How do you refill empty squeeze tubes?
March 12, 2012 2:23 AM Subscribe
How do you refill empty squeeze tubes?
I'd like to refill empty squeeze tubes with lip balm. What would be the best way to do this? You'd have to use a syringe, I presume? If so, what type of syringe should I get for the task of doing this?
I'd like to refill empty squeeze tubes with lip balm. What would be the best way to do this? You'd have to use a syringe, I presume? If so, what type of syringe should I get for the task of doing this?
Since manufacturers fill those tubes from the blunt end, have you considered unrolling the crimped end then re-rolling and re-crimping afterwards?
posted by easily confused at 3:28 AM on March 12, 2012
posted by easily confused at 3:28 AM on March 12, 2012
You can buy empty paint tubes from art supply stores. They're aluminum and you fill them from the back end and roll them up, and then treat them like a normal tube of paint. You could definitely use this for something the consistency of soft lip balm, too.
posted by Mizu at 3:34 AM on March 12, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Mizu at 3:34 AM on March 12, 2012 [2 favorites]
Lip balm has diff tubes & consistency than toothpaste, but Lifehacker recommends making your own little doodad here:
http://lifehacker.com/5857052/easily-refill-travel-toothpaste-tubes-with-the-help-of-sugru
posted by mittenedsex at 4:49 AM on March 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
http://lifehacker.com/5857052/easily-refill-travel-toothpaste-tubes-with-the-help-of-sugru
posted by mittenedsex at 4:49 AM on March 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
on second thought, mizu's suggestion is great. A little concerned about how food safe it is (since you'll undoubtedly end up ingesting some of that lip balm).
posted by mittenedsex at 4:50 AM on March 12, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by mittenedsex at 4:50 AM on March 12, 2012 [2 favorites]
I do this all the time and have found that a hobby syringe (the type model builders use for adhesive) works best. This is because the needle is long and thin but does not puncture. My kid uses the oral medicine syringes mentioned above and there is no way I could get that into the opening on my tubes. I ordered mine off ebay a couple years ago for $2.
posted by saradarlin at 8:19 AM on March 12, 2012
posted by saradarlin at 8:19 AM on March 12, 2012
Best answer: Here's the exact one I use. You can find similar models by searching "glue syringe" on eBay.
posted by saradarlin at 8:27 AM on March 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by saradarlin at 8:27 AM on March 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
Monojets would be perfect! I get them from my dentist (he gives them out to popcorn addicts, I'll leave you to imagine why.)
posted by PorcineWithMe at 9:20 AM on March 12, 2012
posted by PorcineWithMe at 9:20 AM on March 12, 2012
on second thought, mizu's suggestion is great. A little concerned about how food safe it is (since you'll undoubtedly end up ingesting some of that lip balm).
Since aluminum is perfectly food-safe, mittenedsex, there shouldn't be a problem. The theory about aluminum causing Alzheimer's has been proven false.
posted by IAmBroom at 2:04 PM on March 12, 2012
Since aluminum is perfectly food-safe, mittenedsex, there shouldn't be a problem. The theory about aluminum causing Alzheimer's has been proven false.
posted by IAmBroom at 2:04 PM on March 12, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by PorcineWithMe at 3:26 AM on March 12, 2012