[TowerTalk] Lube om Hose clamps

[john at kk9a.com]

The shelf life of Silicone caulk products may vary widely. I have been
using GE Silicone II which seems to hold up well in the North Carolina
sun. I have read numerous reports of it not curing when used past its
expiration date. Here is one example:
http://www.shopfloortalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30191 I always buy
fresh tubes. Placing the tubes in a hermetically sealed mayonnaise jar on
Funk and Wagnall's porch may not increase the life of some formulations.

John KK9A



To:	towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Lube om Hose clamps
From:	 K8RI <K8RI-on-TowerTalk at tm.net>
Date:	 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 13:49:57 -0500


Silastic(TM) is a Dow Corning brand of Room Temperature Vulcanizing
(RTV) Silicone. When used out doors and in a non confined space and
particularly on steel or SS it matters not whether it uses acetone, or
alcohol for a curing agent. Don't use it inside connectors or on
electronic circuits.

I've used it on PL259s (outdoors) with no adverse effects, but it can
make them a bitch to get apart so I'd use something else there.

As far as I know GE reverse engineered DC's stuff so they are the same
as DC's RTV. DAP purchased the DC line years back, although I think DC
still produces it for them (not positive about that)

DAP also has a line of Latex RTVs so read the labels carefully and don't
get them mixed up.

BTW as these RTVs use water vapor to cure they are water proof, but not
absolutely moisture proof. OTOH very little vapor gets through

NOTE RTVs have a shelf life and once a tube is opened they don't
normally last very long.

I discovered that by placing tubes (whether they've been opened or not,
but with the caps still tight) if you place then in a tightly sealed
Tupperware" container they will last a very long time. I have some that
has been opened that is over 20 years past the expiration date that is
still good. I purchased a lot of it at the company store many years ago
including high temp and conductive versions.

73

Roger (K8RI)

To:	towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Lube om Hose clamps
From:  kk9a
Date: Tue, 29 Jan 2013 13:28:28 -0500

Also watch the date on the tubes.  Expired silicone caulk may not
harden.