Originally Posted by
jon c.
We always patched them as kids. As I recall we lit the patch on fire briefly on the theory that it helped the seal. I have no idea if it helped.
Now I'm too lazy and I just replace the tube.
BIDT, my dad had patches you'd clamp down with the tool above, then light the orange part of the back of the patch with a match. It would flame away like a road flare for a minute or so, and produced some really toxic-smelling smoke. After it cooled off, you peeled the metal part off, leaving a really durable patch.
I used to patch all my tubes like that, didn't know there was any other way. I can't remember one of those patches ever failing, they were pretty much permanently bonded to the tube.