repair camelback

[notenoughtoys]

Sorry to be so off topic guys but it seems there's nothing this forum can't solve. My sons camelback bladder has a slight hole in it and i want to repair it ($40.00 to replace). I was tempted to use an air bed repair kit but given this is for drinking water, I'm not so sure this is a good idea. Anyone repaired one before or got some advice on what to use.

Cheers

Bob K

[Daddles]

If no-one here can help (though I doubt it, there are a ton of cyclists on here), and your son is a cyclist, maybe you can ask the question at the bicycles.net.au forums. (http://www.bicycles.net.au/forums/index.php)

If you're not a cyclist or don't want to join, give a yell and I'll put the question up for you - like this place, it's free to read, you only need to be a member to post.

Richard

[Sebastiaan56]

Hi Bob,

The air bed kit should be OK as long as you let the adhesive set properly and let the aromatics flask off completely. More importantly is the question, will it even stick it. Mine appears to be some sort of thick vinyl,

Sebastiaan

[AlexS]

If it's vinyl, how about a water bed repair kit.

[bsrlee]

A lot depends on where the leak is - if its seam/edge leak, then heat welding should/could fix it. If its in the middle of a panel, you are going to have problems.

If you have the packing & info it should tell you what plastic is used, most of them use 'PFTE' or polythene to stop the plastic taste, and both these plastics are immune to to common solvents & are usually heat welded, either by a high frequency vibration or direct heat like those freezer bag sealers. Some of the more exotic solvents will have you seeing pink elephants or growing extra body parts.

One major thing to think about - a new bladder = c.$40. A repair kit costs ?? dollars, there is no guarantee that it will fix the problem & you have an old bladder with at least one weak spot.

[dai sensei]

You could use some Seam Seal, it comes in a tube and available from most camping stores.