welding, rather than glueing hypalon on an inflatable.

[sarabande]

I have not had tremendous success in glueing patches onto a hypalon dinghy, despite assiduous cleaning and expensive two-part adhesives.

I have a reasonably good heat gun for PVC and polyethylene welding stuff like sheep shed curtains and spray tanks, and wonder if anyone has any experience of 'welding' patches onto a dinghy, please.

It seems it can be done

http://www.coloradolining.com/products/hypalon.htm

but should I perfect my techniques with the adhesives instead ?

TIA

 

[VicS]

It comes as surprise to learn that Hypalon can be welded!

See "Facts about Hypalon" here: http://falconinflatables.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Comparison-hypalon-valmex.pdf

 

[JONDAVIS]

I AM REPAIRING AN AVON AT PRESENT AND HAVE HAD GOOD SUCCESS WITH THE SINGLE PART GLUE ON TWO PATCHES WHERE MICE HAD BEEN FEEDING ON MY AVON i HAVE REMOVED RUBBING STRAKE WHICH i WILL GLUE WITH THEIR EXPENSIVE TWO PART AND WILL POST HOW i GET ON WITH IT.i THINK THE TRICK IS TO LEAVE THE GLUE TO DRY BEFORE YOU BRING THE TWO SURFACES TOGETHER AND THEN RUB THE PATCH AS HARD AS POSSIBLE WITH A HARD ROLLER WOOD OR PLASTIC

 

[VicS]

Instructions for gluing Hypalon , and PVC, can be found on Polymarine's website

 

[TQA]

I too need a good hypalon glue. The rowlock mount came off my new AB dink. The supplied two part glue in the repair kit seems to last a month then gives up.

I have seen other people have success with 3m 5200, often the result looks messy but the patches seem to stay put, even really large ones.

 

[sarabande]

Offspring did a short course on preparing landfill sites with sheets of hypalon to contain any liquor. The installers used a heat welding machine which looked like one of the devices used by tennis court markers to join the edges of adjacent sheets.

 

[davidpbo]

I was hoping Hypalon could be welded, my Achilles tender has an inflatable floor which has burst a seam between two tubes in the floor, I had assumed the join was welded as it is very narrow.
The floor is one chamber (one valve only) with divisions.

 

[sarabande]

likely to be ultrasonic (heat) welding rather than hot air.

 

[davidpbo]

Thank you anyone know a company that can do it?