Over the past 3 years of fixing and parting bikes out, I've tossed the occasional tube in a pile to deal with later. Well later has come, I'm cleaning up/out the workshop and I need to patch or trash these tubes. I've got about 2 dozen tubes to deal with, some with very fast leaks, some with slow leaks and some that might not be leaking at all, just scavenged from a taco-ed rim.

The question is how to best deal with these:

I can toss them, but a good batch-patching session might set me up with a usable inventory for some time.

I tried the newer stick-on patches a year or so ago, my opinion, a waste of time. they might get you home, but not a real solution.

I could post this in mechanics I suppose, but I swear someone in here mentioned making their own patches out of old tubes. If that's a possiblity, then all I really need is glue and a decent scuffer.

What glue is best? Is it just regular rubber cement?

Finally, I hate those little scuffers you get with patch kits, is there a better way? Wire brush, sand paper. Dremmel tool with sanding drum?

Any and all advice very much appreciated.

I use sand paper and Bell rubber cement with Rema patches.
Wait for a rainy day, gives me something to do.

REMA vulcanizing fluid and their patches are, in my opinion, the absolute best.

Sand paper works as a scuffer.

If you decide you don't want to patch all of them, I will, so let me know.

<-------- Me being dumb, nevermind...

Can the classic 'Snake Bite' of a pinch flat be patched? I swear I read somewhere that It can't, but that seems silly. Also, DRietz, postage to Northern California from Michigan would be silly for old Schrader tubes, but I got 2 Presta in there too. I'm leaning toward the batch patch session, scuff up a bunch, put on the glue and work while it sets up. clamp the tube and patch between some scrap wood with a C-clamp so I don't have to hold it forever... wonder if that would work.

I hope you misread and are talking about tubulars!

Wait 5 minutes to 24 hours then apply the patch.

Some I cut up after the valves went bad just to see what they looked like on the inside of the tube.

Clean the tube with alcohol if it is dirty/dusty before starting work
Do not make your own patches out of tube. Use the ones in in the Kit. I like the REMA kits and patches the best.
Use a rough sandpaper or emory cloth, the paper that comes with the kits is fine. They use to include a piece of perforated metal to roughen the tube, do not use this, it nver fully cleans the tube and usually fails. Do not clean or wipe the area after scuffing.
Use the included patch glue, not rubber cement from Lowes. Spread it larger than the patch you are using and let it dry until filmy/tacky. Place the patch on the glue then roll it out using something round from the center out pressing it down at the same time.
Before using in a tire talc the patched area so that it doesn't stick to the tire.

That's it. Anything else is not needed. Haven't had a patch fail yet.

I agree.

That being said, I never patch tubes.

We used to make our own patches out of old tubes when I was a kid. But we also used to walk over to the T.V. to change the channel. When we wanted to find a magazine article at the library, we had to spend hours going through a card catalog. We stacked a bunch of 45s on the record player and had a party.

The Rema 100-ct box is looking kinda sexy right now, probably would last me FOREVER.

I only fix small holes and I don't fix them if they have split due to the tube being old or at a join.

After fixing I put them inside a spare tyre and pump them up. If they still hold air after a few weeks then they have passed the test and might be used in the future

I refuse to use anything but Rema pathes. You should patch them all up. Can't really take all that long if you do a few at a time.

Indeed I did.

I've patched lots of snake bites without any trouble. Frequently the two holes are close enough together that they can be covered with a single patch.

I've never seen the need for extended clamping. Just be sure to let the glue dry long enough, then put the patch on, squeeze it for a few seconds and roll up the tube to put it in your bike bag as a spare.

I hate flats as much as the next guy, but really love patching the tube for some reason.

Being that this is C&V I'm sure I'm not the only one that is frugal enough to cut the patches in half, getting more mileage out of the the $3 box

+1