Reusing Spray Foam Cans

This video shows how to keep expanding polyurethane foam (AKA Great Stuff Foam) valves from stopping up using 50% castor oil and 50% mineral spirits. Castor oil is cheap. You can get it in any pharmacy. The mineral spirits thins the castor oil and breaks down the foam so the castor oil can get thru the small ports of the valve. I tried to keep this video fairly short. If I left something out, please feel free to ask me questions so I can add it to the description. I sprayed the samples with water because I was in Tucson, AZ when I shot this video. The humidity was around 5-15% most of the time and that isn't enough to get poly to cure dependably. I also show an experiment where castor oil keeps polyurethane from curing, EVER! If you want to see how I get the valves out of the can, watch this video: https://youtu.be/fxfvEXoDBM0If you want to see a split view of what's inside the valve, watch this video: https://youtu.be/f4URZt366kEInstead of mixing castor oil and mineral spirits and sucking the mixture into an eye drop container, you can pop the top off and use a small funnel to put them into the container and then shake it to mix.Also, shake the mixture just before use, in case it has separated.I say "Immediately" in the video because once you remove the applicator, moisture in the air will start to mix with the poly. Poly cures quickly once that happens.You can get pipe cleaners at craft stores or in the craft section at stores like Wal-Mart.You can also use an aerosol can of something like WD40 to blast the poly out of the main channel, instead of using a pipe cleaner.There's only a small amount of foam trapped in the valve but you need about 15 drops of the mixture to make sure you have enough castor oil to mix with any foam left in the valve. Frequently, some of the poly will rise to the surface and cling to the sides of the main shaft of the valve.If you can't get 15 drops into the valve, there's probably some dried poly taking up space. Use a straightened paper clip to probe the valve so you know how deep the bottom is. It's usually 1.25 inches deep. CAREFULLY!!!! use a course thread wood screw and screw it thru the foam. Then pull the screw out and the poly foam should come out with it.Since you can't stir the poly to mix it with the castor oil and mineral spirits, you can hold the can at an angle and use an old applicator to spin the valve. That will help mix things up. But, I haven't had a can stop up even when I don't spin the valve.Having a kit makes this much easier. A storage bag with pieces of pipe cleaners.The castor oil/mineral spirits in an eye dropper. Woodscrew. Straightened paperclip. Gloves. Paper towels.There are 3 to 4 ports inside the valve. I turn the can when I discharge the first of the foam to help clear all of the ports. If I get enough material and time, I'll shoot an "extras" video to show more tips and tricks. Be sure to check the playlist at the end for that and other videos.If you would like to tip me to help me make more videos, click the link below. Thanks for your tips!https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=AK846AQ2GTAZ2===tags====great stuff spray foamhow to keep great stuff from clogginggreat stuff foam won't come out of canhow to reuse great stuff expanding foamhow to get more than one use out of great stuffget more than one use out of Great Stuff Insulating Foam canhow to store great stuff foamhow to unclog great stuff canClearing Great Stuff Foam Nozzle TipReusing GreatStuff FoamReusing Spray Foam Cans Tips & Tricks