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Date: 3 April 2017. JB Weld (cap won't open fix)

© janice142
 

Published late because, well, I have been playing online and reading too. Having bandwidth is such a treat. Pinterest is a real weakness of mine. I have been overloading on totally decadent Mug Cake recipes found on that site. I will show you my favorites one of these days...

Thanks for your patience. J.


Although I have a rather extensive tool inventory, it is mostly old stuff. Sometimes my perfectly good tube of gook will have a cap that simply refuses to untwist. This time the problem tube was JB Weld. I have made a mess more than one time trying to get to the good stuff inside a recalcitrant container. Now I have finally figured out a solution so simple I wonder why I had never thought of it before. Best of all, it's free.


The problem was the JB Weld lid would not come off.
I even took my vise grips to it without success.

That is when I pulled out my scissors and cut off the bottom. Voila. Instant access.
 

JB Weld is a two-part product. Put a bit of the black gunk on the
mixing tray. Add an equal amount of the catalyst aka hardener.
 

 

JB Weld is a good item
 to have in your tool chest.
 

The black tube contains a steel reinforced epoxy. The catalyst aka hardener is in the red tube.
 

First using the black tube put half the end amount you desire on your mixing tray. Then add an equal amount of the Red tube.
 

I've used JB Weld to temporarily seal a leak in an oil pressure sending unit. I did replace said unit as soon as I could get to a store. Underway, you do what you have to do to keep going.

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JB Weld Original Cold-Weld Formula
Steel Reinforced Epoxy

 

Put equal amounts of both the steel reinforced epoxy (black tube) and the hardener (red tube) on your tray.
Then mix the two until they are a consistent grey color. There should be no streaks in the goop.


I have a couple of old lids from food containers. I use them for mixing sticky stuff. The blue one shown above was probably a coffee can top though honestly I do not remember any more.
 

When funds are tight using everything up is good stewardship.
 

First find a container to mix the goop. Flexible plastic that is glossy and slick will clean better than the brittle plastic type. If you stash a margarine container lid or two in your tool chest you will not be sorry. Once the lid gets scratches cleaning will be difficult/impossible. That is when I stop using it for a mixing tray.
 

I do get at least one more use out of the lid. It becomes a parts holder. A lid will keep your screws from rolling off the deck and into the bilge. Ask me how I learned that!?! Keeping small bits and pieces together is a real chore on a boat that rocks. Something that holds the wayward components is helpful. Margarine or sour cream containers are also handy for corralling parts.



Old knives, small spatulas and toothpicks make
stirring JB Weld easy. Something disposable is best.


Skinny spatulas are my favorite for mixing and applying fillers. The flexible edges are super for smoothing and leveling the goop. Silicone spatulas have a downside however. They do not clean well.
 

Because the soft silicone spatulas are hard to clean I shop for them at thrift stores. These are not Retail buys, at least not for me. At a dime or even a quarter each they are a good deal. Paying more than that is too rich for my blood. Having a couple around is a good idea..
 

Today the neighbor had a loop come out of his screen door. The hook part keeps the door closed. After one pull too many the loop fell out. Opening the door without unfastening the hook is not very smart. Oops!
 

That is when I got out my JB Weld and solved the problem. The repair is not particularly great to look at. I do know this won't last forever. As a temporary measure it's okay.


Since it works for now, it's Good Enough.


I used JB Weld back in Saul Creek. See the
Silence Reigns (Saul Creek) article to revisit that wonderful spot. I had an oil pressure sending unit that started leaking. The solution was multiple coats of JB Weld until the sender stopped oozing oil. It worked! When I got into Apalachicola I went to ACE Hardware and purchase a new sending unit. JB Weld definitely saved the day.
 

That's why I keep a couple tubes (red and  black) aboard. You might wish to do the same.
 

 

WARNING about Catalysts!

 

Two part products often require a catalyst which causes the first part to harden. You add it just prior to use. JB Weld along with many epoxy paints require a catalyst. A catalyst is simply a hardener you stir into the main product.

There is always a ratio (1 to 1, meaning equal parts of both products) or 2 to 1, etc. Read the label and be careful.


Catalysts aka hardeners cause the product to
heat up so using the proper amount is important.

That heat can start fires!!!


Don't use too much. Follow the directions.

 


May your life and boating be happy and safe. I hope all your fixes are fast and much better looking than my screen door repair. With a bit of paint the above will be quite acceptable.
 

I'm having the time of my life.

Have you ever used JB Weld?
Was your repair permanent or temporary?
 

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