Tarp tape

[Furby]

Need to patch some pool covers. :
Been using patch tape the pool supply places sell just for pool covers.
It don't last.  >:( :-\
Some will last a week and the better stuff might last half a winter.
It will stay stuck to itself where I cleaned up the holes by cutting the torn threads away, and stick one on the inside and one outside. But it comes loose off the cover itself.
Duct tape won't cut it and I need something that will stick while wet, stay stuck, and still be flexible.
I've heard of the new Gorilla tape, but don't know if it will work for this use or not.

Anyone know of anything that will work ???

[thecfarm]

Why not use the same stuff that is used to fix a hole in a liner in a pool?The glue they sell you can be used under water and they give you a 2 foot square piece for patching.Around here they give you the patch,just liner material and charge you for the glue.I had to patch our pool and that stuff works graet and fast.I would use this stuff for sure.Cost about $10 around here.

[Furby]

Liner is vinyl and the tarps are poly I belive.
Will it still work?
Have lots ove the glue left from patching the liner earlier this summer......... 6 times. :

[CHARLIE]

Furby, years and years ago I became a huge believer in Shoe Goo. It is a rubber cement that was originally made to repair the soles of tennis shoes or running shoes. I've used it to glue dang near everything together, leather shoes, trim on cars, and even repaired an old baseball mit. But primarily, I used it to repair my waders that I used for duck hunting.  I'd by a big rubber tire patch, smear Shoe Goo on the patch and on the boot and place the patch over the tear. Then I'd weight it down overnight. It was a permanent fix.  It wouldn't cost you much to give it a try.  It stays flexible and that is a plus. I do not know how it will do when the temp gets below zero, but my guess is it'll hold.  Give it a try. 

[woodbowl]

Charlie, I've used shoe goo on everything too. I even used it on  tires. I once had a van that just ate up the outside edge of the tires and left good tread in the center. When the radial wire started to show, I just ran a few beads on each side and let it dry for about 12 hours or more. Got a few thousand miles more out of those tires.  :   .....  ;D

You can get the same stuff under a different name at Lowes. It's a bigger tube and cheaper too. I think the name of it is "welder".

[customsawyer]

That woodbowl is so tight he makes bark on a tree look slack. ;D

[submarinesailor]

Furby,

I have used some "Tarp Repair" tape that I picked up at Harbor Feight.  Had fair luck with it, sometimes it held real good, other it worked just Ok.

Bruce

[rebocardo]

Woodbowl, you must be a Ford van owner for sure :D

[thecfarm]

I would try it Furby.Probaly have to be careful you don't glue the tarp to whatever is under it.Like the garage floor.

[Furby]

What's a garage floor ??? 

[woodbowl]

Furby, my uncle patches everything with regular ole' packaging tape. Just like you would use to package up a box for UPS.

The trick is to spray ether on the vinyl to clean it. He patched a bunch of blow up floaties for the kids in no time. He even gets them out of the garbage to fix! This is a smooth surface to surface adhesion.

Anyway, you have to cut the tape/patch in a round circle so that the edges stay flat. A patch with corners will try to roll up after a while.

Hang on ..... I know you got pool covers to fix, not duckies for a float ring.  ;D

For strength, all he did was start off with a small circle, then make a bigger circle and layer it each time untill you get several layers. Each patch is a little larger and locks the smaller patch in. Be sure to clean with ether each time  to get the oil off that comes from the fingers.

I suppose if the pool cover is rough texture, it won't work this way. In that case, a round patch of the same material, sanded rough as well as the hole area will accept shoe goo and be there for a long time. I keep shoe goo in my truk all the time for just about everything.

Yea, I got a Ford ....how'd yall know I had a Ford?  :

[Quartlow]

We used to fix our steel hauling tarps with a piece of the same material the tarps where made out of and tire patch cement.
I've also patched them by taking a piece of material and laying it on the tarp and heating it up with the heat gun and rolling it.

[Furby]

Well I tried the vinyl pool patch on some sample pieces.
No go.

They were out of shoe goo when I was there, so I got E-6000 as it sounded pretty close.
No go.
It was like silicone caulk and just peeled off.
Silicone caulk was another thought but I don't even need to try it after seeing the E-6000.

Looks like I'm back to tarp tape this year, but I plan to keep looking for something as I will need to repatch these next spring.

I'm hoping to try shoe goo and would like to try and find some gorilla tape to try.
If anyone comes up with any ideas, feel free to post them.
Thanks!

[Fla._Deadheader]

Furby, is the tarp vinyl and reinforced??  Any vinyl welders in your area ??  Know what the vinyl balloon awnings look like that stores have over the front door areas ??  That stuff can be melted-welded to other vinyl coverings.

  We had an upholstery business in Pompano Beach, Florida, for a few years. Repaired a LOT of Vinyl stuff either by smearing a white creamy stuff and heating to cure, or, laying the patch over the fabric and laying a teflon sheet over the patch, and ironing on the patch. It would blend in and require very little cosmetin work before spraying vinyl lacquer on the repair to match the original piece. We had over 30 restaurants we did on a regular basis, plus Yachts and cars, motorcycles, trucks, you know VINYL.  : ;D

  Maybe Ed-Swampy can remember the names of all this stuff.  : : :  We may even have some stuff left in the warehouse ??  : :

  Look in the Yeller Pages for Vinyl repair or similar.  Docter Vinyl is one Natl. Franchise.

[Furby]

No, they are just like poly type tarps, but heavier.
I would make a double sided patch, seal with silicone or something along those lines and then sew the patch in place.
But I don't have a machine big enough to get to the center of 27' tarp.
These covers are always wet, so there is really no way to take it someplace and no one would want to mess with it wet anyways.

[OneWithWood]

Menard's has Gorilla Tape in the paint section.

[Furby]

Didn't see it.
Will look again, Thanks!