After running tubeless three years, I think I have tried all the different sealant types. My unscientific conclusion, if the main goal is flat protection, stan's is the best. Unfortunately, it dries up and thus builds up in the tire. To get at this problem, I have heard all kind of homemade combinations of the different tubeless product to get at a best brew of flat protection plus longevity. The latest sounded interesting superjuice with glitter. The theory is that the glitter provide better sealing protection. This sounded like little bit of a stretch to me, but at least if it came spewing out on you during a race, you would be looking good! Anybody want to throw out their experience in coming up with the "ultimate" homemade sealant brew for the rest of us to try?
Best Tubeless Brew?
max_cat
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Yep...off the Amazon. Is there anything new/better?
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Not sure, it's kind of why I was asking. CastinCraft is no longer a cheap as it once was from Michaels and so I was wondering if any of the OG's had been using other liquid latex's' off amazon. Like this one. It's much cheaper.
Amazon.com: Liquid Latex Pint Bottle Standard : Toys & Games
Buy Liquid Latex Pint Bottle Standard: Shop top fashion brands Party Supplies at Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY and Returns possible on eligible purchases
www.amazon.com
Some scellant company claim to add rust/corrosion inhibitor.
i did notice some premature corrosion on the brass of my presta valves.
and I found Dowfrost. It’s a food grade PG made of 96% PG and 4% inhibitor(top secret stuff). My first reaction was THIS IS THE STUFF THEY( Stan’s and the others) USE!!! Succes!!
Talking to Dow chemical trying to suck up some free samples 😂 they advise NOT to use the Dowfrost as the top secret inhibitor is a acid that will reduse the PH… so it could end up neutralizing the ammonia effect….and end up with the rubber ball of ☠
any input on this acid/base mix… it could be just a question of finding the right balance.
i did notice some premature corrosion on the brass of my presta valves.
and I found Dowfrost. It’s a food grade PG made of 96% PG and 4% inhibitor(top secret stuff). My first reaction was THIS IS THE STUFF THEY( Stan’s and the others) USE!!! Succes!!
Talking to Dow chemical trying to suck up some free samples 😂 they advise NOT to use the Dowfrost as the top secret inhibitor is a acid that will reduse the PH… so it could end up neutralizing the ammonia effect….and end up with the rubber ball of ☠
any input on this acid/base mix… it could be just a question of finding the right balance.
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Obviously DIY sealant is considerable cheaper, but does it work nearly as well as Stan’s/Orange Seal? Particularly in the dry/hot desert?
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Hmm. Used as a corrosion inhibitor in antifreeze, works with copper - but I recall an experiment waaaay back where good quality nontox antifreeze instantly coagulated latex, so there's that as well.
The problem with all of these sealants is that they dry out, out here in the dry/hot desert. I've just refreshed a couple of bikes with new sealant - and the aroma of ammonia will build up around them. So perhaps a monthly shot of ammonia water to keep all the other ingredients wet?
As long as the sealant is wet, it works great. I can tell when a tire dries out, because it starts losing air.
I will note that I tried Stan's vs DIY back when I started, and the DIY outlasted the Stan's by like 4:1 - that is, stayed wet that much longer. Never tried Orange Seal - have been looking at Sahara sealant
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@wadester - Why Sahara over Flatout or Berryman?
What's weird is i cannot find any reviews of people actually using those products on mtb wheels/tires. You see a lot of e-bike users using them but nothing about normal mtb's or road bikes even.
Amazon.com: FlatOut Tire Sealant Outdoor Power Equipment Formula - with Valve Core Tool and Replacement Valve Core, Prevent Flat Tires, Seal Leaks, Contains Kevlar, 32-Ounce Bottle, 1-Pack : Automotive
Buy FlatOut Tire Sealant Outdoor Power Equipment Formula - with Valve Core Tool and Replacement Valve Core, Prevent Flat Tires, Seal Leaks, Contains Kevlar, 32-Ounce Bottle, 1-Pack: Tire Care - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases
www.amazon.com
Amazon.com: Berryman Products 1301 Tire Seal-R Sealing Compound,1-Gallon Bottle : Automotive
Buy Berryman Products 1301 Tire Seal-R Sealing Compound,1-Gallon Bottle: Tire Repair Kits - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases
www.amazon.com
What's weird is i cannot find any reviews of people actually using those products on mtb wheels/tires. You see a lot of e-bike users using them but nothing about normal mtb's or road bikes even.
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Simple answer is I hadn't spotted them. Saw Sahara on a moto forum, looked interesting, as do the two you linked. The reality is not that I want to go to commercial products, but that I'm interested in what they're made up of - so maybe I can "borrow" some of their ingredients for my own mix.
DIY mixes consist of two major components; Chunkulation and carrier fluid. The biggest issue with my mix is that the carrier fluid dries out/goes away somehow. Usedtabe the MSDS would list most of the ingredients, but the SDS version only has to show "risky" stuff that is listed by US/EPA(?). Berryman has no ingredients from the lists - so nothing on the Seal-R SDS, Flatout SDS lists only propylene glycol - so not too different from my mix, but claims "permanent"
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Yeah, the non drying out is appealing regarding the commercial stuff, but of those 3 above the only that shows a picture of a mtb as a supported application is your sarhara stuff. What looks really attractive about the flatout in relation to the others is that it doesn't leave a residue. Like it just seals and the chunkulation just forms at the hole and that's it. Look at their car tire demo's. That's really appealing to someone like me who switches tires quite a bit depending where I ride/ what race/ what trail/etc. Like once a tire starts that film on the inside it seems like that's when it starts to dry out faster, or forming stans boogers. schwalbe tires seem to be better about not letting that "film" form but eventually it does.
Also, the commercial stuff is starting to seem cheaper than the DIY stuff we've been doing the last few years as the price of castin craft latex has gone up. It's almost not quite worth it now to DIY in a cost comparison. Now if we could use latex for like costumes instead of castin craft mold builder, then there are really good deals on amazon for that, but nobody seems to have tried it yet.
Also, the commercial stuff is starting to seem cheaper than the DIY stuff we've been doing the last few years as the price of castin craft latex has gone up. It's almost not quite worth it now to DIY in a cost comparison. Now if we could use latex for like costumes instead of castin craft mold builder, then there are really good deals on amazon for that, but nobody seems to have tried it yet.
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Of note is that my current recipe doesn't booger up - probably/possibly the added ammonia, but actually finding out would take lots of experimentation when I would rather ride.
I used a previously acquired castin'craft latex in my recent batch, but my next latex try will be EnvironMolds - but I have to finish a jug'o'sealant first.
I would also note that people reviewing things usually only happens when they're unhappy - so no reviews is better?
I used a previously acquired castin'craft latex in my recent batch, but my next latex try will be EnvironMolds - but I have to finish a jug'o'sealant first.
I would also note that people reviewing things usually only happens when they're unhappy - so no reviews is better?
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you thicken/chunkulate the thin costume latex with Sericin Powder, the cheap costume latex works wonders when you add powdered sericing to it and then let it sit overnight after stirring. it becomes this wierd sliquid that is perfect for clogging punctures when mixed with your fiber of choice.
Can anyone recommend a good source for liquid latex these days? The last 32oz container I purchased in May 2022, used to have free shipping. The price went up by $1 and now shipping is $8. (About $30% increase in the past 6 months!!!)
Has anyone used any of the Halloween latex mask mixes that appear to be on sale on Amazon? Is the concentration the same as Mold builder?
Has anyone used any of the Halloween latex mask mixes that appear to be on sale on Amazon? Is the concentration the same as Mold builder?
Amazon.com: Kangaroo's Monster Liquid Latex - Quick-drying Monster or Zombie Skin and SFX Makeup, Multi-purpose Liquid Rubber for Special Effects Makeup Kit, DRies Clear, Peels Off Liquid Latex Rubber, 16oz Pint : Beauty & Personal Care
Amazon.com: Kangaroo's Monster Liquid Latex - Quick-drying Monster or Zombie Skin and SFX Makeup, Multi-purpose Liquid Rubber for Special Effects Makeup Kit, DRies Clear, Peels Off Liquid Latex Rubber, 16oz Pint : Beauty & Personal Care
www.amazon.com
I've always used this stuff and it's worked well. I only really have to make one batch per year (for 2 bikes) and it's well worth it.Can anyone recommend a good source for liquid latex these days? The last 32oz container I purchased in May 2022, used to have free shipping. The price went up by $1 and now shipping is $8. (About $30% increase in the past 6 months!!!)
Has anyone used any of the Halloween latex mask mixes that appear to be on sale on Amazon? Is the concentration the same as Mold builder?
Amazon.com: Kangaroo's Monster Liquid Latex - Quick-drying Monster or Zombie Skin and SFX Makeup, Multi-purpose Liquid Rubber for Special Effects Makeup Kit, DRies Clear, Peels Off Liquid Latex Rubber, 16oz Pint : Beauty & Personal Care
Amazon.com: Kangaroo's Monster Liquid Latex - Quick-drying Monster or Zombie Skin and SFX Makeup, Multi-purpose Liquid Rubber for Special Effects Makeup Kit, DRies Clear, Peels Off Liquid Latex Rubber, 16oz Pint : Beauty & Personal Carewww.amazon.com
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This thread is amazing! Thanks to everyone who have tested all of the recipes and reported back.
I'm really in search of something that will last for as long as possible without having to top off or refresh with something like ammonia. Mainly because I maintain my 3 bikes plus my 3 kids on the MTB team. It's expensive and too much work to be adding fluid every few weeks like with Stan's. Also, I want something that won't end up leaving residue that is impossible to clean inside the tire.
I was thinking some combination of Slime ATV and one of the commercial sealants like Berryman's or Sahara might be a good option. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
I'm really in search of something that will last for as long as possible without having to top off or refresh with something like ammonia. Mainly because I maintain my 3 bikes plus my 3 kids on the MTB team. It's expensive and too much work to be adding fluid every few weeks like with Stan's. Also, I want something that won't end up leaving residue that is impossible to clean inside the tire.
I was thinking some combination of Slime ATV and one of the commercial sealants like Berryman's or Sahara might be a good option. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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Well, I tried a 50/50 mix of Berryman's and Slime ATV. It's not super thick. I'd say the viscosity is similar to Mac-Off. Both are fairly similar in viscosity and as such similar when mixed. The solution sealed a 1/16" hole pretty quickly though it took a little while for the 3oz's of liquid to migrate to the bottom of the tire in enough quantity to seal. The 1/8" hole was pretty similar except noticeably more fluid escaped the hole before the air was significantly slowed but still not enough for a catastrophic failure. One negative property seems to be the fact the fluid is designed NOT to dry out. So it doesn't really coagulate and dry like a sort of scab that latex and similar sealants do. The 1/16" hole seemed to be completely sealed but the 1/8" hole still oozed a very, very small amount of fluid even after several hours. Very tiny amounts of air could be seen seen escaping. But overall I think it worked very well considering it's designed to pretty much never dry out. You would for sure not be stranded with a puncture of at least 1/8".
I did an additional experiment with adding 1Tbs of corn meal to the mixture after breaking the bead but it didn't seem to make much difference. I also tested out plugging both holes which is probably what I would do with any puncture of 1/8" size no matter what sealant. That seems to have completely closed the hole and no more oozing is noticeable. I may try to add or change the mixture to see what improvements can be made.
I did an additional experiment with adding 1Tbs of corn meal to the mixture after breaking the bead but it didn't seem to make much difference. I also tested out plugging both holes which is probably what I would do with any puncture of 1/8" size no matter what sealant. That seems to have completely closed the hole and no more oozing is noticeable. I may try to add or change the mixture to see what improvements can be made.
Your blend will cost around $70 for 2 gallons. ($35 per gallon) The more traditional home made sealant brew costs $50 to $55 per gallon of latex mix, $30 for a gallon of slime, $12 for a gallon of antifreeze, and 1 to 2 parts of water and $5 for glitter . (Costs $100 for 4 gallons, or $25 per gallon.)
Perhaps your brew is better from the perspective, that you only have to have 3 containers sitting around versus my 4 gallon containers, and several smaller ones that I keep in the van, work bench and bike tool box.
These days, I have 12 tubeless wheels to maintain, so I have been going through about a gallon a year of the home brew. I have found that when I only mix a gallon at a time, and put keep air out of the latex liquid, all the ingredients appear to be lasting with a long shelf life.
Perhaps your brew is better from the perspective, that you only have to have 3 containers sitting around versus my 4 gallon containers, and several smaller ones that I keep in the van, work bench and bike tool box.
These days, I have 12 tubeless wheels to maintain, so I have been going through about a gallon a year of the home brew. I have found that when I only mix a gallon at a time, and put keep air out of the latex liquid, all the ingredients appear to be lasting with a long shelf life.
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I'm not really trying to reinvent the wheel or anything here. I understand the latex home brew is probably better and cheaper. The two main things I'm trying to accomplish are...a formula that doesn't require refreshing every few months or so when it's hot and dry and one that is CO2 compatible. Any suggestions?
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So far I'm pretty happy with the 50/50 mix of Berryman's and Slime ATV and some finely ground rubber bits I got off Etsy. It might be more expensive but it will certainly last longer than latex based sealant which is what I'm after at this point. If it starts letting me down I'll have reevaluate.
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So... have there been any new advancements in the several years I've been away from this forum?
Interestingly enough, I thought, "let's give AI a chance and see what it says," so I type into ChatGPT, "What is the best recipe for home brew mountain bike sealant?" and it says:
My last batch dated 2020-07-14 was
Interestingly enough, I thought, "let's give AI a chance and see what it says," so I type into ChatGPT, "What is the best recipe for home brew mountain bike sealant?" and it says:
- 2 parts liquid latex
- 1 part distilled water
- 1 part liquid dish soap
- Optional glitter or microbeads
My last batch dated 2020-07-14 was
- 32oz PG
- 32oz RO Water
- 5oz ammonia
- 1 teaspoon xantham gum
- MIX
- 16oz mold builder
- MIX
- 1/2 cup rubber crumb
- 1/4 cup corn meal
- MIX
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