# Anyone notice flowable silicone feeling thicker lately? **URL:** \ **Category:** Yo-Yo Mods and Maintenance\ **Created:** [January 25, 2026, 6:23pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-notice-flowable-silicone-feeling-thicker-lately/439876 "2026-01-25T18:23:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Juiccetin](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/juiccetin/32/671353_2.png) [@Juiccetin](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Juiccetin)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2026, 6:23pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-notice-flowable-silicone-feeling-thicker-lately/439876/1 "2026-01-25T18:23:06Z")
Hey all, Quick question for the longtime throwers here. Has anyone else noticed that Permatex flowable silicone seems noticeably thicker than it used to be? I’ve been using Permatex for 10+ years on yo-yos, and recent tubes don’t really self-level the way they used to, even when warmed. It comes out more like syrup or gel and wants to hold shape instead of wicking into the groove. I remember older tubes being much runnier and basically foolproof for response mods. If you’ve noticed this too: - Have you found a way to make it behave better? Warming methods, application tricks, etc. - Or have you switched to something else entirely? Appreciate any input :+1: ![71yWWUnJuvL.AC_UF1000,1000_QL80](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/3/8/1/381f1cd8db9872dfa7b9716a7ab76e7a23aa781d.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![washyjoshe](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/washyjoshe/32/612061_2.png) [@washyjoshe](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/washyjoshe)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2026, 6:58pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-notice-flowable-silicone-feeling-thicker-lately/439876/2 "2026-01-25T18:58:01Z")
I can verify this. I’ve only done it with one tube, and 2 yo-yos I have done ended with lumpy responses. Knew it wasn’t a temperature issue, so I just switched to grey. ---
**Author:** ![bigstupidbees](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/bigstupidbees/32/210638_2.png) [@bigstupidbees](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/bigstupidbees)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2026, 7:19pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-notice-flowable-silicone-feeling-thicker-lately/439876/3 "2026-01-25T19:19:20Z")
Yup I tried flowable a couple times but it was just too snaggy. Ultra grey for life! ---
**Author:** ![washyjoshe](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/washyjoshe/32/612061_2.png) [@washyjoshe](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/washyjoshe)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2026, 9:41pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-notice-flowable-silicone-feeling-thicker-lately/439876/4 "2026-01-25T21:41:54Z")
> [@Permatex 22074 Ultra Grey for very unresponsive return system](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/permatex-22074-ultra-grey-for-very-unresponsive-return-system/374904/387): > > Tried some ultra grey about a week ago on some yo-yos that frustrated me. Both yo-yos have non typical pads, A bearing and CLYW. Pulled out one pad each, and did flush grey in the leaf and recessed in the cold fusion. After 1 week of play. Both yo-yos have gotten about an hour each of play, maybe more. Both are a little more enjoyable. The Leaf feels much more powerful now. Comparison of other pads. Here’s some of the clear flowa… Just posted over in another thread, but there’s a picture of the flowable that I tried. Didn’t touch it, just tried to get it super low and was waiting for it to level out. It didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![NuroVolt7](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/nurovolt7/32/671908_2.png) [@NuroVolt7](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/NuroVolt7)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2026, 9:45pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-notice-flowable-silicone-feeling-thicker-lately/439876/5 "2026-01-25T21:45:51Z")
Figure imma try ultra red as it’s less grabby than grey, but maybe I’ll just get a tube of each and see what I like ---
**Author:** ![Juiccetin](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/juiccetin/32/671353_2.png) [@Juiccetin](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Juiccetin)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2026, 9:47pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-notice-flowable-silicone-feeling-thicker-lately/439876/6 "2026-01-25T21:47:51Z")
I believe red is grabbier than grey. Grey is the least responsive. ---
**Author:** ![NuroVolt7](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/nurovolt7/32/671908_2.png) [@NuroVolt7](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/NuroVolt7)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2026, 9:48pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-notice-flowable-silicone-feeling-thicker-lately/439876/7 "2026-01-25T21:48:48Z")
![IMG_2620](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/c/e/b/cebadba8e13a434da02876717298d4d090af4cc6.jpeg) Only one way to find out! ---
**Author:** ![Juiccetin](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/juiccetin/32/671353_2.png) [@Juiccetin](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Juiccetin)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2026, 9:49pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-notice-flowable-silicone-feeling-thicker-lately/439876/8 "2026-01-25T21:49:07Z")
Were you recessing the flowable when you applied it? I’ve found flowable to be the perfect middle ground when recessed. Haven’t tried grey, though. Might have to give it a shot! ---
**Author:** ![Juiccetin](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/juiccetin/32/671353_2.png) [@Juiccetin](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Juiccetin)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2026, 9:50pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-notice-flowable-silicone-feeling-thicker-lately/439876/9 "2026-01-25T21:50:40Z")
Best way to adjust the response it to fiddle with the recess when you are applying the silicone. You can either apply it flush (more responsive), or you can take the corner of a credit card and slightly recess it (less responsive). Let me know how you like the red if you try it, though! ---
**Author:** ![bigstupidbees](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/bigstupidbees/32/210638_2.png) [@bigstupidbees](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/bigstupidbees)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2026, 11:12pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-notice-flowable-silicone-feeling-thicker-lately/439876/10 "2026-01-25T23:12:00Z")
I was, I actually recess my ultra grey a tiny bit for the perfect response with a little bit thicker strings. like kitty xl/xxl, cloudweave macro ---
**Author:** ![Splizacular](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/splizacular/32/640487_2.png) [@Splizacular](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Splizacular)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2026, 12:46pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-notice-flowable-silicone-feeling-thicker-lately/439876/11 "2026-01-26T12:46:55Z")
> [@Juiccetin](#): > > Grey is the least responsive gear oil is the hardest at 70 ---
**Author:** ![bigstupidbees](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/bigstupidbees/32/210638_2.png) [@bigstupidbees](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/bigstupidbees)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2026, 2:29pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-notice-flowable-silicone-feeling-thicker-lately/439876/12 "2026-01-26T14:29:09Z")
I still wanna try some Gear oil some time. I’ll have to get a tube ---
**Author:** ![Splizacular](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/splizacular/32/640487_2.png) [@Splizacular](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Splizacular)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2026, 4:39pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-notice-flowable-silicone-feeling-thicker-lately/439876/13 "2026-01-26T16:39:25Z")
iirc you like low response and recess your sili. if I’m right about that i think you’d really like gear oil. if nothing else it adds just enough hardness that you don’t have to recess it and it’s still really low response without being slippy ---
**Author:** ![Xanadu](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/xanadu/32/84910_2.png) [@Xanadu](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Xanadu)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2026, 7:02pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-notice-flowable-silicone-feeling-thicker-lately/439876/14 "2026-01-26T19:02:27Z")
:100:!!! I thought I was doing something wrong all of a sudden. It’s like not self leveling at all. ---
**Author:** ![AudreySickburn](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/audreysickburn/32/313292_2.png) [@AudreySickburn](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/AudreySickburn)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2026, 7:35pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-notice-flowable-silicone-feeling-thicker-lately/439876/15 "2026-01-26T19:35:43Z")
Anyone ever try dowsil 734? It’s comparatively expensive, but it is flowier (word?) and the shore rating is much lower than ultra grey (lower shore rating often feels better on binds, it’s why RSO pads are so good) > **[McMaster-Carr](https://www.mcmaster.com/product/75825A5)** > > McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day. ---
**Author:** ![SlowThrow](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/slowthrow/32/307451_2.png) [@SlowThrow](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/SlowThrow)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2026, 7:38pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-notice-flowable-silicone-feeling-thicker-lately/439876/16 "2026-01-26T19:38:18Z")
Seems legit! ---
**Author:** ![washyjoshe](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/washyjoshe/32/612061_2.png) [@washyjoshe](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/washyjoshe)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 4:37am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-notice-flowable-silicone-feeling-thicker-lately/439876/17 "2026-01-28T04:37:22Z")
> [@AudreySickburn](#): > > [McMaster-Carr](https://www.mcmaster.com/product/75825A5) Dang, it’s food compliant and comes in white. Big winners in my book. Interesting, but its $25 a tube. ---
**Author:** ![AudreySickburn](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/audreysickburn/32/313292_2.png) [@AudreySickburn](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/AudreySickburn)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 4:53am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-notice-flowable-silicone-feeling-thicker-lately/439876/18 "2026-01-28T04:53:49Z")
McMaster-Carr is known for fast shipping and great customer service but they are far from the cheapest supplier of most things. You can probably find it cheaper elsewhere. ---
**Author:** ![yoyoknight](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/yoyoknight/32/67706_2.png) [@yoyoknight](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/yoyoknight)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 5:24am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-notice-flowable-silicone-feeling-thicker-lately/439876/19 "2026-01-28T05:24:56Z")
What if you took the flowable tube and heated it up by letting it sit in some hot water for a few minutes before you used it? Maybe a heatgun after you pour it into the yoyo would help level it too. Not sure if this works its just an idea. Ive used the Ultra Grey and Red with good results before also. ---
**Author:** ![Juiccetin](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/juiccetin/32/671353_2.png) [@Juiccetin](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Juiccetin)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 2:47pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-notice-flowable-silicone-feeling-thicker-lately/439876/20 "2026-01-28T14:47:58Z")
Already tried, didn’t work.