Bicycle Mechanics - Rema TipTop Vulcanizing Fluid (8oz Can)

I am tired of my little tube of tube-patch glue drying out, thus useless when you need it most. I am thinking of buying the Rema TipTop Vulcanising glue in an 8ounce can, but worried as to how to keep that from drying out too.

I mostly just change my punctured tubes while out riding, then patch the bad one at my leisure and put it back in the tire.

How long can an 8ounce can stay liquid before drying out? And is there any special way to keep the can from drying out in perpetuity, as I would like?

I can get the 8ounce can for about $10.

Thanks for all responses.

After I have used the little tube once, I add a new tube to my on-board repair kit, in case the first one dries out before my next flat.

I had one once. I think I got a couple of years out of it before it dried out. I've still got an assload of patches.

If a bulk container of patch cement starts getting too thick try some of this.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000HF2L96/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000HF6UR0&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=01W6NWT7C0V4Y5YEM16K

Per an older BF thread I found so called vulcanizing fluid and rubber cement are identical. Posters reported good results using Elmer's rubber cement to install patches. I presume this is the solvent based type which smells the same as vulcanizing fluid, NOT the no stink water based stuff.

How long can an 8ounce can stay liquid before drying out? And is there any special way to keep the can from drying out in perpetuity, as I would like?

I've had enough cans of solvent based adhesive dry up to know that this strategy will not be an efficient one.
Barring some technological feat (like vacuum sealing a membrane around the container) the big can will disappear just as fast.
It will pollute the air you breathe as it does so. Buy new tubes periodically and squeeze out all the air within before recapping.

Using the equivalent contact cement from auto dept at walmart, I went to the second can after 5-6yrs of steady
use of the first can before it got too viscous to use. In my experience an 8 oz can will last at least 4 yrs.
The walmart stuff is about half what the Rima costs. The term 'vulcanizing' is not appropriate here as no
heat/pressure is used in the patch process. It is simple solvent evaporation.

You can buy tubes of Rema "glue" separately. They come in 5 gm and 10 gm sizes. I found that 5 - 5 gm tubes lasted me 2 years and 200 patches. I opened only 1 tube at a time. I was also careful to close each tube as soon as I spread the vulcanizing fluid over the puncture.

One caveat. The can and the tubes are different products.
http://www.rematiptop.com/technical/trm/msds/RTT-018-MSDS-Cold-Vulcanizing-Fluid-203_204_205.pdf
http://www.rematiptop.com/technical/trm/msds/RTT-047-MSDS-Cold-Vulcanizing-Fluid-201_202.pdf

Put a little petroleum jelly on threads before putting cap back on.I carry spare tubes and patch mine when i get home so its easy to do.Never dries out that way.

Put a little petroleum jelly on threads before putting cap back on.I carry spare tubes and patch mine when i get home so its easy to do.Never dries out that way.
I just use a bit of the glue itself on the threads when I put the cap back on. Seems to seal well enough since I normally run out of patches long before the tube of glue is used up. But just in case a tube of glue gets a leak I put the partially used one in the next patch kit.

Excuse my street vernacular, but I have always used those little glass vials (associated with cocaine) to carry fresh glue AND Rema Rubber Buffer.
Having liquid cleaner is paramount to a good patch job.
That, and letting the glue dry before applying the patch.
My 8 oz can of glue is going on its 5th year and it's still good. The quart of buffer seems bottomless.
From these I fill the vials.
Cleaner, glue & patch, it's all you need.

I can get the 8ounce can for about $10.



That is a low price. Can you share the source?

That is a low price. Can you share the source?

www.patchboy.com sells it for $8.43.