Plumbing Tools

Which Plumber Putty Alternative Should You Use?

Tim

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Plumber putty can sometimes be a nuisance to handle, and you may be looking for a more workable solution for installing drains, or other plumbing fixes. The main substitution comes from silicone-based products as you’ll see below. Silicon offers many advantages over standard plumbers putty. I won’t dive too deep into them here, but you can read more about it over here.

Today we are going to be looking at three alternative plumber putty products on the market right now, which is highly rated by plumbing professionals.

A quick overview of the top 3 plumber putty alternatives

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Details

1.

GE Sealants & Adhesives 281 Advanced Silicone 2 Kitchen & Bath...
  • 100% waterproof
  • Resistant to stains and mildew
  • Shrink and crack proof
Buy on Amazon

Our Top Pick

2.

Loctite Plumber and Marine Clear Adhesive Clear, 2.7 fl oz, Squeeze...
  • Works on many surfaces
  • Great for sealing leaks
  • Dries transparent
Buy on Amazon

3.

  • Siliconized acrylic-latex
  • Will not crumble, resists shrinkage.
  • Extremely mildew-resistant, waterproof

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    1. LDR 502 7200 TUB CAULK

    Product no longer available. Use the product below instead

    GE Sealants & Adhesives 281 Advanced Silicone 2 Kitchen & Bath...
    • 100% WATERPROOF: This 100% silicone formula offers ultimate protection...
    • 40% MORE FLEXIBILITY & 5X STRONGER ADHESION: Stays permanently...
    • 30-MINUTE WATER-READY: Ready for water exposure in as little as 30...
    • SHRINK & CRACK-PROOF: Withstands extreme expansion and contraction...
    • WON’T BLEMISH METALS: Will not discolor most high-end metal finishes...

    First on our list today is the LDR 502 7200 Tub Caulk, another alternative for plumber putty. It has been manufactured by LDR Industries.

    We can assure you that LDR Industries is a competitive standard for the best alternatives to plumber putties and they make high-end products that will work around your home.

    This caulk from LDR has a white finish after using it. The adhesive is made of silicon rubber, for easy usage and to hold tight. Its main goal is to seal cracks throughout the home easily and efficiently in record-setting time. The product comes in an 8-ounce tube, but it also can be hung up.

    Tubes that can be hung up are very beneficial when trying to tidy up your garage area. If you are a beginner to using a plumber putty alternative, this LDR product comes with an easy installation instruction manual, so you won’t do anything wrong.


    2. The Loctite 1716864 Tube Plumber and Marine Adhesive

    The Loctite 1716864 Tube Plumber and Marine Adhesive is the second product on our list today and is another best plumber putty alternative. Loctite is another manufacturer that we trust, especially because of the attention to detail within their products.

    This alternative to plumber putty comes in a 2.7-ounce tube for bonding aluminum, brick, ceramic, glass, leather, many plastics, rubber, steel, wood, and cardboard. It has can seal leaks around the home. If you have a tile that is loose, this adhesive has been built to secure it back in place.

    Outside of home care, it also can fix shoes and footwear, and mend your glasses back together in case of a break. What makes this product so great is that it dries transparent, making it easier to use it places, without it becoming an eye sore.

    It also has a drying method that takes its time, allowing you to re position something if it is not up to your satisfaction right away. This takes the pressure off that you have to do it perfectly on the first try. Once it is dry however, it is watertight and leak resistant, making it one of the best substitutes to plumber putty on the market today.

    Loctite Plumber and Marine Clear Adhesive Clear, 2.7 fl oz, Squeeze...
    • Waterproof and Weatherproof: Creates a watertight seal, making it...
    • Recommended Uses: Use for sealing leaks, repairing tears, securing...
    • Bonds To: Creates a semi-flexible bond to aluminum, brick, cardboard,...
    • Easy To Use: Adhesive dries gradually so you can reposition parts as...
    • Professional Finish: Dries clear and has a thick, no-drip consistency...

    3. OATEY 25605 HERCULES 6-OUNCE WHITE TUBE PLUMBER’S CAULK

    The last plumber putty alternative up for review is the . Today we have decided, instead of focusing on just one huge plumber putty brand, to focus on three of the largest. This allows you to have a wide spectrum to choose from, especially since there are thousands of alternatives of plumber putties available on the market today.

    This last product has been developed by Oatey. If you know plumber putty, you know that Oatey is one of the best manufacturers for all things plumbing. They create high-end products that work, at a fraction of the cost of similar products. This is why they have made quite the name for themselves throughout the plumbing community.

    This alternative putty product is actually siliconized acrylic-latex caulk to be used instead of putty. It has a really smooth flow for consistent placement during a job. Inside the tube, this caulk will never harden and it does not crumble. When used, it resists shrinking by any means so you can feel good once a job is complete.

    The material is durable, flexible, resistant to any mildew, and waterproof—which is great for leaks. It is also at an incredibly affordable price. It comes in a compact 9-ounce tube that measures 6” by 1” by 1”.


    Conclusion

    The common theme between the three products with the con is that these tubes simply don’t come with enough product. They would benefit from having a larger tube to choose from so you can buy in bulk.

    That being said, the products themselves work outstandingly and are great to have around the home. They are going to fix cracks in places you never thought possible and provide a strong hold which is resistant to water. It is up to you to find out whether you want one that dries clear or one that dries with a white finish.


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    About Author

    Tim

    2 thoughts on “Which Plumber Putty Alternative Should You Use?”

    1. Use a rubber gasket, instead of plumbers putty, when installing a sink strainer basket on a brushed aluminum sink. I recently had a new brushed aluminum sink install and retrofitted the plumbing. I first used plumbers putty to install the strainer basket. Within time the putty hardened, the metal ring under the basket came loose and I had leakage. I went through this twice.
      This last time? Instead of using plumbers putty, I used a rubber gasket, then placed the strainer over it, installed the rubber and paper gasket, plus the metal tightening ring from underneath . So far, so good. A tight seal. With the rubber gasket used instead of the putty, I had a little gap to fill. That was filled with a small amount of putty around the circumference of the basket, then smoothed out.
      I’m a happy man.

      Reply
    2. Use a rubber gasket, instead of plumbers putty, when installing a sink strainer basket on a brushed aluminum sink. I recently had a new brushed aluminum sink install and retrofitted the plumbing. I first used plumbers putty to install the strainer basket. Within time the putty hardened, the metal ring under the basket came loose and I had leakage. I went through this twice.
      This last time? Instead of using plumbers putty, I used a rubber gasket, then placed the strainer over it, installed the rubber and paper gasket, plus the metal tightening ring from underneath . So far, so good. A tight seal. With the rubber gasket used instead of the putty, I had a little gap to fill. That was filled with a small amount of putty around the circumference of the basket, then smoothed out.
      I’m a happy man.

      Reply

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