What is your preferred Sealant/Caulking?

[Kolockum]

I don’t mean to start a war of silicone people vs Sitka-Flex vs 3M Products. But I have heard many different things about many different products. I have used Sitka-Flex and finds that it grabs and holds dirt causing it to look grimy, 3M 3200 it stays tacky but is a pain to remove and finally silicone which is easy to remove but seems to have a 3-4 year life span. I am doing some work on the camper and really haven’t been super happy with any one product.

ATC recommends 100% silicone because it is easy to remove.

Called FWC but was not able to reach anybody.

So what do you use/like and why?

 

[ckent323]

It depends on the specific application:

https://www.practical-sailor.com/boat-maintenance/the-great-stickup-practical-sailor-tests-marine-adhesives-caulks-and-sealants

https://www.boat-renovation.com/marine-sealants/
I have used 3M 4200 on the camper to seal around the roof screws and the solar cable box penetration in the roof and it has worked fine with no leaks. It does need to be applied with care or it will get all over everything but once set up it is fine and it still looks good after 2 years.

 

[Vic Harder]

i know what you mean about the sealant getting dirty. I used butyl tape and 3m 4200 a lot last summer and after a trip to Utah, all the exposed bits are dirty red. Badge of honor I suppose!

 

[Kolockum]

i know what you mean about the sealant getting dirty. I used butyl tape and 3m 4200 a lot last summer and after a trip to Utah, all the exposed bits are dirty red. Badge of honor I suppose!

I did the same thing before also going to Utah and have the "Utah Red" look. I also did some work before going to NE Oregon and that Sitkaflex has the black/grey dust stain. I guess all the sealant creates a mosaic of different dust colors from my travels.

The only sealant I have been able to clean off is silicone.

 

[Vic Harder]

yes, but silicon leaves a residue that wont let anything else stick to it.

 

[DanoT]

I use Gloozit, comes in a tube from Home Hardware in Canada for about $11 Cdn. So it is expensive but really sticky.

 

[ntsqd]

I use 3M 5200. Didn't get the "Utah red" on the last camper where I used it to seal the roof vent & it's screws or the solar panel mounting screws. Have not yet had need to use it on the new to us camper.

 

[yfarm]

3m 4200, use a heat gun to remove