What's the proper way to seal a caulking tube?

[Guido]

Is there a trick of the trade or some product that can easily seal an open caulking tube to prevent drying and clogging? I use a screw and electrical tape - but there must be a better way.

[suemarkp]

I saw a package at the store in the caulking section that looked like little condoms for the end of the caulk gun (round red things about the diameter of a dime). You just roll them on and off. You get about 8 or 10 in a box which is good because they get gunked up and would prefer to toss them instead of trying to get them back on again without making a mess. I joked with my father in law that they are just his size...

Prior to those, I had an automotive vacuum cap assortment, and the yellow ones seemed to fit well on the end. Just let some caulk run into the cap and push it on tight.

[Guido]

I saw those mini-condoms you're talking about, but wasn't sure they would work. I'll reconsider.
I guess if you do this for a living you use up the tubes fast enough, but as a homeowner sometimes it takes me a while to use it all. They should give them screw caps with pre-cut tips. Or push-on caps like the smaller hand held squeeze tubes.

[CR500]

I forgot about those! There was an article in FineHombuilding about them a while back.

I squeeze out a blob of whatever is in the tube and use it to seal a roofing nail to the nozzle.

[Guido]

I squeeze out a blob of whatever is in the tube and use it to seal a roofing nail to the nozzle.
I tried that, but sinc ethe cut is on an angle I never get a good seal, so I go nuts with electrical tape to make it airtight.

[Mr T]

There are snap on reuseable caps too. They have a tab off the end that is used for smoothing caulk.. Looks like they can be easily cleaned if you dont use it for liquid nails or roof repair stuff. I have a pack but lost them as soon as I got home with em, and havent seen them yet, otherwwise i'd tell you how they work.

I tend to use a large woodscrew thats slightly larger then your opening. I screw it into the tube so it threads itself. Night tight seal, easy to get out (power drill :D ) Works great

[BOA]

I use a wire nut. The red ones work pretty good.

[Guido]

Thanks for all the tips! I'll try some and see what works best.

[Mr Fixit eh]

Mark said I saw a package at the store in the caulking section that looked like little condoms for the end of the caulk gun (round red things about the diameter of a dime). You just roll them on and off. You get about 8 or 10 in a box

Lee Valley has them. I don't think anything keeps the air out forever, but I've found the screw/ blob covered by the 'condom' works better than anything else I've ever tried, including the oversized wirenut.

Because the enemy is air, I would imagine that a vacuum bag sealer system would likely work pretty well too.