Bicycle Mechanics - "Cold Vulcanizing" or ... marketing?

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SlimAgainSoon
04-01-09, 01:45 PM
The little tubes of goo that came with my patch kits have all gone dry.

I've been using rubber cement, purchased at my trusty Ace Hardware, instead.

Is this the real deal? Or should I be using the "Cold Vulcanizing (http://www.rematiptop.com/parts.php?sid=2)" fluid/glue that Rema Tip Top sells?

Cold vulcanizing -- what's that?

StevePGN10
04-01-09, 05:25 PM
Old patches had to be heated to form the vulcanized bond. New ones do not and that accounts for the cold vulcanizing name. Rubber cement will make a bond, but it will not vulcanize, that is form a continuous material from the patch to the tube. There will always be a layer of glue between the patch and tube. It is not too hard to pull the patch and tube apart when using rubber cement. I wouldn't say it won't form a usable patch, it just does not work nearly as well as vulcanizing fluid.

The last time I bought some glue from NAPA it was labeled "Universal Cement". I believe it was just rubber cement. I returned it and got some Monkey Grip Vulcanizing Cement. This was during a weekend of patching all the leaky tubes I had. It was immediately noticeable to me that the vulcanizing cement worked far better.
davidad
04-01-09, 08:49 PM
I use rubber cement from the auto parts store. I buy it by the can for repairs at home and by the tube for the road.