Way to “keep” BoatLife Life Sealant (or, 3M 4200)?

ThorSen

Active Member
Aug 17, 2017
219
Western North Carolina
Boat Info
2018 SPX 190 OUTBOARD 150
Engines
150 4-stroke Mercury outboard
Aloha, all!

Does anyone know of a way to store BoatLife Life Sealant or, for that matter, 3M 4200 so that, after using just a portion of the tube, the stuff doesn’t harden in the opened and then closed tube after a couple weeks or a month?

“I read on the Internet” (I know, I know) that putting the top back on and placing the partially used tube in the freezer works but, that sounds too good to be true, to me.

I am ordering a small tube later today (to use under the mounting brackets on a stainless spring hatch support under the glove compartment lid on our SPX190 (Thanks again @BritDog!); I will likely use way less than 1/64th of the tube; and so, I thought I’d ask here ...

I did several searches (site and Google using SeaRay.site, etc) but, came up empty.

This is funny: I jumped onto this “General Discussion” forum HOURS AGO with the intent of posting the above question but, have been enjoying reading all the fascinating discussions already underway here (I.e., great news on your engine swap @Ididntdoit !; I have ordered some StarBrite Bird & Spider Stain Remover; and I will be ordering some Boat Bling Vinyl Sauce! :)

Long live the CSR forums!!!
 
Freezer thing works. I've had a large tube in the freezer for over a year and used some a week ago.
As a matter of fact, I brought the tube to Florida for 6 months, and it spent 2 days in a cooler.
 
If you use boatlife sealants with the removable end, make sure it's screwed on tightly first, then squirt some sealant out the tip and put the cap on. The stuff will rarely harden if oxygen doesn't get to it. If the tip becomes dry, take off the tip and the remainder will still be useable. Clean out the tip if you want to reuse it again.
 
Freezer thing works. ...
If you use boatlife sealants ...The stuff will rarely harden if oxygen doesn't get to it. ....

Hey, y’all - THANK YOU!!!!!!! Stuff is on order; I have the holes drilled, just waiting on the sealant-adhesive now, to finish the hatch support install!!! (Thanks again for the tip, Bridog! Post #326 here: http://www.clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/official-19spx-21spx-spx190-spx210-thread.81557/page-17
 

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Freezer thing works. I've had a large tube in the freezer for over a year and used some a week ago.
As a matter of fact, I brought the tube to Florida for 6 months, and it spent 2 days in a cooler.

What he said!
 
Ditto freezer, 5200 & 4200 store quite well. Just remember the clock does not start on curing until it comes up to temperature so don’t panic when the cold stuff does not cure on time.

The freezer trick also works on gelcoat. I’ve had a partial quart in the freezer for over a year. I used some this spring on touch ups and it worked fine.
 
Ditto freezer, 5200 & 4200 store quite well. Just remember the clock does not start on curing until it comes up to temperature so don’t panic when the cold stuff does not cure on time.

The freezer trick also works on gelcoat. I’ve had a partial quart in the freezer for over a year. I used some this spring on touch ups and it worked fine.
Henry, Just noticed your new boat info. and avatar pic. Excellent choice! Please do tell, with pics. if possible.

Sorry to highjack.
 
Henry, Just noticed your new boat info. and avatar pic. Excellent choice! Please do tell, with pics. if possible.

Sorry to highjack.
Mitch,
We just got the Sabre, we actually used it for the first time last weekend moving it up from Plymouth to Newburyport. All I can say is that “Pods Rock”. The avatar photo is from the Sea Ray, so I’ve got to get a new one.

Henry
 
I've been using argon in paint-can style cans of sealant and other air-curing polymers. Argon is heavier than air so you can purge the non-liquid space in the can and then seal the can back up without the topmost level self-curing from air exposure. Argon is also a noble gas, so it doesn't react with anything either.

Nitrogen can work for this as well, since it's nearly as non-reactive as argon, and somewhat cheaper. Argon is nearly 3x heavier than nitrogen, though, so for "free air" purging its slightly more reliable for driving out air (which is already mostly nitrogen).

My neighbor is a house painter and he swears that turning sealed paint cans upside down somehow helps preserve paints. I think the idea is that really small gaps in the lids that would otherwise allow air intrusion basically get "glued shut" by paint, sealing the can better than than the top alone could do.
 

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