Originally Posted by
ItsJustMe
My $2.79 patch kit has 20 patches (plus several larger ones). Cost is more like 12 cents a patch.
I actually have never opened the tubes of glue in my patch kit, I save them in case I need to patch on the road (which I've never had to do, I use the spare tube I have with me (which is also patched)). I use the rubber cement in the $3 bottle of office rubber cement that I've had for about 15 or 20 years now. It's about half empty.
I didn't count the time it takes for the glue to dry in my 3 minute estimate. I put the glue on and let the tube sit while I do other stuff; I don't sit there and stare at the tube. I come back 10 or 15 minutes later and apply the patch. Ideally I'll clamp it in a bench vice for half an hour or so too, though if I am not near the vice I'll just squish it as hard as I can with my fingers for 10 seconds. Either way works OK.
I patch BECAUSE I don't get flats very often. I've had the spare tubes in my garage fall apart in my hands when I tried to use them because they'd been there for 4 or 5 years and had dry rotted.
Assuming that you have the materials for both types of repair jobs, it's still faster to replace the tube, even without counting the time it takes for the glue to set. You pull it off, put the new one on & are done. With a patch kit, you take it off, have to rough up the surface, apply the glue, apply the patch, etc. Granted, we aren't talking about major amounts of time, but we're also not talking about major amounts of money the other way.
I don't have any issue with people who patch their tubes, I get it & can appreciate it. But some people clearly take issue with the fact that others choose to buy new tubes. There are valid reasons to do both & it's not like there is one correct answer. It all depends on the individual situation.