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Elizabeth Tracy
(mariposa) - M

Locale: Outside
 		Seam sealer is stuck to itself on 10/14/2011 15:17:37 MDT Print View

Hi,

I can't get my seam sealer in the tube to unstuck itself. Poking around in there with a scissors tip is not having any result.

Is there some other way to loosen old seam sealer?

The tube is probably 5 years old.

- Elizabeth
Bob Gross
(--B.G.--) - F

Locale: Silicon Valley
 		Re: Seam sealer is stuck to itself on 10/14/2011 15:34:47 MDT Print View

I buy REI seam sealer in a plastic bottle. As long as it is factory-sealed, it has a good shelf life. Once I open it and start using it, some air will remain the bottle. That air starts curing the top of the liquid in the bottle. After a year or two, it will be virtually unusable.

So, when I buy a new bottle of it, I tend to use the whole bottle within a short period of time while it is perfect.

--B.G.--
drowning in spam
(leaftye) - F

Locale: SoCal
 		Re: Seam sealer is stuck to itself on 10/14/2011 15:41:04 MDT Print View

I'd give up on the original spout and punch on whole in the body or snip a corner to access fresh sealant.
Mary D
(hikinggranny) - MLife

Locale: Gateway to Columbia River Gorge
 		Re: Re: Seam sealer is stuck to itself on 10/14/2011 16:22:20 MDT Print View

Is the bottom end of the tube still soft? If so, puncture that end of the tube to see if it works. If it's silicone-based sealer, it undoubtedly is completely solidified. I've never had the stuff, once open, last more than 2 years. I do have a tiny tube of Seam Grip (not silicone-based) a little over 2 years old which is completely plugged, but the bottom end is still soft. I haven't tried it to see if the sealer is still usable, though.

IMHO, 5 years is an awfully long time to expect most substances to last once they have been opened.