TRIMMING DOWN EXPENSES ON PROJECT SUPPLIES
You’re not wrong about the caulk—no matter what hack I try, it always seems to dry up before I can use the rest. I’ve even tried those little plastic caps they sell, but honestly, it’s just not worth the hassle. Fresh caulk really does make a difference in the finish, so factoring that into the budget makes sense. At least with shims, scrap wood works just as well and costs nothing. If someone ever figures out a foolproof way to keep caulk tubes fresh, I’ll be first in line... until then, it’s just one of those unavoidable supply costs.
TRIMMING DOWN EXPENSES ON PROJECT SUPPLIES
If someone ever figures out a foolproof way to keep caulk tubes fresh, I’ll be first in line...
I hear you. I’ve tried everything from plastic wrap to squeezing out a bit and sealing the tip with a nail, but it always dries up anyway. Honestly, I just buy the smaller tubes now—even if the price per ounce is higher, at least I’m not tossing half-used ones. For shims, totally agree—scrap wood is a lifesaver. Funny how some supplies are just destined to be “use it or lose it.”
TRIMMING DOWN EXPENSES ON PROJECT SUPPLIES
I’ve wasted more caulk than I care to admit—tried the nail trick, tape, even storing tubes in a ziplock in the fridge. Still dries out. The smaller tubes are easier, but man, the price markup stings. Anyone ever actually finish a whole big tube before it goes bad? Or is that just wishful thinking...
TRIMMING DOWN EXPENSES ON PROJECT SUPPLIES
I hear you on the caulk wastage. Honestly, I’ve only managed to finish a big tube a handful of times, and that’s usually when I’m working on a larger remodel or something with a tight timeline. For smaller projects, it’s almost always a race against the clock before it turns into a rock. The best luck I’ve had is wrapping the nozzle in plastic wrap and then taping it up—still not perfect, but slows down the drying. The price jump on those little tubes bugs me too... but sometimes I just give in for the convenience. Maybe there’s some secret trick out there, but I haven’t found it yet.
TRIMMING DOWN EXPENSES ON PROJECT SUPPLIES
The caulk thing is weirdly relatable. I swear, the first time I tried to seal up a few windows in our new place, I felt like I was prepping for a marathon with that giant tube—only to use, like, a tenth of it. Then it sat in the garage and slowly turned into a fossil. I tried wrapping the end with a sandwich bag and rubber band, but honestly, it just delayed the inevitable.
I get what you mean about the price difference on those small tubes. Drives me nuts too, but sometimes I buy them anyway just so I don’t feel wasteful. The convenience wins out when I only need a dab here and there. Maybe it’s just me, but there’s something almost satisfying about actually finishing a tube before it goes bad—even if it costs more per ounce.
One thing I did try (no clue if this is legit or not) was sticking a long screw into the nozzle after wrapping it up. The theory was the screw would keep air out and maybe let me poke through any dried stuff later, but... yeah, mixed results at best. Still ended up with a chunk of caulk that looked like a science experiment.
I’ve started getting creative with leftovers, though—used some old silicone to seal up planters outside and even patched a leaky birdbath. Not exactly what the label intended, but hey, it beats tossing it straight into the trash.
Honestly, I think half the battle is just accepting a little bit of waste here and there. Still bugs me every time I toss a half-used tube, though... Maybe one day someone will invent a reusable caulk cartridge or something. Until then, I’ll just keep experimenting and probably making a mess along the way.