Taming the Tube - 3M 4200 and 5200 -

You pay over $10 for an itty bitty tube and after you use it for the first project it's useless 'cause you can't get any more out of the tube. At least that's how it used to be for me.

When I start a new tube, I've always used a syringe to apply the sealant - there's more control and it's not as messy.

After the first use, sometimes I'll get optimistic and drag out one of those 'caulk savers', but they never work and I'd get frustrated sticking the small screwdriver in and out, trying to ream an opening which would yield pliable sealant. And if by chance some sealant did come out, it had little lumps that would clog the syringe.

Then I realized if the syringe worked on a new tube, it could just as well work on a used one...by making a new hole in the tube. Poke the awl into a likely spot and give the tube a slight squeeze. If nothing comes out, try another place.

This spot was dry

Struck paydirt here as witnessed by the sealant on the awl.

When you find a productive hole, just hold the syringe up to the hole and squeeze the sealant into the syringe.

After loading what I need into the syringe, I squeeze a little more out of the tube and let the sealant set up, healing the hole and making the tube ready for my next project.

This tube has been used for several projects over the last month.

And this is how you get the last little bit.