What is the best way to seal up an open tube of caulking. I buy one, use it
, and have tried various ways to seal the tube up. However, when I put it in
the caulking gun to use again, the caulk at the tip has become dried out.
When I dig the hardened bit out, the opening of the tip is now too large,
and very difficult to caulk a bathtub etc, neatly. Thanks
Patt

I always use a long screw.

"Patt" wrote in message
newsVDwf.168791$2k.91669@pd7tw1no...
What is the best way to seal up an open tube of caulking. I buy one, use
it
, and have tried various ways to seal the tube up. However, when I put it
in
the caulking gun to use again, the caulk at the tip has become dried out.
When I dig the hardened bit out, the opening of the tip is now too large,
and very difficult to caulk a bathtub etc, neatly. Thanks
Patt

"Patt" wrote in message
newsVDwf.168791$2k.91669@pd7tw1no...
What is the best way to seal up an open tube of caulking. I buy one, use
it
, and have tried various ways to seal the tube up. However, when I put it
in
the caulking gun to use again, the caulk at the tip has become dried out.
When I dig the hardened bit out, the opening of the tip is now too large,
and very difficult to caulk a bathtub etc, neatly. Thanks
Patt



Short term a nail works well for me. Longer term a wire nut seems the
better choice.

Really long term nothing really works, throw it away and buy a new one.

Colbyt

Patt wrote:
What is the best way to seal up an open tube of caulking. I buy one, use it
, and have tried various ways to seal the tube up. However, when I put it in
the caulking gun to use again, the caulk at the tip has become dried out.
When I dig the hardened bit out, the opening of the tip is now too large,
and very difficult to caulk a bathtub etc, neatly. Thanks

Just saw this on "ask this old house". Besides the screw and nail
idea, they also recommended plastic wrap.

They also said that you can buy replacement tips for a buck so you can
just let the caulk harden in the tube.. guess it depends on how much
the tube costs.

"Colbyt" wrote in message
news:dQEwf.687506$x96.122344@attbi_s72...

"Patt" wrote in message
newsVDwf.168791$2k.91669@pd7tw1no...
What is the best way to seal up an open tube of caulking. I buy one, use
it
, and have tried various ways to seal the tube up. However, when I put it
in
the caulking gun to use again, the caulk at the tip has become dried out.
When I dig the hardened bit out, the opening of the tip is now too large,
and very difficult to caulk a bathtub etc, neatly. Thanks
Patt



Short term a nail works well for me. Longer term a wire nut seems the
better choice.

Really long term nothing really works, throw it away and buy a new one.

Colbyt



Try Little Red Caps at Ace Hardware. They work better than screws or nails.

http://www.acehardware.com/product/i...Id=10490682518

Patt wrote:
What is the best way to seal up an open tube of caulking. I buy one, use it
, and have tried various ways to seal the tube up. However, when I put it in
the caulking gun to use again, the caulk at the tip has become dried out.
When I dig the hardened bit out, the opening of the tip is now too large,
and very difficult to caulk a bathtub etc, neatly. Thanks
Patt



Plastic food wrap. Ripoff a piece fold it 2 times
(4 thicknesses) put it over the large end and hold
it in place with rubber bands. Do the same for
the tip. Make sure each is end is sealed tight.
When you use the tube again, the tip end may be a
bit curdly but not hard. Shove a 16 penny nail (I
assume you don't want a hole smaller than a 16
penny nail) back and forth several time, put it in
the gun and apply pressure, maybe even shove the
nail in and out a couple of time with the pressure
on. Should clear up immediately. I have have
used the same caulk tube intermittently for over 3
years.

Clean out as much of the caulk from inside the tube as you can. The
put some hot melt glue on the tip of opening a little at a time until
you build it up and seal the opening. The hot melt will come off the
plastic tube with a little force but should seal it up pretty airtight.
I tried this on my last tube but have not yet tried to get the glue
off. But normally hot melt does not stick permanently and comes off
fairly easy.

Colbyt wrote:
"Patt" wrote in message
newsVDwf.168791$2k.91669@pd7tw1no...

What is the best way to seal up an open tube of caulking. I buy one, use

it

, and have tried various ways to seal the tube up. However, when I put it

in

the caulking gun to use again, the caulk at the tip has become dried out.
When I dig the hardened bit out, the opening of the tip is now too large,
and very difficult to caulk a bathtub etc, neatly. Thanks
Patt




Short term a nail works well for me. Longer term a wire nut seems the
better choice.

Really long term nothing really works, throw it away and buy a new one.

Colbyt


Sure it does. You've got to seal air from both
ends. Sealing just the nozzle end doesn't work.

In article DVDwf.168791$2k.91669@pd7tw1no, "Patt" wrote:
What is the best way to seal up an open tube of caulking. I buy one, use it
, and have tried various ways to seal the tube up. However, when I put it in
the caulking gun to use again, the caulk at the tip has become dried out.
When I dig the hardened bit out, the opening of the tip is now too large,
and very difficult to caulk a bathtub etc, neatly. Thanks

Same place you buy your caulk probably sells a thing called a "Caulk Keeper".
Basically just a little plastic cap that pops onto the end of the nozzle and
seals it. If you don't see them, ask.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

Insert a wet pipe cleaner, leave one end of it out and bent over. Then
cover with a piece of duct tape.
"Patt" wrote in message
newsVDwf.168791$2k.91669@pd7tw1no...
What is the best way to seal up an open tube of caulking. I buy one, use
it
, and have tried various ways to seal the tube up. However, when I put it
in
the caulking gun to use again, the caulk at the tip has become dried out.
When I dig the hardened bit out, the opening of the tip is now too large,
and very difficult to caulk a bathtub etc, neatly. Thanks
Patt

Couple wraps with duct-tape around tip, then into refrigerator. Don't
use on salad, though.

HTH,
J

Patt wrote:
What is the best way to seal up an open tube of caulking. I buy one, use it
, and have tried various ways to seal the tube up. However, when I put it in
the caulking gun to use again, the caulk at the tip has become dried out.
When I dig the hardened bit out, the opening of the tip is now too large,
and very difficult to caulk a bathtub etc, neatly. Thanks

Good grief. Throw it away and buy a new one when it's needed.

Patt wrote:
What is the best way to seal up an open tube of caulking. I buy one, use it
, and have tried various ways to seal the tube up. However, when I put it in
the caulking gun to use again, the caulk at the tip has become dried out.
When I dig the hardened bit out, the opening of the tip is now too large,
and very difficult to caulk a bathtub etc, neatly. Thanks
Patt

Finger COTS. Available at WalMart pharmacies by the band-aids. Look
like small condoms and applied the same way.

On 9 Jan 2006 18:56:30 -0800, "Larry Bud"
wrote:


Patt wrote:
What is the best way to seal up an open tube of caulking. I buy one, use it
, and have tried various ways to seal the tube up. However, when I put it in
the caulking gun to use again, the caulk at the tip has become dried out.
When I dig the hardened bit out, the opening of the tip is now too large,
and very difficult to caulk a bathtub etc, neatly. Thanks

Just saw this on "ask this old house". Besides the screw and nail
idea, they also recommended plastic wrap.

They also said that you can buy replacement tips for a buck so you can
just let the caulk harden in the tube.. guess it depends on how much
the tube costs.

My caulk hardens whenever I see a sexy woman !!!!
I never had to buy any replacement tips. Mine has a lifetime
warranty.