3m 4200/5200

[system-f]

I have become a huge fan of 3m 4200/5200, but have ran into some problems with it and wanted to see what your solutions are.


So, you go to the store and pickup that wonderful tube of 4200/5200 adhesive sealant.

And now you are happy because you know you have a product that is sticky, messy, but WILL keep the water out.

So you open that first tube and squirt out the love that is 3m marine sealant on whatever item you plan to seal.

and when you are done you put the cap back on your 4200/5200 nice and securely then put it away where you will remember its location so that it will be ready for another day of sealing and sticking stuff.


So you go to bed....

Then wake up to a new day of working on your boat!

Time to seal something else....so let's go and get our tube of 4200/5200 and use it...but wait, what is this? THE SEALANT HAS HARDENED 1" down inside the tube!! but I put the cap on securely! I stored it properly! What gives?!?!


So how do you guys store your 4200/5200 to prevent this? I cannot tell you how many half used tubes of 3m sealant I have laying around because the stuff hardens like crazy even after the tube is sealed.

 

[Mark42]

Re: 3m 4200/5200

If you read the fine print, (or maybe its on their website), once opened, 4200 and 5200 continue to cure even though the cap is on.

Yep, it happened to me too. But it took a few months.

Try putting some heavy plastic wrap over the neck before threading the cap on to make a better seal.

 

[rockyrude]

Re: 3m 4200/5200

I also try to squeeze as much of the extra air inside of the tube out, helps slow the cure alot.

 

[Mark42]

Re: 3m 4200/5200

BTW, I have yet to find an application where 5200 is a must. If you want to take it apart down the road, use 4200. If you want it permanently sealed, use epoxy!!!

I have found 5200 on parts applied by prior owners and I wish 3M never made the stuff.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: 3m 4200/5200

Just take a nail and create a new opening, wherever you'd like it on the tube. Then squeeze it and it's like a brand-new tube. I did this last week and it works like a charm.

 

[Friscoboater]

Re: 3m 4200/5200

I have had the same problem. I will be buying the smaller tubes from now on. I just wasted a gun sized tube.

 

[McGR]

Re: 3m 4200/5200

Just take a nail and create a new opening, wherever you'd like it on the tube. Then squeeze it and it's like a brand-new tube. I did this last week and it works like a charm.

Yep, that's how I do it too. I've got about 5 holes in my current tube of 5200.

 

[redfury]

Re: 3m 4200/5200

its because it reacts with contact with oxygen. Once it is exposed to oxygen, the sealant starts to cross link and that process is about the same as crystals growing. They are gonna keep going until they run out of steam.

 

[wca_tim]

Re: 3m 4200/5200

It's an isocyanate based cure process that relies on airborne moisture (doesn't take a lot). It goes faster with temperature and more water (humidity). It'll go slower if you get all the air out you can right away and then put something like a nail in at the time, then put it in the freezer...

 

[system-f]

Re: 3m 4200/5200

Then squeeze it and it's like a brand-new tube.

THe hole seals back up and makes it hard to squirt out

I really don't use 5200 mainly 4200 and I did read on my tube of 5200 where it said it was just about done after opening as far as curing goes.

 

[eli_lilly]

Re: 3m 4200/5200

I put a screw in the end of it and throw it in the fridge. I can get about a week out of a tube this way.

-E