Products

• How do I know what crack sealant to use in my area?  Go to the Crafco sealant selection guide in the sealant section of the Crafco web site.
• Why is the crack sealant coming out of the crack after it has cooled? Most likely the crack was either wet or dirty. Sealant will not stick to either.
• Can I crack seal in cold weather? Yes you can, if you follow a few simple suggestions. If the temperatures are below freezing the biggest challenge is moisture. It is very hard to see if it is frozen. Test the pavement with a torch or a heat lance. Warm the pavement, then remove the heat source. Observe the area for moisture signs for a minute or two. If the pavement looks damp the sealant will not stick. If you determine the pavement is dry, heat the sealant to the upper end of the safe heating temperature and seal. The use of a heat lance is always recommended in cold weather. Always follow the Crafco recommended installation instructions.
• Why should I rout my cracks before I seal/fill them?
  By routing the cracks you remove the oxidized fractured pavement from the crack surface and expose intact vertical walls for the sealant to bond to.  The increased area of sealant in the crack also accommodates for more movement.  This will extend the sealant's service life by up to 50% over non-routed cracks. 
• Can I use a SuperShot Melter to apply the Superseal Hot Applied Fuel Resistant Sealants (Superseal 444/777 and Superseal 1614A)?
  No, primarily for two reasons:
  The location of the intake of the material pump is 1.5 inches above the bottom of the tank and you are not able to pump all of the material out of the tank. The Superseal Hot Applied Fuel Resistant Sealants are not re-heatable  sealants and all of the sealant (Superseal Hot Applied Fuel Resistant Sealants) must be removed from the melter and cleaned (Crafco Superseal Flushing Oil) after each application.
  The Superseal Hot Applied Fuel Resistant Sealants have to be constantly agitated, starting when the sealant is put into the melter. The SuperShot units have a safety interlock system to protect various components on the machine. Part of this system does not allow the agitator to turn until the sealant temperature reaches 275°F. If the Superseal Hot Applied Fuel Resistant Sealants is not continuously agitated it will overheat and gel in the melter, resulting in a long and costly clean up process.
• When should I use a thick sealant instead of a thin one? Crafco supplies both thick and thin sealant for various applications. Thicker sealant generally contains ground tire rubber as a thickening agent. Thicker sealant with ground tire rubber contains the same rubber that makes your automobile tires last for thousands of miles. This is a good thing. Sealants such as Asphalt Rubber Plus and PolyFlex are great sealants if they are to be placed in cracks over one quarter inch wide and are within the proper climate range. See the Crafco sealant selection guide. 
• Why is my crack sealant tracking or pulling out of the crack? In most cases the wrong sealant for your application was used, or it has not cooled properly. If the sealant is too tacky for the specific application but is a Crafco recommended product for the area, a simple application of Crafco Detack is the solution. If the sealant is pulling out of the crack after it has cooled, the crack is most likely wet or dirty. See our installation instructions or a Crafco representative for more details.
• How big should a crack be before it needs to be sealed? Any crack will let water into the sub base. The larger the crack the more water will go through it. Water in the base is a killer of pavements so we recommend all cracks be sealed regardless of size.  Every crack wants to be a pothole when it grows up.
• Where can I find a sealant usage calculator? Click on sealant button located to the left. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on “sealant usage calculator”.
• Why does crack sealant cost so much?  Crafco crack sealant is made from liquid asphalt, oils, polymers, extenders and in some cases, recycled rubber.  The costs for most of these items has risen 100-300% during 2007 and 2008.  In these volatile times we attempt to supply the finest sealants at a fair price.  Crack sealing continues to be the most cost effective pavement preservation method you can use.  Cracks lead to potholes and potholes are very bad.  Seal the cracks.
• What should I do if I'm asked to provide a product that meets specification ASTM D6690?  Crafco manufactures several sealants that meet the ASTM D6690 specification.  Some are climate specific and others are thicker or thinner, while some contain recycled tire rubber and others do not.  See our sealant specification guide by clicking on the sealant button to the left in order to find the product that best meets your needs.

Equipment

• Can two applicator hoses be installed on a machine that has only one sealant pump?  No, but select units do have an option for a second pump and applicator hose. Additionally, on the EZ Series II 1500 you can have two standard hoses, two electric hoses or one of each depending on options ordered on machine.
• On an EZ Series II machine, can I switch from a heated to a non-heated hose. Yes, all EZ Series II machines that are ordered with an electric hose/wand have the option of switching over to a non-electric hose/wand.  However, a machine that is ordered with only a standard non-electric hose/wand does not have all the components necessary to install an electric hose/wand.
• Why is there unmelted sealant bag in my machine? Bag can accumulate around the agitator if new sealant blocks are added to sealant that is below the recommended application temperature or if sealant blocks are added to a cold machine and then heated. In both cases, if you heat the sealant to the proper application temperature, the bag will melt. The other tip is to only add new sealant to product that is at or above the minimum application temperature.
• Why is my melter heating slower than is used to? There are two common answers to this question and both are easy to check. First is the heat transfer oil. When was it changed last? If the answer is more than 500 hours ago, go to your manual and change the oil according to the instructions. Next is the material tank. Does it have a coating of hard sealant on the sides? If so, again go to the manual and clean according to the directions or call your local Crafco representative. This coating will interfere with the transfer of heat to the sealant.
• Why are my router cutters wearing unevenly?  You are running the router too slowly. The cutters will not spin properly unless you move relatively quickly and hear a hammering sound from the cutters.
• Can I use my router as a saw cutter? We have a saw cutting attachment for the Model 200. see your local Crafco representative or click on the equipment button to the left for details
• Can I use a Crafco machine to heat and apply fiber sealants? Yes you can. We recommend using an EZPOUR or EZ Series II to apply fiber sealants. We also recommend the use of Crafco PolyFiber Sealant so you assure yourself the proper mix and consistency.
• How long does it take to change a pump on a SuperShot machine? The actual change time should not exceed two hours. We suggest a complete and thorough cleaning of the inside of the material tank anytime you change pumps. This operation may take from one to four additional hours but will increase heat up time significantly.
• Can I allow heat transfer oil to contaminate the soil or pavement? NO. Some equipment manufacturers build units specifically designed to allow heat transfer oil to escape the machine. You could be fined or go to jail for it. Consult your local regulations for proper disposal. All Crafco melters have an overflow tank designed specifically to prevent oxidation of the HTO and to not allow it to be lost.
• Should I get an air compressor option with my melter applicator? With the price of fuel the way it is today it makes no sense not to. First, you will save the cost of a vehicle to tow an air compressor. Second, it will save the cost of a driver for that same vehicle. Third, you will save the cost of the fuel for the compressor. Only you know what these costs are but if you add them up, the costs will shock you. Only Crafco uses industrial type compressors designed for everyday and all day use and offers them at a fair price. Get the compressor option, it will pay for itself in a few weeks.
• Can I keep the burner lit on my melter while transporting it to the job site? No. the wind will affect the heating system. It is unsafe and not recommended.
• Why does the temperature continue to climb upwards after the burner shuts off?  The heat transfer oil should be set around 100°F higher than the sealant temperature to expedite sealant melting.  If additional sealant is not put into the melter, the sealant temperature will begin to move towards the HTO temperature and will stabilize at about 50-75°F below the HTO temperature.
• Why should I use the more expensive "wide hub" router cutter?  You will get a cleaner cut with less wobble from the cutter and this will most likely cause you to use less sealant.  Spacers are also included with each set, as compared to the standard carbide cutter that does not include them.  The wide hub cutters have, in most applications, last 10-30% longer than the standard carbide cutter.
• Why won't the SuperShot burner come back on with the material temperature set at 400°F and the HTO temperature set at 500°F?  If the material temp. is over 400°F, the burner will not come on until material temp. is under 400°F.  If the HTO temp. is over 500°F, the burner will not come on until HTO temp. is under 500°F.
• Why does sealant continue to drip out of the end of the SuperShot wand after trigger has been released?  On a SuperShot there are no valves that open or close from the sealant pump to the end of the wand.  To stop sealant flow after releasing the trigger use a Crafco Dripless Tip Adapter, which includes part numbers 27114, 27115 & 50270