Tube Decisions - Junk It or Potential ReUse?
05-31-23, 08:03 AM
#26
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I do not exaggerate when I say I patch hundreds of tubes per year, nearly all for local bike nonprofits. I unfortunately see many tubes where I can literally peel off a patch with my fingers because the person either did inadequate surface prep (perhaps a couple desultory passes with the sandpaper instead of scrubbing to expose virgin rubber) or skipped the surface prep step entirely. And then they probably think that patching is a waste of time and money.
Proper surface preparation is by far the most important factor, followed by using reliable quality materials (as in "Rema".) One thing I use is a dremel with a sanding drum to prep the area - does it in seconds and provides an excellent bond with the patch once the vulcanizing fluid is applied and is ready.
I also buy genuine Rema patches by the 100 count box, so the overall cost is remarkably low - especially compared to the cost savings of not having to buy new tubes at the current... inflated... prices.
Proper surface preparation is by far the most important factor, followed by using reliable quality materials (as in "Rema".) One thing I use is a dremel with a sanding drum to prep the area - does it in seconds and provides an excellent bond with the patch once the vulcanizing fluid is applied and is ready.
I also buy genuine Rema patches by the 100 count box, so the overall cost is remarkably low - especially compared to the cost savings of not having to buy new tubes at the current... inflated... prices.
For a long time I was using glueless patches, never had one fail, but about 5 years ago I had a slew fail, what the heck was going on? So I called Park thinking I got several bad batches of patches, and they said the tube manufactures changed the tube composition so that now their glueless patches will not hold forever like they use to. So back to glue on patches I went, I miss those glueless patches though.
05-31-23, 11:51 AM
#27
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there are some US regulations now about the rubber cement / solvent used in the patch kits
they don;t want you sniffin glue
I have bought some stuff off ebay out of china that works GREAT. The real stuff. Not some denatured EPA compliant paste.
/markp
they don;t want you sniffin glue
I have bought some stuff off ebay out of china that works GREAT. The real stuff. Not some denatured EPA compliant paste.
/markp
Last edited by mpetry912; 05-31-23 at 11:59 AM.
05-31-23, 05:57 PM
#28
Clark W. Griswold
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incorrect information. There is no way that the cost of patches costs more than a tube, and there is not a hit a miss if you know how to patch which obviously you have problems with.
You can get two boxes of Rema patches for $4.49, each box contains 6 round patches 1 oval patch, a tube of glue, and a buffer, that means for $4.49 you can patch a tube at least 12 times; but you're saying that it's cheaper to replace the tube after each flat, that means you will be buying 12 tubes, show me where I can buy 12 good quality tubes for $4.49 total! Heck, show me 12 cheap crappy tubes for $4.49.
You can get two boxes of Rema patches for $4.49, each box contains 6 round patches 1 oval patch, a tube of glue, and a buffer, that means for $4.49 you can patch a tube at least 12 times; but you're saying that it's cheaper to replace the tube after each flat, that means you will be buying 12 tubes, show me where I can buy 12 good quality tubes for $4.49 total! Heck, show me 12 cheap crappy tubes for $4.49.
06-01-23, 02:43 PM
#29
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I know how to patch a tube. Yes I have had issues with patches staying patched but that is not uncommon it does happen. In terms of cost I am talking one tube and time to patch yes if you are bulking it and they don't fail then yes it could be cheaper if your time isn't valuable. If I have to do the labor to put a tube in and inflate plus extra labor that is more time plus I am unlikely to patch a tube on the road unless in a desperate emergency as in I am out of tubes and need to use the patch kit
I learned this method about 60 years ago when I was 8 years old, an old man, well old to me at the time! taught me this method. I rarely need to remove the wheel from the bike to fix a flat! About 95% of my flats I can find the entrance hole or thing sticking in it on inspection of the outside of the tire, once I've done that, I remove about half of the bead from one side of the tire with the hole in the center of where I removed it, remember the wheel is still on the bike while I'm doing this, then I pull out about a quarter of the tube with that hole about in the center of that quarter, do the usual patching thing, while the glue is drying I check for anything protruding into the tire, stuff the tube back into the tire, reseat the tire and inflate. No time wasted taking the wheel off, no time wasted in rolling up the old tube, trying to get all the air out as I go so I can stuff it back into the saddle bag. Even if I have to remove the wheel, I know I can have the tube fixed and be riding just as fast as a person replacing the tube, because where the tube replacer is wasting time is in rolling up the old tube, during that same time it takes to roll up the tube my glue is drying and the patch is being pressed on; it use to be faster patching the putting a new tube back when glueless patches worked, but the tube manufacturers changed the tube composition according to Park Tools, so now the glueless patch will only hold up long enough to get home, the Parks use to hold permanently.
06-01-23, 03:18 PM
#30
Clark W. Griswold
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Your giving excuses. How long does it take to replace the tube on the side of the road? say 10 minutes for a rear flat? it takes me that long to patch it. In fact, I can patch faster than replacing a tube, SAY WHAAAATTTTTTTT??? you scream. Let me explain.
I learned this method about 60 years ago when I was 8 years old, an old man, well old to me at the time! taught me this method. I rarely need to remove the wheel from the bike to fix a flat! About 95% of my flats I can find the entrance hole or thing sticking in it on inspection of the outside of the tire, once I've done that, I remove about half of the bead from one side of the tire with the hole in the center of where I removed it, remember the wheel is still on the bike while I'm doing this, then I pull out about a quarter of the tube with that hole about in the center of that quarter, do the usual patching thing, while the glue is drying I check for anything protruding into the tire, stuff the tube back into the tire, reseat the tire and inflate. No time wasted taking the wheel off, no time wasted in rolling up the old tube, trying to get all the air out as I go so I can stuff it back into the saddle bag. Even if I have to remove the wheel, I know I can have the tube fixed and be riding just as fast as a person replacing the tube, because where the tube replacer is wasting time is in rolling up the old tube, during that same time it takes to roll up the tube my glue is drying and the patch is being pressed on; it use to be faster patching the putting a new tube back when glueless patches worked, but the tube manufacturers changed the tube composition according to Park Tools, so now the glueless patch will only hold up long enough to get home, the Parks use to hold permanently.
I learned this method about 60 years ago when I was 8 years old, an old man, well old to me at the time! taught me this method. I rarely need to remove the wheel from the bike to fix a flat! About 95% of my flats I can find the entrance hole or thing sticking in it on inspection of the outside of the tire, once I've done that, I remove about half of the bead from one side of the tire with the hole in the center of where I removed it, remember the wheel is still on the bike while I'm doing this, then I pull out about a quarter of the tube with that hole about in the center of that quarter, do the usual patching thing, while the glue is drying I check for anything protruding into the tire, stuff the tube back into the tire, reseat the tire and inflate. No time wasted taking the wheel off, no time wasted in rolling up the old tube, trying to get all the air out as I go so I can stuff it back into the saddle bag. Even if I have to remove the wheel, I know I can have the tube fixed and be riding just as fast as a person replacing the tube, because where the tube replacer is wasting time is in rolling up the old tube, during that same time it takes to roll up the tube my glue is drying and the patch is being pressed on; it use to be faster patching the putting a new tube back when glueless patches worked, but the tube manufacturers changed the tube composition according to Park Tools, so now the glueless patch will only hold up long enough to get home, the Parks use to hold permanently.
No it does not take 10 minutes maybe for you it does, I don't know I usually take about half that time taking my time and not rushing. If I am by the side of the road which hasn't happened in a while I can do it in 2-3 minutes. Yes just removing part of the bead and hoping you find the puncture could be faster then removing the wheel. It all depends on a lot of factors which I know you won't admit to because you are absolutely perfect and know exactly where the puncture occurred without even looking...kidding again. Trying to have some fun because laughing is good for you.
I am unsure of about this tube rolling thing but I guess yes you will spend so much time rolling a tube. Probably many minutes rolling that tube maybe even hours...again kidding (remember laughing and smiling good for you). I hope you are kidding as well with some of the stuff you are saying.
06-01-23, 03:19 PM
#31
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People will snort anything, are they taking off everything on the market that some dope might think it's a good idea to snort? no their no. Nor are they removing Drano after people drank it and died. This is about survival of the smartest, let the dumb kill themselves off so the DNA will remain strong.
06-01-23, 03:24 PM
#32
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Yes being honest is making excuses. That is good reasoning you should continue on that route...I kid of course.
No it does not take 10 minutes maybe for you it does, I don't know I usually take about half that time taking my time and not rushing. If I am by the side of the road which hasn't happened in a while I can do it in 2-3 minutes. Yes just removing part of the bead and hoping you find the puncture could be faster then removing the wheel. It all depends on a lot of factors which I know you won't admit to because you are absolutely perfect and know exactly where the puncture occurred without even looking...kidding again. Trying to have some fun because laughing is good for you.
I am unsure of about this tube rolling thing but I guess yes you will spend so much time rolling a tube. Probably many minutes rolling that tube maybe even hours...again kidding (remember laughing and smiling good for you). I hope you are kidding as well with some of the stuff you are saying.
No it does not take 10 minutes maybe for you it does, I don't know I usually take about half that time taking my time and not rushing. If I am by the side of the road which hasn't happened in a while I can do it in 2-3 minutes. Yes just removing part of the bead and hoping you find the puncture could be faster then removing the wheel. It all depends on a lot of factors which I know you won't admit to because you are absolutely perfect and know exactly where the puncture occurred without even looking...kidding again. Trying to have some fun because laughing is good for you.
I am unsure of about this tube rolling thing but I guess yes you will spend so much time rolling a tube. Probably many minutes rolling that tube maybe even hours...again kidding (remember laughing and smiling good for you). I hope you are kidding as well with some of the stuff you are saying.
I never said I could find the hole without looking, LOL!!! But I bet a blind man could!
06-01-23, 03:31 PM
#33
Clark W. Griswold
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It normally takes me no more than 5 minutes usually 2 to 3 like you, but I said 10 because most people take that long, and I didn't want you to think I was lying had I said 3 minutes or some such low number, so that was just trying to be nice. I watched people fix their flats over many years and most can't to it in less than 10! which is fine, at least they were fixing their flats instead of calling their mommies to come get them like most do today!! There was time I never saw anyone, male, female, or kid, wheeling their bikes into a bike shop with a flat and telling them to fix it, now I see it all the time, it's weird.
I never said I could find the hole without looking, LOL!!! But I bet a blind man could!
I never said I could find the hole without looking, LOL!!! But I bet a blind man could!
