Ron's Sheaffer sealant hint

**FredRydr** · May 5th, 2022, 06:04 AM

I use Ron Zorn's sealant that's made from Sheaffer's original formula. If you're silly enough to leave the jar in your pen toolbox up-side-down for any length of time, don't be in such a hurry to finish a project that you open the jar anyway, thereby getting sealant on the jar's own threads. $%&!!

Hint: Go work on something else and set the jar right-side-up long enough for the sealant to migrate back to the bottom of the jar. Too obvious for words....

So Ron, what should I apply to the cap threads? Heat? Nah, I don't want to melt the jar.

**Chrissy** · May 5th, 2022, 06:22 AM

Ooops

**Ron Z** · May 5th, 2022, 09:55 AM

Been there, done that... at a pen show no less.

The jars we use now handle up to around 200 F. The stuff has to be liquid to fill the jars, so pretty warm.

**bunnspecial** · May 7th, 2022, 01:51 PM

Yes, I've done this before too.

When I first sat up my pen "tool box" I thought I'd done well to find a compartment where the little tub of sealant sits nicely on its side. Not such a good idea as I found, and if the cap isn't tight the jar can leak and cement itself to the toolbox.

I think I may bring my jar into class the next time I teach viscosity and talk about amorphous solids...

**Chrissy** · May 7th, 2022, 03:00 PM

Although slightly off topic

while we're discussing the way that heat turns amorphous solids into liquids, just yesterday I received all four of my greenhouse autovents back from the manufacturer following a service (that took them one day) where new tubes were fitted to replace the old ones that no longer worked. I am so amazed at how a nugget of wax inside a tube that is then fitted with a piston opens and closes windows depending on what the temperature is. Not only that but all four open almost exactly the same distance despite being on two different sides of one greenhouse. It's like a magic trick.

**FredRydr** · May 7th, 2022, 03:20 PM

200°F to liquify? I can't remember the last time I checked smoke detector batteries.

IMG_4824.jpg

**Ron Z** · May 9th, 2022, 05:09 AM

It has to get pretty warm to mix the ingredients. Once it is mixed well, it softens at a temperature under 100F.

Now I get to add a line to the listing, "Great for science demonstrations on viscosity and amorphous solids... "