3m 4200 and 5200

[Redrig]

Hey all , I have never used these products and am filling some fish finder holes on transom and some interior holes .

Once I open these tubes am I committed to using the whole thing ? Or can these be stored and used later ? Cuz I have some other uses for them too , just not today .

Are these a one shot deal or can I screw the lid on and use later ?

Thanks

 

[GWPSR]

Once opened, they can start to cure in the tube unless tightly and completely sealed up. I usually put them in a ziplock bag with as much of the air out of it as possible. If you're lucky, you can continue to use it for a couple of months. It's not really suitable for throwing in the bottom of a toolbox and picking up again a year later though. I've got a tube of 4200 that made it through last winter and is still usable. That's about as much luck as I've had.

 

[Redrig]

Awesome thanks brother .

And great job on that boat !

 

[Watermann]

I've used both 5200 & 4200 and normally buy the construction tubes rather than the little squeeze ones. Not really sure how the little tubes will make out. I do know that if you buy the quick set formula it's way more susceptible to curing in the tube than the regular 7 day 5200. The expensive 4200 is pretty bad at setting up in the tube, at least mine was.

For the construction tubes I just but a big screw in the end of the tube, then tape around that and store in my garage fridge next to the beer. If the stuff sets up some the screw is usually down deep enough that it's into the soft stuff.

What type of hull are you repairing? 5200 & 4200 isn't really that great for plugging holes all on their own as it's runny and will become a mess. The best thing is 5200 below the waterline, just smear it inside and around the unwanted hole, then seat a stainless screw into the hole. Be sure to wipe off the excess right away.

 

[GA_Boater]

What Watermann said.

I've heard that keeping the unused tube in the freezer extends the life before it sets in the tube, but no idea how long. Far warning - I haven't tried yet.

 

[gm280]

Seems air cured products like 4200, 5200, White Lighting 3600 caulk, Crazy Glues, Gorilla Glues, Silicone sealants, PVC glues and such have their own ideas about when and where they will cure. I've tried every method I can think of for such things, and it seems every time I end up throwing away what I thought was a good sealed tube of things. So good luck with resealing opened tubes of most any thing... :facepalm:

 

[minuteman62-64]

I've gotten maybe a year out of small tubes of 5200/5200 Fast Set/4000 UV. Seems to work best by wiping the threads clean, squeezing out maybe 1/32" of the stuff to fill the little reservoir inside the cap and then carefully and tightly screwing down the top.

 

[Redrig]

What type of hull are you repairing? 5200 & 4200 isn't really that great for plugging holes all on their own as it's runny and will become a mess. The best thing is 5200 below the waterline, just smear it inside and around the unwanted hole, then seat a stainless screw into the hole. Be sure to wipe off the excess right away.

Its a fiberglass full, I ended up only opening the 5200 yesterday and used your trick . Yeah that stuff is messy .

I havent used the 4200 , I will save that for another day . Hopefully the 5200 can make it a few weeks, I tried the zip lock , freezer trick for storage.

thanks again gents

 

[DeepBlue2010]

the differentiating factor between 5200 and 4200 and even the 4000 is not the location of the use. All of them are for above and below water line use.

5200 is permanent. it is very hard to remove and should be used on applications that will not require to be taken our again once they put in

 

[jakedaawg]

Not to be a nit picker but the gorilla glue I have used is water cured. 5200 is incredible permanent, we use it in wood boat reconstruction only where the wood will rot away before we ever need to break the bond. ( hopefully, if we do it right, neither will happen or be necessary but they are wood boats lol)