If, after opening a tube of silicone, you do not use it for a long time, the sealant may partially harden directly in the tube from the side of the spout. In this case, it will not be squeezed out, and if you try to force it through, you can bend or break the gun. Let's consider how you can remove damaged silicone in order to maintain the ability to squeeze out the remaining good sealant from the original tube. This method also works with acrylic, silicate, bitumen, polyurethane sealant, and liquid nails.
Required tools and materials:
- screwdriver or nail;
- mounting knife;
- scotch.
What to do
The spout is removed from the tube, and the sealant frozen in its neck is pushed inside with a screwdriver or nail. You can also try to pierce the inner dry plug of the sealant with an awl to find out how deeply it has frozen and whether there is any point in bothering.
You need to cut the tube as evenly as possible with a knife closer to the neck. If there is a drawn line on it, then in order not to bevel the cut, you can navigate along it. It is better not to use a hacksaw, since it will make a wide cut and plastic filings will get into the sealant.The tube is cut in a circle, but not cut to the end by about 1 cm.
Next you need to bend the tube along the cut line. It folds in half, but does not come apart due to the uncut section. This opens access to the frozen plug. The normal silicone adhering to it is scraped off and placed back into the tube. The plug itself is removed. You just need to insert a screwdriver into it and pull, the lump will come out easily, since it was torn off from the side of the spout at the beginning.
The tube without the stopper is put back together. Tape is wound along the cut line. You need to wind it widely to increase the adhesion area.
The tube restored in this way can be placed in a sealant gun and used as usual. If its spout is also filled with frozen silicone, then it can be cleaned by screwing in a long wood screw from the thread side. Next, the screw is pulled out with pliers along with the blockage.
After cutting and introducing air into the tube, you should try to use most sealants immediately, as they will quickly harden again. If it is silicone, then with careful wrapping of tape it can last for months. The main thing is not to remove the spout, let the composition dry out in it and preserve the contents of the tube, because it is much easier to clean.
