Tarp repair...tape or glue?

[gemini5362]

A few years ago my wife hit the gearshift and knocked her miata out of gear and into neutral. She had forgotten to set the parking brake and she was just walking in the front door of the house when the car started rolling down the driveway towards the neighbors barbed wire fence. The top did a nice job of stopping the car when the fence ripped into it. The fence left a cut about 6 inches long in the top. I went to wal mart and in the sporting good section I found some tent repair epoxy. I bought that kit and mixed the Epoxy and repaired the rip. It was about three months before they could get another top from Mazda so she had to drive the car back and forth to work during that time. I was worried about it holding up because convertible tops are stretched pretty tight and she drives 50 miles each way at interstate speeds. The epoxy was still holding perfect when the new top came in and was replaced. I went back to walmart the next year looking for the epoxy for another job and they did not have it any more. Has anyone ever heard of this and maybe knows the brand name ?

 

[Farmwithjunk]

If you go with duct tape - get the good heavy duty stuff instead of the el cheapo. It will last.

I had some heavy winds recently that ripped the grommets out of one of my tarps, so I'll have to use a combination of tarp material to reset the grommet and duct tape to reinforce.

Not pretty but functional.

In an emergency of sorts, I paid over $9 a roll for some "Gorrilla" brand duct tape a few weeks ago. (Same Gorrilla that sells the glue.) Actually, the company I work for paid that much. I just ended up with the 2 rolls that were left over. Anywho, this stuff is all that! More UV resistant. Tougher. And will it ever stick! It's not for every common duct tape job, but for the ones you need to last, it's perfect. Comes in black. Not sure about any other colors. Pricey as far as duct tape goes, but easily worth the extra bucks.

 

[5030]

I have a big tarp sort of. I have a Clearspan 30' wide x 15' tall x 80' long arch building that is one big tarp as well as hay tarps. I always use Gorilla brand tape as well. It sticks like glue and is unaffected by the sun but it only comes in black. TSC sells it along with Gorilla glue which I never tried. I also use 3M Weatherstrip adhesive to repair tarps and it too works well. Don't get the weatherstrip adhesive on your hands. It's hard to get off. Wear rubber or latex gloves.

 

[srjones]

Okay, this is good. A wide variety of opinions.

The follow up question would be, "What would work best to clean the patch area before gluing/taping?

Options I'm considering.

1. warm and soapy water.
2. mineral spirits
3. acetone
4. Some sort of detergent type cleaner (White Lighting, Oxyclean, Simple Green)

Soundguy, If I were to patch instead of tape, should the patch go on the inside or outside?

Thanks,

-Steve

 

[Dusty]

I would not use mineral spirits or acetone. Both might harm the rubberized material. Soap and water will usually do a good enough job. I don't care for some of the harsher cleaners on that type of material because they can take out the oils that are in the coatings.
I used to use Bleach White on my white wall tires, until I noticed that the white started to get checked. Upon checking with the tire manufacturer to see if this were a material defect, they told me exactly how I had been cleaning the white walls and that was the reason for the checking. The Bleach White was removing the chemical compounds in the rubber. Since then, I only use mild type soaps and stay away from curbs.
Dusty

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Okay, this is good. A wide variety of opinions.

The follow up question would be, "What would work best to clean the patch area before gluing/taping?

Options I'm considering.

1. warm and soapy water.
2. mineral spirits
3. acetone
4. Some sort of detergent type cleaner (White Lighting, Oxyclean, Simple Green)

Soundguy, If I were to patch instead of tape, should the patch go on the inside or outside?

Thanks,

-Steve

I use spray carb cleaner or brake cleaner on a rag or sprayed directly on a surface to be cleaned. It's not the ticket for cleaning painted surfaces. It leaves no residue behind like a petroleum product would. Also contact cleaner works well.

 

[escavader]

I got a hole in my pool cover.I was thinking about a construction adhesive and a patch,will it work?The cover is often submerged in water until i siphon off the rain.
ALAN

 

[Soundguy]

I'd use alcohol to clean, and I'd repair from the inside if possible.. and if strength is needed.. repair on the outside as well.

Speaking of HD duct tape. At work, at my night job, we use a cloth duct tape.. 'gaff' tape. it's used to tape cords down to floors and carpet to keep stage performers from tripping over cords. It's darn tough stuff. If it sticks together around a cable.. it is usually easier to get a razor blade and cut it off vs trying to pull it apart. I'm not sure of what all colors are available.. I know we get a flat black type.. etc.

( in tv and movie credits.. when you see 'gaffers' mentioned.. they are the ones doing the cable taping... and when you see 'grips' those are the guys walking around behind the camera men, holding the cables to provide free movement, and stress relief tot he camera and operator.. and to make sure he doesn't trip over the cables... etc.. )

Soundguy

Okay, this is good. A wide variety of opinions.

The follow up question would be, "What would work best to clean the patch area before gluing/taping?

Options I'm considering.

1. warm and soapy water.
2. mineral spirits
3. acetone
4. Some sort of detergent type cleaner (White Lighting, Oxyclean, Simple Green)

Soundguy, If I were to patch instead of tape, should the patch go on the inside or outside?

Thanks,

-Steve

 

[Soundguy]

I got a hole in my pool cover.I was thinking about a construction adhesive and a patch,will it work?The cover is often submerged in water until i siphon off the rain.
ALAN

Contact cement plus ? visquine patching material.. or vinyl patching material for a pool or water bed.. etc.. ( and the vinyl solvent glue? )

soundguy

 

[Dusty]

I put a patch on a few days ago, but it was cold, and I don't know how well it will hold. Today, we have been in monsoon mode, so I will have to check it when the rains stop.
Dusty