Expanding foam

Littlehorny

I use expanding foam on maintenance jobs every now and again in work but unless you have alot of gaps to fill opening a can is a big waste, is there any ways or tips to make the cans reusable once they are opened? cheers

aujopimur

If you use a gun it can be cleaned with solvent.

darrenheaphy

Yep, I used mine with a silicon gun (after buying the compatible expanding foam tubes etc). I found though that the foam only stays re-usable for a couple of days but was sealed by removing pressure from the gun and screwing a scew into the top.

Littlehorny

Thanks for tips but dont use it enough to buy guns and solvents etc. Thought there might be a way of reusing a can again after a couple of weeks for example. Maybe it wouldnt be cost effective but its a pity its not sold in small cans for one off jobs.

Joey the lips

If you keep your eye out you can buy small tins of foam... Not much wastage then.

Scartbeg

The foam I used recently (Evostik I think) advised folding the applicator tube twice and sealing the end with the plug provided for this purpose. I assume that this stops air reaching the unexpanded foam in the tube so it doesn't set hard?

Scartbeg

I guess this explains why most of the cans on the shelf in my local DIY store had the applicator tubes missing - people taking an extra applicator or two to get around this problem!

paddy147

Scartbeg wrote: »

I guess this explains why most of the cans on the shelf in my local DIY store had the applicator tubes missing - people taking an extra applicator or two to get around this problem!

You can buy a bag of 5 spare expanding foam tubes for a few euro in most builders providers or the likes of BnQ.:)

BryanF

http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/green-basics/spray-foam-insulation-open-and-closed-cell

this is worth a look if your using foam in your home

650gs

I use a gun cost 25 euro the foam cost 4 euro a tin and are twice the size you would buy in diy shops and because you can adjust the amount from the nozzle i goes twice as far also when I screw it closed and often leave it for six months no prob.
It works out far cheaper long term

cloot

where can you get those cans for 4 euro

paddy147

cloot wrote: »

where can you get those cans for 4 euro

I got a load of large cans of Evo-Stik expanding foam in Chadwickes,Coolock for 4 euro just before Xmass.:)

650gs

I get them on account from Wurth Ltd but most builders providers do them around that price but that is for the gun not the diy cans there a rip off for sure