Rema, FTW. As others have noted, don't skimp on surface prep. That includes allowing the vulcanizing fluid to completely dry before applying the patch. And use a patch roller or burnishing stick to force out any air bubbles under the patch.


Bike shops don't typically patch tubes simply because it's not cost-effective for them. Most of the shop's cost in patching or replacing a tube is labor, and avoiding the labor cost of surface prep and patch application makes a new tube more cost-effective than patching. But if you're doing your own work, it makes sense to patch.