patching

Thread started by
Gav at 05.24.09 - 11:30 am
I have been thinking of how to reuse a tube of mine with a broken valve stem. i decided to use it for patches. Do you guys know how I can stick the pieces of the old tube to a new tube? I tried using the vulcanizing fluid from my patch kit, but it isn't working. I'm think of maybe getting rubber cement, but that's glue.
I want to figure this out because that would mean I won't have to buy a patch kit for a long time since this one tube can provide so much.
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oh, I just thought about that stuff they use for car tires to seel a puncture. I'm sure that's also vulcanizing fluid. I'm just curious why the glue from the patch kit isn't working.
Gav05.24.09 - 11:35 am
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Use old tubes for arts and crafts (belts, rubber bands, barwrap, etc.), the patches in patch kits are designed to work with the vulcanizing fluid in a way that inner tube rubber isn't, especially since the inner part of the inner tube is usually coated with a non-stick powder.
At $1-2 per patch kit, it's not really worth economizing.
JB05.24.09 - 11:42 am
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I like the idea too! I've done it a couple of times. The vulcanizing stuff that comes with the patch worked for me.
Make sure your patch is clean. And make sure your patch is small. And make sure you use enough vulcanizing stuff.
Good luck!
gregb responding to a
comment by Gav
05.24.09 - 11:46 am
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I'm not trying to economize, I just want to reuse the tube and making patches seemed to be the most practical thing to do with an broken tube.
Gav responding to a
comment by JB
05.24.09 - 11:47 am
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as far as i know the point of the patch is just to protect the rubber cement, which is what does the actual plugging.
did you try roughing up the patch they you you do the tire?
Personally i find the lil patches in a tube repair kit to be cheap and simple to use.
I recycle my tubes as rubber bands and such.
trickmilla responding to a
comment by Gav
05.24.09 - 12:00 pm
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how about a tire liner, or are tubes too soft for this?
Gav05.24.09 - 12:03 pm
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There's got to be a shit load of good usable tubes at alot of these bike stores. I was at a REI beginners workshop on bicycles recently. I went there out of curiosity. Anyways they were suggesting to pretty much replace the tube when you get a hole! I couldn't believe what I was hearing, but you're more than welcome to hear it for yourselves. They repeat this workshop regularly. Such a drastic change from what I was taught.
User1 responding to a
comment by sciencefriction
05.24.09 - 12:37 pm
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they didn't even suggest taking the punctured tube home and patching it? Just throw it away?
Gav responding to a
comment by User1
05.24.09 - 12:41 pm
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its just not going to work. even car patched are almost identical to the good bike patch kits. its what works. the vulcanizing fluid reacts with the patch to create a strong bond. kind of like the way JB weld comes in two tubes and when you mix the two together you get a super strong adhesive. the vulcanizing fluid wont work as a glue alone.
larsenf05.24.09 - 1:44 pm
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From what the bike mechanic said, is that you have the option to repair the tube, but the glue goes bad after a month or two. So he questions if that money should be better spent just buying a new tube. I have glue that's well over a year since I opened it and it's still good.
User1 responding to a
comment by Gav
05.24.09 - 2:02 pm
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i was just thinking rubber on rubber with the glue. I don't know what the patches are made from, I'm guessing some treated rubber. But I'm over it.
Gav responding to a
comment by larsenf
05.24.09 - 2:16 pm
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i never have money on me, especially bills, so ic anyone ever punctures a tire too bad, just cut a rectangle shape out and cover up that puncture with it until you can change the tire.
HANDBONE05.24.09 - 7:51 pm
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that's true, so many tubes and also tires are thrown away at the bike shop i work at
sshagy responding to a
comment by User1
05.24.09 - 10:43 pm
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