Hi everyone,

I got a 2 gal can of oil-emulsion based asphalt patch at Lowe's last year, the kind with the very tiny grains of gravel, the size about what you'd find in the bottom of a fish tank. I used about a half a can patching/sealing some cracks and pits in the driveway, but when I went to use it this year, I found that the patch was too hard to mix but I could still use my stir-stick to break it up in pieces. Just couldn't mix up enough to stir it.

What I was wanting to know is, at this point is there some kind of oil or petroleum liquid that I could use to mix in to be able to get it back to a stirrable consistence, or is it worth messing with. I thought I remembered mineral oil was what was used in this type of asphalt patch mix.

Thanks,
greynold99

 

Mineral oil by itself doesn't get hard, so there must be other additives in your stuff that cause it to set up.

You might experiment with some lacquer thinner on a small sample. Good luck.

 

Most any petroleum based liquid can dissolve asphalt when spilled on the pavement. I'd experiment with mineral spirits, gasoline or whatever you have handy.

 

a TRUE 1/2" drill, jiffy mixer, & clear kerosene,,, then again, its cheap enough to just throw that 1 out & but another new one, no ? why take a chance ?

 

Well, I hadn't thought of lacquer thinner as a solvent but I suppose it could work and would certainly evaporate leaving no ground contamination. I do have some kerosene and might give that a try just to see if that will work...

As for buying another bucket of patch, I may wind up doing that but just have a hard time not getting all the use out of something... I even have a half-bucket of driveway sealer that set up on me some 15 years ago, that I use to hold down stuff that I don't want blown away out in the yard - just a big paper weight now, at least till I can figure out how to get back into a liquid form again... just kidding
And on top of that, posting a question onto this forum, you never know when you'll get a really useful piece of information from folks that know a lot more about something you're asking than you do.
Thanks again guys,
greynold99

 

Unless you are partial to your 5 gallon paperweight, it needs to go. Even if you are successful in getting it back to liquid form it's highly unlikely that it would adhere/dry properly when used.

 

apologies,,, just toss it out as its likely a wtr-based emulsion ( miss'd that word before ) instead grab up 1 of those bricks you've probably got stacked up behind the garage & use that for a more portable paperweight