Thread: Great Stuff Questions

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I've never used great stuff before. I have a can of it that I bought last summer. There is "best if used by 08/sept/2011" printed on the bottom of the can. Is it still good? Also, can I use part of the can, then store it to use more later, or do I have to use it all at once? Thanks for any info.

It should be fine, and I have always had to use the entire can on mine

With Great Stuff ie spray foam....when it dries, it dries pretty hard. But it's VERY sticky when wet. So if you have the straw attachment that screws on, you need to remove it right away then ream it out with something once it dries or get a new straw to reuse the can. The top "trigger" part on the can can also clog/dry up, so you need to pick the dried foam out of it.

I've not had good luck reusing cans of spray foam. Try to use it all at once. I've gotten them for $3 a can, so not much of a waste.

I reuse cans of Great Stuff all the time. Jenscats is right in that the foam will dry in the tube, but it usually just dries at the end. I use the Great Stuff, and when I'm done I let whatever oozes out stay on the tube, which forms an air-proof cap. The next time I use it, I pull the "cap" off the end and it's usually good to go. If not, I start cutting off the end of the tube about a 1/2" at a time until I'm past any blockage.

Excellent! Thanks for the info.

I reuse the same can of Great Stuff all the time until that can is drained!! But I cover the tip of the straw with a piece of duct tape making sure it is wrapped real tight around the end; Then when I want to use it I just take the tape off and it is ready to go, no need for a new straw or cleaning of any kind!

A trick I've been told is to jam a pipe cleaner as far in as you can, then rip it out when you're ready to use it again. Have not tried this trick yet myself, so far I always use the whole can.

I usually remove the straw, run acetone thru it. That way it remains clean and reusable for next time. I have also used a partial can left over from a year ago...Found that it still was good, but the expansion was a lot slower, and consistency was much denser. Otherwise it was just fine.

Be sure to use gloves. Its a pain to get that goop off of your hands.