Vinyl repair kits?

[lakelivin]

I have an '89 boat with the original vinyl seats. All in all they are still in great shape (only 450 hours on boat & it's always been covered when not running).<br /><br />Only thing is there are 3 or 4 places where the vinyl has small tears or splits. Anyone actually use one of those vinyl repair kits you see on tv? If so, how easy & how good were the results?

 

[Laddies]

Re: Vinyl repair kits?

I have used a NAPA kit on a couple of tears with pretty good results, the trick is to get the tear secured real good from the back with reinforcement, let it dry good before filling the tear--Bob

 

[lakelivin]

Re: Vinyl repair kits?

Originally posted by Laddies:<br /> I have used a NAPA kit on a couple of tears with pretty good results, the trick is to get the tear secured real good from the back with reinforcement, let it dry good before filling the tear--Bob

What did you come up with as the best way to get the tear secured from the back? I'm thinking along the lines of trying to work in some duct tape behind the tear, but seems like that might be tricky with the tape sticking to everything it touches as you try to put it in place....

 

[TELMANMN]

Re: Vinyl repair kits?

I have used it occasionally and again the idea is to get a backing. I used a piece of vinyl from some kitchen chairs we recovered. You simply shape it in a V shape to get it behind the tear. Once in position put some of the filler in behind the tear and the piece of vinyl, just to keep it in position. Leave it dry then fill in the exterior tear and follow the rest of the directions(the last one I used had patterns to match what ever you were trying to repair to put over then use an iron.

 

[Laddies]

Re: Vinyl repair kits?

Vinyl of about the same flexablity, I glued one side by folding one side of the patch back glueing one side and then the other after the first was dry, later I was told if the rip is not spread to far, back it up with a larger patch that has one small stich in each corner to hold the backer and glue it and fill it all at once, then remove the stiches I don't know about that It would probable be good for you to get some scrap vinyl and play with it like I did, to help get a feel for the materials---Bob

 

[lakelivin]

Re: Vinyl repair kits?

Do you use some kind of tape to temporarily keep the tear as 'closed' as possible while the backing reinforcement sets?

 

[90skichallenger]

Re: Vinyl repair kits?

I do use the kit on tv. The heat gun sets it up real well. It also works on fabric furniture. Real easy and color matching. Worth every penny of the 25 bucks I paid for it.<br />Later,

 

[BigPoppaG]

Re: Vinyl repair kits?

LakeLivin,<br />Here is what I did. I did this on my old car and the boat I have now.<br /><br />Separated the back of the vinyl from the sea a little in the tear on both sides. <br /><br />Took some superglue and put it on a tootpick and put it on the back of the vinyl on one side. <br /><br />Pressed down by hand but not too hard and let it set up. took a couple of seconds.<br /><br />Then did the same for the other side. This time made sure I had it lined up as close as humanly possible to the side that was already done.<br /><br />When glue dried the pieces were right up against each other. Looked good as is.<br /><br />Went the extra step and used Vinyl repair kit with color match and you could hardly tell it was there.<br /><br />Good luck and let us know what you came up with.

 

[lakelivin]

Re: Vinyl repair kits?

Thanks guys, now just need to find the time to do it, lol...

 

[tvbjr]

Re: Vinyl repair kits?

LakeLivin, I have used VLP, works great http://www.plastidip.com/