DIYbanter - View Single Post - Bit by the non-drying GE Silicone

Don Klipstein

In , wrote:
On Tue, 29 Jul 2008 22:26:51 -0500, Red Green
wrote:

Mostly and FYI post. Every so often the subject pops up in this NG. My
story:

Bought a cartridge tube of white GE Silicone II at Blue Borg in March
2008. Expiration date of 10/2008. Didn't use it but kept it. A few days
ago I had a need for some caulk around a shower and opened it. Suppose
to skin in 30 min and dry in 24hrs. Days later it's still even surface
tacky.

Wasn't sure what's needed to dissolve uncured stuff so I called GE this
morning. Very responsive after a bit of a wait. Basically she says the
cause is generally heat even with the unopened cartridges. Told her when
I purchased it I brought it home and into the house which has A/C and
it's been there since. Of course we both knew that we didn't know what
it was exposed to between the time it was manufactured and when it got
to the retail shelf.

It's not just heat. It could be just the age of the tube.

I had a similar problem. I made an outside repair job using the same
GE II silicone as a glue/sealant. It never dried. This tube was a used
tube that I used a few years back without any problems at all. Back
then it dried just as you would expect it to, but when using the same
tube a few years later it just refused to dry. The tube was stored at
72 degrees the entire time between uses. Age was the only factor.

Sometime I believe in the 1980's when GE Silicone II was something new,
I got some. It dried only a little bit after a couple of days.

I have used the GE "Glue And Seal" silicone and the Radio Shack stuff
that appears to me to be similar (I suspect possibly the same stuff) with
never a curing problem.

Now I am having trouble finding silicone rubber at Radio Shack, and
silicone rubber other than GE Silicone II at hardware stores.

Any idea where I can get the good stuff that has the vinegar-like scent?

- Don Klipstein )