How to keep LMF finish and sealer?

[silly goose]

Just wondering how long this stuff may keep after its been opened? Still have half a can of each left and don't think I will need it anytime soon. Can anything be added to help keep it? Thanks.

 

[wvbuckbuster]

As far as drying up you can turn the can upside down that way the crust will form on the bottom. Dan.

 

[LRB]

A second on Dans post.

 

[silly goose]

Well, it couldn't be any simpler than that. Thanks, fellas.

 

[necchi]

Any/all of the finishes get hard from contact with Oxygen.
Use some and the space in the can fills with Oxygen right?

There's a trick to displace Oxygen in a can with CO2.
CO2 is heavier than Oxygen.

Mix baking soda and vinegar and it fizzes right? The gas being made is CO2.

Tools;
Aquarium tubing
Empty large dish soap plastic bottle
Baking soda
vinegar
long story short;
Rig up the tubing to the top of the bottle,
get he baking soda and vinegar fizzing and direct the end of the tubing into the can.
I place the cover on the can, and just put the hose in a bit, when the mix is about fizzed out, squeeze the bottle for more CO2 then just slide the lid over and tap it closed.
The learning curve;
Don't use too much vinegar/soda or it'll spit out the tube

Learned that trick a few years ago, works great, and has saved me a bunch of money not having to toss crusted over or dried product.

 

[mikemeteor]

Drop enough glass marbles in the can to bring the liquid back to the top. Or polished steel balls. Get all the marbles ya need on fleabay for next to nothing. I do this for Chambers oil finish too.

 

[jmatley]

I had the the same problem and was getting frustrated with the traditional methods preventing finish from drying in the can not working. I found the product on the link below. You spray an inert gas into the can which displaces the oxygen and eliminates the drying out of the finish. Works great! I've used it on both the LMF sealer and finish and a year later the finish in the can was as usable as the day I purchased it.
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=1396

 

[Birddog6]

I just drop pebbles in the jar til the liquid is at the top of the bottle.

Keith Lisle

 

[user 922]

If you can find an airtight plastic bottle to use it might be safer than those cans. I had one let go for no reason and lost the entire contents. I have heard of others who have experienced the same problem. It may be the reason why LMF is now in plastic bottles.

 

[Vaino]

I don't reuse LMF sealer....always a new can for each rifle. Don't use the LMF finish. Of course my LRs take a bit of time to make......Fred