a beer or ten, come back when the hangover has dimmed, and just carry on. None of that cleaning the little plastic trigger etc..

I never used the nipple guards though.

R.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Oddly, I heard a trick elsewhere yesterday. Wash the whole nozzle affair with acetone after use.

Passed on with no guarantee that it works.

[Huge]

Next question; where can one buy acetone? :o)

[NOSPAMnet]

If you can't get acetone then buy gun cleaner but as someone else said the best way is to buy a gun from Screwfix and a can of cleaner and you'll have no trouble .

[Frank Erskine]

You'll almost certainly pay more for acetone than expanding foam, so just chuck the part-used can of foam away...

:-)

[Huge]

Yeah, I already discovered that. GBP2.95 for 1 litre, and GBP7.99 postage and packing. I imagine car paint shops might sell it. I'll ask the next time I'm passing my local friendly bodyshop.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Any fiberglass supplier. This is mine

[The Natural Philosopher]

£4 for 500ml? is that so expensive?

[George (dicegeorge)]

Isnt it bad to use expanding foam to fill electric cable holes, doesnt it leach the plastic around the wires dangerously?

Shouldnt we use normal caulk for electric wires holes?

surely there's some draughts in the garage or somewhere you can use the rest of the foam up at?

[g]

[The Medway Handyman]

I bought a can from Wickes last week & it said on the label "ideal for filling electric cable holes" or words to that effect. IOW it was reccommended for the job, so I guess it must be fine.

[geoff]

or not ... If your name's Peter Parry

but that's another story

[John Rumm]

Use the "gun grade" stuff and leave it on the gun. (if you take it off you can still get the same problem with the cane seeping)

[crb]

For this application, cellulose thinners works fine. Costs around =A311 for 5 litres at a good local car spares shop.

CRB