Originally Posted by
I-Like-To-Bike
No debate, but I don't know what you are describing. "Sand area off"? "ends cannot be stitched in"? Are you patching a tube or something else? What kind of kits do you use? Tip Top works great for me, can't imagine any kit could be much smaller.
The sand paper or metal scraper is just for roughing up the tube so the glue sticks, that's all. Has worked for me for 58 years of patching tubes with zero failures.
I will post a link in a few days with step by step instructions of what I learned.
Here is a short version by I will make it clear once I take the pics:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...light=patching
Stitching is used to make sure the patch edges do not come up. The buffing compound works better and faster then the sand paper.
Here is another link:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...light=patching
Stitching is like wielding for example. It bonds the patch on so well that you will end up ripping the tube before you get the patch off!
Just a different way of doing it. When most people have a hard time patching, its usually because the gloss is not taken off enough, they do not let the "glue" dry enough or they do not stitch or press the patch long enough.
And to be frank, most people use too large of a patch. I bought the smallest ones they make....16 mm I believe. Works wonders!
Just a different way.